1471

1855 Wass, Molitor & Co. (San Francisco) $50 Gold NGC M

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:100.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1855 Wass, Molitor & Co. (San Francisco) $50 Gold NGC M
<b>1855 Wass, Molitor & Co &#40;San Francisco&#41; &#36;50 Gold. NGC graded MS60.</b> Count Samuel C. Wass and Agoston P. Molitor were Hungarian compatriots during their native country&#39;s war for independence. Both had acquired considerable practical knowledge of mining and all its ramifications at the celebrated School of Mines of Germany.

Upon arriving in California the partners opened a Mint establishment that struck &#36;10, &#36;20, and &#36;50 gold pieces. An unused &#36;10 die of 1852 was probably altered to stamp the date 1855, and was subsequently used to produce &#36;10 pieces. Later, &#36;20 and &#36;50 coins were issued. The &#36;50 pieces followed closely upon the theme on the Federal &#36;20 gold Liberty coins of the day; as a &#36;50 denomination in a time of dire need for a circulating medium, the coins were eminently acceptable. As the only round &#36;50 gold pieces issued in California, they found acceptance throughout the Golden State and circulated in other regions of the United States. Evidently, their round shape &#40;and the availability of lower denominations from the same firm&#41; made them more acceptable than the earlier &#36;50 slugs of the U. S. Assay Office. The Alta California reported that &#36;38,000 of these fifties and twenties were produced a day.

This handsome Mint State example shows clear striking details on the date and stars plus the legends of the reverse. There is luster, smooth and satiny, covering the entire surface including Liberty&#39;s cheek contour. Liberty herself proudly displays full sharp hair and a nicely curved, if slightly rounded coronet edge. Unlike most &#36;50 gold coins by Wass, Molitor, this piece lacks heavy cuts and rim bruises. The reverse takes over from where the obverse left off in being not only sharp throughout &#40;including the central leaf veins&#41; but also, lustrous, relatively mark-free, and so attractive you&#39;ll desire to own it in a heartbeat! The coin is housed in NGC holder 202294-001 and will likely prove to be one of the Star Performers of this sale!

MAGNIFICENT 1855 WASS, MOLITOR &#36;50 GOLD PIECE <b>&#40;PCGS # 10363&#41;</b> <i>
The James Newton Howard Collection.</i>

Our item number 120264