1852 $50 Gold Humbert Slug RE PCGS VF-20

The California Gold Rush produced some of the most extraordinary coins in American numismatic history, and the 1852 Humbert $50 slug stands at the very top of that list. Issued by Augustus Humbert, United States Assayer of Gold, these octagonal fifty-dollar pieces were struck to convert the flood of raw California gold into official, recognized currency during the early years of statehood. The "RE" designation indicates a reeded edge variety, one of the principal die varieties catalogued by numismatists for this celebrated issue.

The reverse displays a bold American eagle with spread wings perched on a rocky outcrop, framed by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and FIFTY DOLLS., with the date 1852 below. The die-struck design retains recognizable detail across the central devices despite the grade, and the massive octagonal planchet — hand-poured and assayed from California placer gold — gives the coin its characteristic irregular surfaces and rich, deep yellow gold color. The obverse features the engine-turned basket-weave pattern that served as a security and anti-counterfeiting measure on these assay pieces.

PCGS has certified this example VF20, reflecting moderate circulation wear consistent with a coin that actively served commerce in Gold Rush-era California. The surfaces show the natural characteristics expected of a hand-assayed, privately produced piece of this era, including some planishing marks and the distinctive texture of the engine-turned field. The Humbert $50 gold slug is one of the landmark coins of American history, representing a singular moment when private gold displaced standard coinage across the frontier West. For those seeking an authentic, PCGS-certified example of this iconic California pioneer gold issue, this coin offers a rare opportunity at a grade accessible to serious collectors. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.

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