CHOICE PCGS EF45 1849 NORRIS, GREGG AND NORRIS $5.00

K-4, R-5. Period after ALLOY; Reeded Edge variety.

Unlike most of the other minters of California gold coinage, the firm of Norris, Gregg, Norris was located in Benecia which is a midway point between the gold fields and the city of San Francisco. The firm struck a fairly substantial quantity of 1849-dated half eagles with four varieties known; the Reeded Edge with and without period and the Plain Edge with and without period.

This example shows outstanding 100% original color with reddish-gold over green-gold. The reverse is deeper in hue and shows more extensive reddish-gold splashes. There is a good amount of luster below the color and, in my opinion, this is an AU50 to AU53 coin that has been net graded due to dense shallow marks on the surfaces; especially on the reverse periphery.

Only one PCGS EF45 example of this issue has appeared at auction and it was a decent CAC approved coin that brought $20,400 as Heritage 2/2024: 3196. I recently sold a very choice PCGS/CAC VF35 for $30,000.

A nice example of the earliest dated collectible California gold piece.

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