49View complete catalog, Register, and Bid online at FHWAC.comTreasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1132 1995 1995-W American Eagle 10 Anniv. Proof Bullion Set of 5 This set of five (one silver, four gold) bullion coins commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985 authorizing the U.S. Mint to strike and issue whole and fractional-ounce denominations of gold coins. The parallel Liberty Coin Act of 1985 authorized the U.S. Mint to strike one-ounce, $1 silver coins. This commemorative set includes a one-ounce $50 gold piece, a half-ounce $25 gold piece, a quarter-ounce $10 gold piece, a tenth-ounce $5 gold piece, and a one-ounce $1 silver piece. All are dated 1995. The obverse of the gold coins is the design by Augustus Saint-Gaudens with a reverse design by Miley Busick. The obverse of the silver coin is by Adolph A. Weinman with a reverse design of a heraldic American eagle with olive branches and arrows clasped in its talons. The whole set is presented in a book-like folio, approximately 4.25 x 6 x 1.25 inches, with plush red velvet cover and gold-colored die-cast eagle insignia and 10th anniversary banner on the front.Est. $3500-5000 HWAC# 166168
50April 29, 2023Treasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1133 1869 FNB Helena, 4th Nat. Bank, St. Louis Check with bags of gold dust and ingots, 1869 FNB Helena, Montana; 4th National Bank in Saint Louis, Missouri. Check with choice vignette of bags of gold dust and ingots sitting in front of a bank teller, 1869 with RN B1. This check is stunning in its appearance. The check was ultimately headed to Saint Louis’ 4th National Bank for customer Erfort & Petring. Castenholz, in his Field Guide to Revenue Stamped Paper, considers this check as one of the top western revenue imprinted checks, with only a small handful considered better, such as the purple Nevada imprint RN. This check, and the other two in this sale, all came from the famous Henry Clifford California Gold Rush collection of Territorial gold coins, illustrated lettersheets and more Gold Rush items. Est. $200-400 HWAC# 166209Lot# 1134 1869 FNB Helena, 4th Nat. Bank, St. Louis Check with bags of gold dust and ingots, 1869 FNB Helena, Montana; 4th National Bank in Saint Louis, Missouri. Check with choice vignette of bags of gold dust and ingots sitting in front of a bank teller, 1869 with RN B1. This check is stunning in its appearance. The check was ultimately headed to Saint Louis’ 4th National Bank for customer Fry, Holmes & Co.. Castenholz, in his Field Guide to Revenue Stamped Paper, considers this check as one of the top western revenue imprinted checks, with only a small handful considered better, such as the purple Nevada imprint RN. This check, and the other two in this sale, all came from the famous Henry Clifford California Gold Rush collection of Territorial gold coins, illustrated lettersheets and more Gold Rush items. Est. $200-400 HWAC# 166207Lot# 1135 1869 FNB Helena, Bank of California, SF Check with bags of gold dust and ingots, 1869 FNB Helena, Bank of California, SF Check with choice vignette of bags of gold dust and ingots sitting in front of a bank teller, 1869 with RN B1. These checks are extremely rare, and exemplify everything about the gold rush, with the three bags of gold dust sitting next to the pile of small ingots being deposited with a bank teller. While this vignette was made for a Helena, Montana Territory bank, and clearly represents the gold mined in the early Montana mining regions, it is all about the Western gold rushes. This check is stunning in its appearance. The check was ultimately headed to San Francisco’s Bank of California, of which D.O. Mills was president. His sister Addie Easton was on the S.S. Central America in 1857. An original daguerreotype photograph of Mills and his family is part of this sale. Castenholz, in his Field Guide to Revenue Stamped Paper, considers this check as one of the top western revenue imprinted checks, with only a small handful considered better, such as the purple Nevada imprint RN. This check, and the other two in this sale, all came from the famous Henry Clifford California Gold Rush collection of Territorial gold coins, illustrated lettersheets and more Gold Rush items. This lot has an envelope from Clifford that contained the three checks.Est. $200-400 HWAC# 166208View current and opening bids online at HolabirdAmericana.com
51View complete catalog, Register, and Bid online at FHWAC.comTreasure Trove of Rarities Come See us and our friends at the Consign your items to the experts and let us help you realize the most for your collections. We’ve sold many fantastic collections over the years and we’re always excited for more great material! Consign with us and enter into a lasting and beneficial partnership.Holabird’s Western Americana CollectionsEmail us at [email protected] us toll free 844-HWAC-RNO (4922-766) WE WANT YOUR QUALITY CONSIGNMENTS!
