1855 Round 50 Cents. BG-433. Rarity-7-. Liberty Head. MS-62 (PCGS).

A Condition Census example of the so-called "Fatal Break" variety - a major rarity in the California small denomination gold series. Satin to semi-reflective surfaces offer dominant golden-honey color, both sides with subtle olive undertones and the obverse further enhanced by iridescent reddish-apricot. Most design elements are sharply rendered, significant given the advanced state of the dies, while the bluntness to the top right portion of the wreath on the reverse is typical among survivors of this issue. BG Die State II, the reverse extensively cracked and the breaks at the upper obverse border advanced to a prominent cud. This issue by Antoine Louis Nouizillet shares its reverse with the maker's BG-431 (without the date) and BG-432 (with date added) varieties, although this die advanced quickly to its terminal state in this pairing, which undoubtedly explains the rarity of BG-433 in numismatic circles. The aforementioned obverse cud break obviously explains why that die is unknown in any other marriage. The 2003 Leonard census enumerates 11 examples of BG-433 ("probably slight duplication"), while the experts at PCGS CoinFacts account for only eight to 10 known. This is our first offering for the issue in at least 20 years, and it is finer than the Die State I Jay Roe specimen certified AU-58 by PCGS at the time of our (Bowers and Merena's) September 2003 sale of that collection. Sure to see spirited bidding among specialists.

PCGS# 10469. NGC ID: 2BKR.

PCGS Population: 3; with a single MS-63 finer.

From the Oregon Collection.