1851 Humbert $50 "Slug" Rarity to Headline Stack's Bowers May 2025 Showcase Auction

By Greg Cohen – Senior Numismatist, Stack's Bowers Galleries …… Few coins invoke the history, drama, and romance of the Wild West like the large $50 gold ingots or “slugs” struck by Augustus Humbert

The large $50 gold ingots or "slugs" struck by Augustus Humbert under the auspices of the United States Assay Office of Gold in San Francisco are among the most prized coins of the Wild West.

Each slug contains nearly 2.5 troy ounces of gold and measure about 1.5 inches in diameter. These massive pieces are impressive in any grade, but as many were later melted as bullion and recoined at the San Francisco Mint, any example at auction is a delight for collectors. Rarer still are the few examples that exist in Mint State grade.

Stack's Bowers Galleries is presenting an NGC-graded example of the 880 THOUS., Target Reverse 1851 Humbert $50 type, with reeded edge (Kagin-5) in its May 2025 Showcase auction. This piece ranks among the finest graded by either major grading service; NGC reports just three in MS62 and a single MS62+ graded finer.

Certainly, worthy of its assigned grade, Stack's Bowers' cataloger's description reads: "Warm olive undertones backlight dominant medium honey-gold color, the surfaces lustrous with a lively frosty texture. Overall striking detail is exceptional, accuracy alone compelling us to mention the often-seen softness on the central obverse high points. We stress, however, that the peripheral legend on that side is legible in full, with each individual letter crisp. The edges are remarkably smooth and free of the typically encountered large bumps and deep bruises. Also free of sizable surface marks, and while faint hairlines are present to explain the MS-62 grade from NGC, both the eye appeal and overall quality are exceptional for the type. This is an outstanding coin that combines absolute scarcity with condition rarity."

Beyond the MS62 Humbert $50 "Slug", the entire May Showcase Auction will be available for viewing and presale bidding at StacksBowers.com. Be sure to take a look at the photos, read the detailed descriptions, and prepare to bid aggressively on the nearly 375 lots being offered.

If you are interested in consigning, Stack's Bowers is still accepting consignments for its June 2025 Showcase Auction, as well as its Summer Global Showcase Auction. Its team of dedicated numismatists are just a phone call or email away, so contact them at 800-458-4646 or email bid@StacksBowers.com.