52April 29, 2023Treasure Trove of Rarities
53View complete catalog, Register, and Bid online at FHWAC.comTreasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1136 Mills-Easton Family Daguerreotype, and Easton Portraits, 1857 An original family collection of four photographs in original hard shell cases, Three daguerreotypes and one ambrotype, all from 1857.Photo Collection of the Darius O. Mills Family, circa late 1857, and Portraiture of Addie Mills EastonThis lot consists of three original hard shell cased daguerreotype images of members of the D.O. Mills family:The Mills and Easton Families, Half Plate Daguerreotype.Original half plate (4 x 5”) daguerreotype of the D.O. Mills family in the original hard shell, hinged, pressed pattern leather case with gilt borders in excellent condition. The men, left to right: Edgar Mills, younger brother of D.O. Mills and his banking partner for years, with his wife Margaret McIver Swift Mills seated in front of him (as suggested by a living member of the family today). It is important to note that Edgar is standing immediately next to D.O. Mills, and was his “right hand man”; D.O. Mills, a young banker, business scholar and family patriarch in California; Ansel Easton, and his wife Addie, who sits directly in front of him, holding hands with Jane Mills, Darius Mills’ wife. Second from right does not appear to be of the same family, and may be his new, or about to be, partner Henry Miller. The man on the far right may be Niles Mills, a brother of D.O. Mills, of whom little has been written. The two women in the front row at left are thought to be the wives of two of the other brothers, Margaret Mills (wife of Edgar) and Helen Mills, wife of Niles (as suggested by a living family member). Each of the figures has pink coloring added to facial features and hands of the women. There is no indication of seasonality, such as Christmas.The photo appears to be a family portrait taken upon the return of Ansel and Addie to California after the sinking of the S.S. Central America, and the newly wedded couple’s separation at sea, not knowing if each other survived. Jane Mills holding the hand of Addie is particularly sweet and strongly familial, as if saying “thank God she is alive!” There is no mention of the family gathering in the California press through the end of 1858.The Mills family photograph, and that of the following portraiture in daguerreotype format, are thought to have been made by prominent San Francisco photographer Robert H. Vance at his San Francisco gallery in late 1857. The reason for this thought is that the ambrotype of Addie Easton was definitely taken by Vance at about the same time, and it makes sense she and the family would use a photographer known to them, who also happened to be the most famous, award winning and prolific photographer in California during the 1850s.Addie Easton and Sister-in-Law, Two Third Plate Daguerreotypes in Hard Shell CaseTwo daguerreotypes taken at different times. The image at the left was taken at the very same time as the family photo discussed above, with Addie Easton holding hands with one of her sisters-in-law, possible Helen Mills. They are in the very same clothing as the above family photo, thus taken the same day. The image on the right appears to be Addie Easton herself, though taken art a different time, as she is wearing different clothing, and the hair is not as finely cultured as in the family group photograph. The image of the two women at left have the rose, hand-colored facial cheeks and hands, as in the family photo. The image at the right has been wiped above and around the head, slightly damaging the original daguerreotype. Each photo has a glass covering. Hard shell case, 4 x 4-7/8”.Addie Easton, Third Plate Ambrotype Portrait by R.H. Vance in Leather Hard Shell Case Third plate original daguerreotype portrait by R. H. Vance of San Francisco of Addie Easton. No coloration of the facial features. Addie is wearing an interesting brooch, which under microscopy appears to be a brooch containing small nuggets of placer gold. Leather exterior hard shell case, 4 x 4-7/8”. Gilt frame stamped “R.H. Vance, San Francisco” in lower left corner, “Cutting’s Patent, July 4 & 11, 1854” in lower right corner.The notation of Vance is important. It strongly indicates that Vance was the photographer for all of the views here of the Mills family. Vance (1825-1876) got his start in the photography business about 1845 on the East Coast, probably in Maine or New Hampshire. Vance may have watched other New England businessmen families such as Aspinwall and Howland families, as they expanded their businesses to South America, cashing in on foreign sourced trade. The most important port at the time was Valparaiso, and it was there that a young Vance made his move. For about five years, Vance established a number of different galleries in South America, and took many landscape photographs inclusive of mining regions. As news of the California Gold Rush grew, Vance decided to move his main operation to San Francisco. His early views of San Francisco are very well known, particularly because of how he publicized his business and used important exhibitions to display hundreds of different images of his work. But today, few exist. Vance began experimenting with soft colors as early as the 1840s. He continued this practice in California and was using James H. Wise in San Francisco as his colorist, who is probably the man that personally colored these photographs of the Mills family in Vance’s San Francisco studio.Vance began experimenting with a new form of photography, the ambrotype in about 1855. He sought, and obtained, the exclusive rights for Cutting’s patent ambrotype process in California in 1856. By mid-1857, a number of photographers tried the “run-around” of Vance’s exclusivity, in the same manner as people ignoring Sutter’s and Fremont’s land ownership in the rich California gold regions.A number of the frames recovered from the S.S. Central America site were stamped with Vance’s name, indicative of his prominence in California during the Gold Rush. Much more can be read in the very fine work by Peter Palmquist, “Pioneer Photographers of the Far West, 1840-1865,” Stanford Press, 2000, pp559-566.Est. $2000-20000 HWAC# 166032
54April 29, 2023Treasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1137 California Gold Rush History, Q. D. Bowers, Special Edition, S.S. Central America California Gold Rush History, Q.D. Bowers, Special Edition, S.S. Central America. Published 2002. Contains placer gold in see-thru plastic embedded in the cover, visible in the gold pan on the inside front cover. The red leather covers are special gilt pressed patterns and vignettes. This 1055-page book that weight approximately twenty pounds, also has a facsimile SSCA gold ingot certificate of authenticity from 2000 in the back. The book illustrates nearly all of the ingots known as of 2000. More were recovered in the 2014 expedition. This is the quintessential book discussing all aspects of the fabled Ship of Gold, including news articles of the period. It is a “must have” for the California gold rush aficionado. Est. $500-2000 HWAC# 166179Lot# 1138 Framed Gold as Treasure From the S.S. Central America Framed Gold as Treasure From the S.S. Central America. 22 x 18” gold framed history of the S.S. Central America with three small gold nuggets weighing 5 grams. Originally marketed by Collector’s Universe decades ago, these beautiful historical frames with placer gold from 1857 rarely hit the market. SN 3134. Est. $400-600 HWAC# 166199Coins & Treasure from the S.S. Central America
55View complete catalog, Register, and Bid online at FHWAC.comTreasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1139 Five Troy ounces of Placer Gold from the S.S. Central America, 1857 Five Troy ounces of Placer Gold from the S.S. Central America, 1857 in a custom hard shell plastic holder made specifically for marketing of this unique California Gold Rush placer gold by PCGS. #39 of 88 made. Signed on the contained label by Bob Evans, Chief Scientist, and Dave Bowers, historian for the project. Please see the very special leather bound edition of Bowers’ Gold Rush book on the S.S. Central America in this sale. 5-5/8 x 8-5/8” x 7/8” thick that comes in a custom S.S. Central America Treasure leather tote bag. The label reflects the relative average of 880 to 885 fine gold. The gold contained is a wide cross section of dust, varying from pure gold dust to small nuggets up to 6mm long, which barely fits into the capsule. This is a choice representation of placer gold from the California Gold Rush. It is virtually unknown outside this impeccable Gold Rush provenance, with the exception of a few small nuggets in institutional collections. Est. $12000-17500 HWAC# 166178
