Lot 118
118
1852 United States Assay Office of Gold. $50 gold slug. K-13 (unlisted variation), B-7714. AU-53 (PCGS). A "slug" which paid its dues and saw extensive use. Obverse border inscriptions light; a combination of wear and striking. Some lightness at reverse center for the same reasons. Warm, bright gold. Very attractive overall.
1852 U.S. Assay Office of Gold, Fifty Dollar "Slug" 887 THOUS.
1852 United States Assay Office of Gold. $50 gold slug. K-13 (unlisted variation), B-7714. AU-53 (PCGS). A "slug" which paid its dues and saw extensive use. Obverse border inscriptions light; a combination of wear and striking. Some lightness at reverse center for the same reasons. Warm, bright gold. Very attractive overall.

Details
1852 United States Assay Office of Gold. $50 gold slug. K-13 (unlisted variation), B-7714. AU-53 (PCGS). A "slug" which paid its dues and saw extensive use. Obverse border inscriptions light; a combination of wear and striking. Some lightness at reverse center for the same reasons. Warm, bright gold. Very attractive overall.
Further details
Die notes: Octagonal format. Obverse with central motif of eagle perched on a rock, holding a shield, and in its beak a long ribbon inscribed LIBERTY. Above, a label or cartouche on which the fineness, 887 THOUS:, is inscribed. Surrounding: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and below, FIFTY DOLLS. Outside of circle but inside rim is the inscription: UNITED STATES ASSAY OFFICE OF GOLD CALIFORNIA 1852. Reverse with engine turning design. Different die from that illustrated as Kagin-13 (note end of scroll and its relationship to ST (STATES). Reeded edge. Die state: Obverse with triangular cud from border extending to touch O (CALIFORNIA). PCGS Data: This is the single finest of two examples from the S.S. Central America treasure certified by PCGS.Swan Song of the Octagonal $50 "Slug" The year 1852 saw the final mintage of coins of this denomination by the U.S. Assay Office of Gold. By this time, enough $5, $10, and $20 coins had been struck by various entities that the need for the $50 was lessened. By summer 1852 such "slugs" were common in banking houses, exchange offices, and gambling halls. Large numbers were also exported, as along with ingots the $50 pieces simplified the tallying of large remittances. In time, the $50 was "missed," and in 1855, additional examples were made by another firm, Wass, Molitor & Co. (see later listing). By this year the United States Assay Office of Gold was no longer in operation.