1852 $10 Humbert California Gold - U.S. Assay Office / Humbert PCGS VF30 Ex. SS Central America

Here’s a rare example from the time of the California Gold Rush, before the formation of the San Francisco Mint in 1854. The U.S. Assay Office of Gold could was, in essence, a de facto branch mint, for it was authorized by the U.S. government. Ninety-two examples of the “TEN DOLS. 884 THOUS” U.S. Assay Office eagles were retrieved from the tragic wreck of the SS Central America. According to the PCGS population report, PCGS has graded 4 as VF30 with 207 finer.

Gold miners during the California Gold Rush. This offering from AUCM was minted with Gold Rush gold. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

On February 11, 1852, Moffat & Co. was authorized to mint $10 and $20 gold coins at the Assay Office, which was established as a temporary U.S. government mint before the establishment in 1854 of the San Francisco Mint. The Moffat business formally became, or at least was closely associated with, the U.S. Assay Office.

Contemporary documents give the impression that Moffat & Co. and the U.S. Assay Office were one and the same, although assayer Augustus Humbert had specific duties independent of Moffat. Even though the coins produced circulated extensively as money, they were called "ingots" for either legal or bureaucratic purposes.