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1852 $5 Wass Molitor Five Dollar, Large Head XF40 PCGS

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1852 $5 Wass Molitor Five Dollar, Large Head XF40 PCGS
<B>1852<$5> Wass Molitor Five Dollar, Large Head XF40 PCGS.</B></I> K-2, R.6. This is an example of the earliest issues of Wass, Molitor & Co., who struck coins dated 1852 and 1855 only. Count Samuel Wass arrived in San Francisco in September 1850. A native of Hungary, Wass formed a partnership with A.P. Molitor. Initially, they intended to perform assaying and refining, according to a notice in the October 14, 1851 issue of the <I>Alta California.</B></I> The next year, coinage was added to their repertoire with the production of five and ten dollar gold coinage. By 1855, needs dictated the issuance of 20 dollar and 50 dollar gold denominations. Obviously a large coinage was intended, or actually took place, as several different dies varieties are known.<BR> The Small Head and Large Head varieties of 1852 five dollar gold pieces issued by Wass, Molitor are perhaps equally scarce, both varieties listed as R.6 by Don Kagin. This example, struck in light greenish gold, has a slightly concave appearance. The design definition is somewhat weakly impressed at the centers, and possibly both of these features are the result of a dished die face, rather than later defects. A few light scratches and other minor defects are the result of a brief period in circulation. Listed on page 357 of the 2007 <I>Guide Book.</B></I><BR><I>From The Long Beach Family Collection.</B></I>