1852 Humbert $10 NGC AU Details. K-10, R-5. NGC has given this coin only a details grade, with the notation that the obverse is lightly cleaned, but with AU details. Although signs of the obverse cleaning are indeed visible the cleaning was carefully done, perhaps a long time ago, when such practice was still accepted. Most remarkably the reverse was not cleaned in the process, and has retained its originality, a scarce feature on these territorial gold coins. Stuck in San Francisco during the first years of the California gold rush, these coins were an intermediate step between gold coins of various quality made by private minters, and the coins struck by the San Francisco Branch Mint in 1854 and later.

Made by Augustus Humbert, most people consider these pieces not part of official United States coinage, although perhaps correctly it is. Perhaps one of the reasons is the scarcity of these pieces. During the first few years of the gold rush cash was very seldom seen in everyday commerce, as the products of private coiners were often distrusted in terms of quality. As a result reliable issues, such as the present, circulated heavily. As such, despite relative large (but unknown) mintages relatively few have survived, and now these historic gold coins are seldom found in any condition.

Despite the obverse cleaning this coin is otherwise problem-free. A sharp strike highlights both sides, which only show a minor sign of circulation on the highest points. Otherwise, the coin gives the impression of an uncirculated coin, with no major marks and hits noted. Kagin, in his reference on territorial gold coins has classified this issue as a Rarity-5, meaning it is a scarce coin with less than 75 pieces still known to exist. As such, despite the minor problem, this is an relatively affordable example of this scarce and historic gold coin, seldom offered for sale, especially at this price level.