56April 29, 2023Treasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1140 Placer Gold Dust from Sotheby’s 2000 SSCA Sale Approximately ten grams of placer gold dust in the original Sotheby’s clear plastic box (2” x 2” x 1/2”) with the original Sotheby’s purple label from their first and only SSCA sale (2000), lot 355 in New York. The total weight of the gold plus plastic box is 25.8 grams.The story of this little box has not been told, and it is “time,” so we’ll give you part of the story. The SSCA gold portion of the entire ship’s treasure was the subject of intense court battles that culminated in 2000. In an important legal decision and Court directive, simply put, the Columbus-America Gold group was assigned to split the treasure into equal parts such that the surviving insurance entities that had insured the gold in 1857 could take seven picks to randomly arrive at their awarded split, which was about seven percent (remember- this is the simple version). The court’s directive had the CG group make up all of the lots from all the gold, and the insurance representatives would get the fist pick, and the two parties received alternate picks until the insurance guys had taken their allotted seven picks.One of the lots consisted of all of the placer gold, which was chosen by the insurance group. The insurance pics consisted of some ingots, placer gold, and gold coins. The entire seven lot selection was contracted to Sotheby’s auction house, slated for sale in 2000. After further legal maneuverings, the sale finally took place. Sotheby’s chose to sell the placer gold in small lots in what may have been their first ever attempt at internet auctions. As I recall, there were four sales. The first sale resulted in a sell through of all the placer gold at (as I recall) two to four times the spot gold price. The subsequent sales all saw the price rise dramatically, as everybody tried to obtain placer gold that was proof-positive mined during the California Gold Rush, the only such gold with this provenance left in the world. At the time, gold was under $500 per ounce.This box of placer gold is one of the very few original Sotheby’s placer gold offerings, and in itself, is a rarity. -fh Est. $700-3000 HWAC# 166062Lot# 1141 S.S. Central America 1845 Chile Peso PCGS certified S.S. Central America 1845SO Chile Peso with shipwreck effect. From the Pascual Esquerra Hoard. Pascual Esquerra was a Chilean and Spanish businessman, listing his hometowns as Valparaiso, Chile, and Zaragoza, Spain. In Panama he met up with a group that had sailed together from Callao, Peru. Jose Seguin, the Peruvian Minister to the United States, along with his Secretary, Nicolas Tirado. The group included Ange Richon, the Belgian Consul at Lima, Peru, who was carrying diplomatic dispatches to Paris. Esquerra was shipping a large amount of Chilean silver, all held in the gold room under the control of Purser Hull. The Chilean pesos were recovered in 2014 and were contained in cloth bags. The 50c silver coins were recovered in 1990, and were also in cloth bags under Purser Hull’s control. In total, it is thought that there were four large bags of Chilean coin numbering about 4,000 pieces. The coins were not mixed - the pesos were separate from the 50c coins. Est. $300-600 HWAC# 165459Lot# 1142 1855 S.S. Central America 1855 Chile 50c NGC certified S.S. Central America 1855 Chile 50c, shipwreck effect. From the Pascual Esquerra shipment contained in the Gold Room, which constituted a “hoard” of Chilean silver coins. Dark toning obverse and reverse. Pascual Esquerra was a Chilean and Spanish businessman, listing