1849 G$10 Pacific Company, K-3 MS

Like the Pacific Company $5, only four of the firm’s $10 gold pieces have been seen by collectors. Two of these, both of which would probably grade AU, are held by the Smithsonian Institution. Another well-worn example was stolen from the holdings of Willis Dupont in 1967 and has yet to be recovered. The final piece, which has variously been called “Uncirculated”, “AU with prooflike surface”, and “MS63” over the years, is the only collectible example, and was discovered in Cuba in 1903. It was purchased out of a Lyman Low auction by early pioneer gold collector Dewitt Smith, whose collection was sold intact to beer baron Virgil Brand on New Year’s Eve, 1908. It was auctioned as a part of the Brand Collection in 1984, eventually passing into a midwestern collection in 1992, where it resides as of the writing of this book.

Obverse Description

Liberty cap on pole in a glory of rays with 30 stars 10 DOLLARS

Reverse Description

Eagle with laurel and mining hammer PACIFIC COMPANY CALIFORNIA 1849