LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 (ANA) Signature Coin Auction #444  / 

2149

1851 $50 RE Humbert Fifty Dollar, 887

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1851 $50 RE Humbert Fifty Dollar, 887
<B>1851 $50 RE Humbert Fifty Dollar, 887 Thous.--Improperly Cleaned--NCS. AU50 Details.</B></I> K-6, R.4. Blame it on the Committee of Vigilance. While the Humbert-Assay Office operation understandably wanted to move to less labor-intensive methods such as reeded edges rather than hand-lettered, those earliest hand-lettered pieces also were an engraved invitation to the various miscreants, malefactors, and ne'er-do-wells who succumbed to the temptation to shave a couple of dollars' worth of gold from the edges. <BR> The extralegal Committee of Vigilance, an intrinsic part of the rough-and-tumble history of the era, formed its Constitution in June 1851, reading in part (Bowers, <I>A California Gold Rush History):</B></I> "the citizens whose names are hereunto attached do unite themselves into an association for the maintenance of the peace and good order of society and the preservation of the lives and property of the citizens of San Francisco and do bind themselves each unto the other to do and perform every lawful act for the maintenance of law and order and to sustain the laws when faithfully & properly administered, but we are determined that no thief, burglar, incendiary, assassin professed gambler & other disturbers of the peace shall escape punishment either by the quibbles of the law, the insecurity of prisons, the carelessness or corruption of the police, or a laxity of those who pretend to administer justice." Be very, very afraid. Perhaps the device of edge-reeding was no longer needed ...<BR> This is a delightful green-gold piece that, despite the NCS disclaimer, shows scant evidence of cleaning, although the obverse in particular shows myriad small abrasions under a loupe. Much appeal remains, however. In this sale of illustrious top-notch specimens of various Kagin varieties, perhaps this AU details piece represents a more-affordable, yet historic acquisition for some forthright bidder.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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