his hometowns as Valparaiso, Chile, and Zaragoza, Spain. In Panama he met up with a group that had sailed together from Callao, Peru. Jose Seguin, the Peruvian Minister to the United States, along with his Secretary, Nicolas Tirado. The group included Ange Richon, the Belgian Consul at Lima, Peru, who was carrying diplomatic dispatches to Paris. The silver coins found on the SSCA, especially the bulk shipment of Chilean silver coin, were not part of the Award that split the gold between the Columbus Discovery group and the surviving insurance companies. The Chilean coin was part of a shipment of silver by a specific passenger. It was, by its very nature, still considered “specie”, and would have acted as money anywhere in the United States. Esquerra was shipping a large amount of Chilean silver, all held in the gold room under the control of Purser Hull. The Chilean pesos were recovered in 2014 and were contained in cloth bags. The 50c silver coins were recovered in 1990, and were also in cloth bags under Purser Hull’s control. In total, it is thought that there were four large bags of Chilean coin numbering about 4,000 pieces. The coins were not mixed - the pesos were separate from the 50c coins. Est. $200-400 HWAC# 165451
57View complete catalog, Register, and Bid online at FHWAC.comTreasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1143 1856 S.S. Central America BG-107 Cal Fractional & Gold Dust 1856 Cal Fractional 25 cent piece (BG-107) PCGS certified MS63, housed with one pinch of California Gold Dust and certified by Bob Evans, chief scientist of the recovery crew of the S.S. Central America. BG-107 was made by Frontier, Deviercy & Co. with an obverse of a crude head, FD on coronet, 8 five-pointed stars, 1/4 / dollar / 1856 on reverse. Low rarity 4. Population 2 (Total: 47); Pop Higher 2 (Total: 36). This fractional gold coin was recovered in 2014 from one of the coin piles on the port side debris field. These “coin piles” are the remains of passenger leather gold and jewelry bags or luggage that decayed in place. A such, this is “passenger gold.” Only four octagonal gold quarters were found in the gold room, recovered before 1992. About 105 fractional gold coins were recovered from the 2014 venture, all in the debris field.Est. $4000-8000 HWAC# 165455Lot# 1144 25 Cent Gold, BG 221, MS62, Pinch Gold, SS Central America Treasure 25 Cent Gold, BG 221, PCGS MS62, Pinch Gold, SS Central America Treasure. This was the only BG 221 found on the entire SS Cental America project. There were 115 fractional gold coins found on the entire SS Central America project. These coins are thus proof-positive of their being made prior to October, 1857. The only others that are proof-positive of 1850s provenance are the very few, perhaps less than five, original 1850s letters that contained these gold coins that were saved through time. This coin came from an unspecified coin pile. There were several days where multiple piles were worked by the suction device such that the coins from those passenger coin piles were co-mingled. If you are an SSCA fractional gold collector, this is your only chance!Est. $1000-5000 HWAC# 166277Lot# 1145 1853 50 cent Gold Fractional, BG430, MS61, Gold Pinch, SS Central America Treasure 1853 50 cent Gold Fractional, BG430, PCGS MS61, Gold Pinch, SS Central America Treasure. Five of these BG 430 coins were found in various unspecified coin piles. These coins have impeccable provenance, sitting in a safe spot on the ocean floor since 1857. While many of the dies for the fractional gold coins were passed down through history, and restrikes made, those from the SSCA are the absolute real “McCoy”, all used during the California Gold Rush prior to October, 1857.Est. $1000-5000 HWAC# 166200
