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Estimated Value
Based on recent market data
$79,375
Name or Denominations
1852 $5 Wass, Molitor & Co., Small Head
Issuer
United States
Ruler
NA
Year of Minting
1852
Currency
Dollar (1792-date)
Shape
Round
Rarity
Rare
Weight
NA
Diameter
NA
Thickness
NA
Material
Gold
Shape
Round
Edge Type
Reeded
Technique
Struck
Front design
Wass, Molitor & Co. inscription, denomination, and date (Small Head)
Back design
Wass, Molitor & Co. inscription, denomination, and date (Small Head)
Year of Minting
1852
Ruler
NA
Mint location
Philadelphia
Mint mark
NA
Orientation
Coin alignment
Inscriptions
WASS, MOLITOR & CO. | 5 DOLLARS | 1852
Context
: In 1852, the firm of Wass, Molitor & Co. began striking gold coins in denominations of $5 and $10; in 1855, they added $20 and $50 coins to the mix. According to Pioneer Gold specialist, Don Kagin, the Was, Molitor coins "...had the highest intrinsic value of any of the private coiners..." This was a dangerous path to tread because if the coins exceeded their face value, they were subject to being melted down. This may account for the rarity of these pieces today. The 1852 Wass, Molitor $5's come in two varieties: Small Head and Large Head. Both types appear to be of similar rarity, and both are difficulat to find in high grade, primarily because of the poor quality control in the Wass, Molitor operation. The best example appears to be the PCGS MS60 from the Riverboat Collection that sold in April 2014 for $82,250.
Rarity
Rare
Coin type
California Gold (1849-1855)
In circulation
NA
Demonetized
NA
Marketplace listings
0
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