California Gold |
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| Lot 1358 |
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Kellogg & Humbert Gold Bar No. 482
152.96 oz. 886 Fine gold. Value at time of issue: $2801.49. This monumental gold bar is from the 1857 shipwreck of the S.S. Central America. Its fineness of 886 pure gold is higher than usual for native California gold. The lower right corner has been chipped off for assay purposes, as has the upper right corner on the back of the bar. The control number of the bar, No. 482, is stamped on the back of the bar.
Between 1852 and 1857, the S.S. Central America was responsible for transporting approximately one third of the gold found during the California Gold Rush, amounting to an estimated $150 million. This bar was part of the ship's three-ton gold cargo that left Panama, en route for New York, on September 3, 1857, and was lost on September 11, 1857, when the ship sank during a hurricane off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
With the loss of the gold cargo, New York banks began to fail and businesses closed, causing a financial crisis, not only in the United States, but also in Europe. It was called "The Panic of 1857.
Kellogg & Humbert were government-supervised assayers in San Francisco, but until the recovery of the wreck of the S.S. Central America in the 1980s, no bars by these important California Gold Rush participants were known.
The value of this bar at the time of its issue would have purchased many city blocks in downtown Los Angeles. It will be the centerpiece and the conversation piece of your gold collection.
Accompanied by the special leather edition of Q. David Bowers' A California Gold Rush History (Photo).
Estimate $100,000-125,000. |
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| Lot 1359 |
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Kellogg & Humbert Gold Bar No. 603
110.77 oz.903 Fine gold. Value at time of issue: $2,067.71. A very desirable example from the S.S. Central America shipwreck. Of note is the fineness of this bar which, at .903 pure gold, is very high for native California gold; it was usually found below this fineness. The lower right corner has been chipped off for assay purposes, as has the upper right corner on the back of the bar. Also, we note that the control number of the bar, 603, is stamped on the back of the bar.
As noted in the Bowers' publication, A California Gold Rush History, the Kellogg & Humbert bars are among the most numerous of the bars recovered from the wreck; however, because Kellogg & Humbert were such important participants in the California Gold Rush history, many coins being known from their partnership, it is these bars that best represent the California Gold Rush era. These bars were unknown until the wreck was recovered in the 1980s and made available to collectors in the year 2000.
The bar is accompanied by the special leather edition of Q. David Bowers' A California Gold Rush History. The new owner will undoubtedly spend many hours discussing the epic tales of the discovery of gold in California and the tragedy of the loss of life on the Central America wreck.
Truly a fantastic, historical relic which will be the centerpiece of your gold coin collection (Photo).
Estimate $70,000-85,000. |
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| Lot 1360 |
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Impressive, Natural Gold and Quartz Rock. A heavy, irregular-sized (approximately 57 x 65 x 107 mm) amalgam of naturally occurring gold and quartz weighing a massive 896.2 grams 28.8 oz Troy. This is an impressive display piece that would go nicely with any of the S.S. Central America bars offered elsewhere in this sale, to illustrate the "before and after" forms of California gold. Imagine the look of surprise and pleasure on the face of the miner who found this amazing piece! (Photo).
Estimate $17,000-20,000. |
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| Lot 1361 |
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1875 Octagonal Half Dollar. Indian Head. BG-933, Rarity 7. PCGS graded AU-58 PQ. Mistake on Holder as to BG number. Prooflike surfaces. Pop 4 with 23 higher (Photo).
Estimate $200-300. |
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| Lot 1362 |
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1870 Octagonal Quarter Dollar. Liberty Head. BG-762, Rarity 5. PCGS graded AU-55. Prooflike surfaces (Photo).
Estimate $200-250. |
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| Lot 1363 |
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1871 Round Quarter Dollar Liberty Head. BG-813, Rarity 5. AU-58. Plenty of proof-like luster on both sides to qualify as strictly uncirculated (Photo).
Estimate $150-200. |
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| Lot 1364 |
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1854 Octagonal Dollar. Liberty Head. BG-508, Rarity 6. PCGS graded AU-58. A popular period one example. Wonderful golden toning. Pop 10 with 28 higher (Photo).
Estimate $450-550. |
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| Lot 1365 |
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1871 Round Quarter Dollar. Liberty Head. BG-839, Rarity 4. PCGS graded AU-55. Looks like a strictly mint state example to this cataloger (Photo).
Estimate $150-200. |
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| Lot 1366 |
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1871 Octagonal Half Dollar. Liberty Head. BG-924, Rarity 4. PCGS graded AU-55. Enough semi-reflective mint luster to qualify as strictly mint state (Photo).
Estimate $150-200. |
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| Lot 1367 |
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1853 Octagonal Dollar. Liberty Head. BG-530, Rarity 4. PCGS graded AU-53 (Photo).
Estimate $500-650. |
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| Lot 1368 |
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1866 Octagonal Quarter Dollar. Liberty Head. BG-708, Rarity 6. PCGS graded AU-58 (Photo).
Estimate $125-175. |
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| Lot 1369 |
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1873 Octagonal Quarter Dollar. Liberty Head. BG-728, Rarity 4. PCGS graded MS-66. Lightly toned (Photo).
Estimate $400-500. |
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| Lot 1370 |
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1871 Octagonal Quarter Dollar. Liberty Head. ICG graded AU-53 BG-767 (Rarity 4). Lot of 2 coins. Together with: 1872 Octagonal Quarter Dollar. ICG EF-45 BG-791 (Rarity 4) (Photo).
Estimate $200-250. |
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| Lot 1371 |
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1875 Octagonal Quarter Dollar. Indian Head. BG-797, Rarity 5. PCGS graded MS-63. Prooflike surfaces (Photo).
Estimate $200-250. |
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| Lot 1372 |
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1865 Round Quarter Dollar. Liberty Head. BG-822, Rarity 5. PCGS graded EF-45 (Photo).
Estimate $100-125. |
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| Lot 1373 |
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1871 Round Quarter Dollar. Liberty Head. BG-857, Rarity 6 (2 pieces). PCGS graded MS-63. Lot of 2 coins. And PCGS AU-58 (Photo).
Estimate $325-400. |
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| Lot 1374 |
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1872 Octagonal Half Dollar. Liberty Head. BG-913, Rarity 6. PCGS graded MS-64. Well struck and semi-reflective on both sides (Photo).
Estimate $300-400. |
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| Lot 1375 |
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1868. Octagonal Dollar. Liberty Head. BG-1105, Rarity 6. PCGS graded MS-61. Prooflike surfaces with nice green toning. In an old green holder (Photo).
Estimate $500-700. |
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| Lot 1376 |
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Group of 3 California Fractional Half Dollars. Lot of 3 coins. Consists of the following Round Half Dollars: 1869 Liberty Head. PCGS AU-55. BG-1020 (Rarity 5); 1870 Liberty Head PCGS XF-45 BG-936 (Rarity 5); and 1876 Indian Head PCGS AU-58 BG-1038 (Rarity 6). (Photo).
Estimate $350-450. |
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| Lot 1377 |
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Louisiana Purchase 1904 Gold ½ Dollar and ¼ Dollar. MS-63. Lot of 2 coins. Both are semi proof-like.
Estimate $150-200. |
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