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Sale 85
May 31-June 2, 2015 Pre Long Beach
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Photo |
Description |
Realized |
Lot 2267 |
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Kellogg & Humbert Assayers gold bar No. 660. 861 Fine, 26.55 oz. Mold KH-02. Plated as Ingot #660 in David Bower's A California Gold Rush History. Measures: 42 mm x 52 mm x 23 mm (thick). A desirable, nearly square "candy bar" size ingot, exhibiting original luster with some natural reddish residue. Comes in a custom clear plastic holder.
A highly desirable and impressive ingot from the S.S. Central America treasure hoard. Two edge tests, one on the obverse edge, one on the reverse edge taken for assay purposes. A great numismatic item owing to its connection with Kellogg & Humbert assayers and coining office, and an even greatere treasure piece, representing as it does a souvenir of the most illustrious treasure every salvaged from the Davy Jones Locker depths.
In 1857, the S.S. Central American plyed the trade route from New York City to the eastern side of the Isthmus of Panama. Between October 1853 and September 1857, the steamer with auxiliary sails completed 43 round trips and carried to New York about a third of the value of gold shipped on that route. In September it docked in Panama to board people and gold bars, coins and other forms of the precious metal that had come from San Franciso on the S.S. Sonora.
On September 9th, 1857, while returning from Panama to New York City, S.S. Central America ran into a hurricane. On the 11th, a major leak developed and heroic efforts were made to bail out the water. On the 12th, all women and 28 or 29 children aboard were saved by a passing vessel, as were several dozen men. Shortly after eight in the evening of the 12th, the Central America sank below the waves and was believed lost forever. Aboard was a vast store of gold being shipped from the San Franciso Mint to the New York Assay Office, plus coins and bullion carried for other accounts and money of the passengers, totaling $1,600,000 or more at a time when gold was valued at just $20.67 per ounce.
In the field of American gold coins, the S.S. Central America has yielded more numismatic treasure than all other sources. Moreover, no other known recovery has included even a single gold ingot of the California types found with the S.S. Central America treasure.
Estimated Value $100,000 - 125,000.
From the S.S. Central America treasure.
View details and enlarged photos
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$110,450 |
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