Kagin-10 (R-4). Augustus Humbert $10.

This issue was produced for the coin-starved San Francisco area by Augustus Humbert as coiner for the provisional mint at the US Assay Office. Unlike many territorial issues, the 1852 Humbert $10 saw actual circulation in Gold Rush San Francisco and it is an important historic artifact as such.

The 1852 Humbert $10 is reasonably available in VF-EF grades but it is usually seen with a lack of original “skin” and excessively abraded surfaces. The present piece has splendid natural coloration with deep, even reddish-gold and orange hues over minimally marked surfaces. This is from an early state of the dies without the extensive die cracks seen on later issues. A small semi-circular scrape on the reverse tablet is the only detracting mark and I feel this piece is very conservatively graded with enough detail and eye appeal to qualify as an EF45–if not finer.

This issue should be included in any advanced set of San Francisco eagles and it is among my very favorite Territorial gold pieces from California.

CAC has approved two in this grade with only three finer.