58April 29, 2023Treasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1146 1855 S.S. Central America BG-406 Cal Fractional & Gold Dust An outstanding rarity! PCGS certified MS64+: 1855 50 cent Cal Fractional gold piece, BG-406. With one pinch of California Gold Dust, certified by Bob Evans, chief scientist of the S.S. Central America recovery crew. Made by Frontier, Deviercy & Co., BG-406 has obverse of left facing head with 11 stars; reverse, 2nd L low, 5 pairs of berries on each branch, most stemless. High Rarity 6. PCGS Population: 1 (Total: 1) ; Pop Higher: 0 (Total: 2). This fractional gold coin was recovered in 2014 from one of the coin piles on the port side debris field. Approximately 105 fractional gold coins were recovered that year from these sites. These “coin piles” are the remains of passenger leather gold and jewelry bags or luggage that decayed in place. A such, this is “passenger gold.”Est. $6000-10000 HWAC# 165457Lot# 1147 S.S. Central America 1843-O small date, $2.50 Gold & Gold Dust PCGS graded F12 1843-O $2.50 gold piece (small date) with one pinch of California Gold Dust certified by Bob Evans, chief scientist of the recovery crew of the S.S. Central America. The 1843-O small date had a mintage of 288,002. PCGS Population: 1 (Total: 2) ; Pop Higher: 7 (Total: 485). This is the only 1843-O small date recovered from the SSCA. It was found in coin pile 23 in 2014. For notes and a map of the coin piles, please see our SSCA Artifact Sale Catalog #1, p 47. These “coin piles” are the remains of passenger leather gold and jewelry bags or luggage that decayed in place. A such, this is “passenger gold.”Est. $3000-5000 HWAC# 165458Lot# 1148 1843 $2.50, XF40, Gold Pinch, SS Central America Treasure 1843 $2.50, PCGS XF40, Gold Pinch, SS Central America Treasure. This is one of five 1843-O US $2.50 coins found in passenger gold in the debris field. Only one of these was graded finer. This is another coin that was well distributed among different passenger gold. The $2.50 gold coin was the “workhorse” gold coin of the Gold Rush period. It was equivalent to the Benjamin Franklin $100 bill of today (the inflation calculator places the value at $96.42).Est. $1500-3000 HWAC# 166276
59View complete catalog, Register, and Bid online at FHWAC.comTreasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1149 1847-O $2.50, VF35, Gold Pinch, SS Central America Treasure 1847-O $2.50, PCGS VF35, Gold Pinch, SS Central America Treasure. Four of these coins were found in the passenger money in various coin piles in the debris field. This coin came from one of these coin piles: 2, 20, 23, 24. This spread indicates how an “older” date of 1847 was well circulated among four different passengers carrying gold back to New York.Est. $1000-3000 HWAC# 166275Lot# 1150 1850 $2.50, XF40, Gold Pinch, SS Central America Treasure 1850 $2.50, PCGS XF40, Gold Pinch, SS Central America Treasure. Fifteen of these coins were found in the passenger gold in the debris field. The $2.50 is the workhorse coin of the Gold Rush era, equating to $100 today. The 1850 date is also significant because it represents passenger gold coming originally from the East coast, probably by would-be miners; it then went into circulation in California, only to be on the way back to New York in 1857.Est. $1000-5000 HWAC# 166278Lot# 1151 1851 S.S. Central America 1851-O, $2.50 Gold & Gold Dust PCGS certified VF 25: 1851-O $2.50 gold piece with one pinch of California Gold Dust signed by Bob Evans, Chief Scientist on the S.S. Central America recovery crew. Mintage of 148,000. PCGS Population: 1 (Total: 4) ; Pop Higher: 4 (Total: 257). This coin is one of four 1851-O $2.50 gold coins found within the 2014 recovery venture. It came from coin pile 2, 4, 5 or 20. None were found in the Gold Room. These “coin piles” are the remains of passenger leather gold and jewelry bags or luggage that decayed in place. A such, this is “passenger gold.”Est. $3000-6000 HWAC# 165456Lot# 1152 1852 $2.50, AU 58, Gold Pinch, SS Central America Treasure 1852 $2.50, PCGS AU 58, Gold Pinch, SS Central America Treasure. This is another workhorse gold coin from the early part of the gold rush, probably coming West originally with a hopeful miner, then placed in circulation in California, only to return in 1857. Fifty nine of these 1852 $2.50 gold coins were found on the SSCA project. In this case, 17 of these coins were found in the ship’s money in Purser Hull’s safe, and the remainder found in various passenger coin piles in the debris field.Est. $1000-5000 HWAC# 166279
