Lot 2018
Kellogg & Humbert Assayers gold bar. 888 Fine, 28.02 ounce, $514.35, Bar # 862, Mold Size 2. Two edge tests on this bar. This bar is in Gem UNC condition. The obverse displays prooflike surfaces. This is the first bar purchased from the group that California Gold Marketing Group sold. It was hand selected and picked out by Mr. Larry Goldberg as the finest bar in this group. Comes in a special metal treasure chest.
An impressive large ingot from the S.S. Central America treasure hoard. Bright yellow gold. The lower-right corner was taken for assay purposes. A great numismatic item owing to its connection with Kellogg & Humbert assayers and coining office, and an even greater treasure piece, representing as it does a souvenir of the most illustrious treasure ever salvage from the Davy Jones' Locker depths.
In 1857, the S.S. Central America 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 Francisco 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 Francisco Mint to the New York Assay Office, plus coins and bullion carried for other accounts and many 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 source. Moreover, no other known recovery has included even a single gold ingot of the California types found with the S.S. Central America treasure.
From the S.S. Central America treasure.
Estimated Value $150,000-UP.
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| Realized $129,250 |