60April 29, 2023Treasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1153 1856-S $2.50, MS61, with Gold Pinch, SS Central America Treasure 1856-S $2.50, MS61, with Gold Pinch, SS Central America Treasure. A number of 1856-S coins were recovered from coin piles as passenger money from the SSCA. The 1856-S and 1857-S $2.50 gold coins were “work horse” coins in commerce at the time the SS Sonora was loaded in San Francisco in September, 1857. many of the passengers had received gold coin in exchange for their gold deposits at the San Francisco Mint prior to departure, rendering a high population of these two coins in passenger money.Est. $7000-10000 HWAC# 166273Lot# 1154 1857-S $2.50 Gold, MS61, & A Pinch, S.S. Central America Treasure PCGS MS 61, gold shield holder. PCGS Population 15; Pop Higher: 10. Included is One Pinch of California Gold Dust certified by Bob Evans, chief scientist of the recovery team. Scarce as a date (mintage 69,200) and extremely rare uncirculated. A number of these 1857-S quarter eagle gold coins were found in the passenger gold of the various coin piles in the debris field. There are several important things about the 1857-S quarter eagles found on the SS Central America. First, these coins were, for the most part, not part of the monetary shipments held within the treasure boxes. Those boxes held gold ingots and brand new, mint state 1857-S $20 double eagle gold coins. One or two of the boxes also carried private gold issues, as well as $50 octagonal gold coins clearly removed from circulation by banks at the time. These quarter eagles, as we have written in other descriptions in this catalog, were the “work horse” coins of the Gold Rush. They were equivalent to$100 today- the same buying power as that $100 bill in your wallet. And unlike the 1857-s $20s that were stacked in the treasure boxes, there were no treasure boxes full of $2.50 gold coins. They were all carried as passenger gold and were also part of the ship’s money found in the safe. The mint state nature of the coins is very simple- passengers departing on the SS Sonora for New York or other parts unknown, “cashed in” their placer gold or gold ingots at the San Francisco Branch Mint before departure. Thus many of the $2.50 1857-S gold coins are found in dead-mint state because the passengers has just received them prior to boarding. Dan Owens wrote a fine piece on this very aspect about a decade ago. Est. $6000-8000 HWAC# 166262
61View complete catalog, Register, and Bid online at FHWAC.comTreasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1155 1855 1855-S US $5, AU55, with “One Pinch” of gold dust 1855-S US $5, PCGS AU55, S.S. Central America, with “One Pinch” of gold dust. Exceptional low mintage of 61,000 coins. This coin is one of only 11 of 1855-S $5 coins found on the S.S. Central America. Akers noted that most were well circulated in a survey of these coins sold between 1921 and 1978. The population reports of PCGS and NGC show extreme rarity in uncirculated with a combined seven coins (probably at least half are the same coin); PCGS shows 47 in MS55-58 and NGC shows 37 in MS 55-58, again probably at least half are the same coins. This coin takes on additional significance as a coin recovered from the SSCA. The coin has been specially packaged with a “pinch” of placer gold from that fabled “Ship of Gold”, which was thought to represent one pennyweight, or 1/20th of an ounce and thus $1 in 1857. This is not ordinary gold dust you might mine in California today. It was mined in 1857 and is some of the very little actual gold mined during the California Gold Rush with absolute provenance. Nearly all of the gold from the Gold Rush was melted, except what has been found on the S.S. Central America and a few other nuggets in museums.Est. $5500-7500 HWAC# 166175Lot# 1156 1857-S US $5, MS63, Pinch of Gold, S.S. Central America 1857-S US $5, PCGS MS63, with a “Pinch of Gold,” S.S. Central America. Stunning, fully lustrous mint state, brand spanking new 1857-S from the fabled Ship of Gold, which carried millions in uncirculated gold coins from the relatively new San Francisco Branch Mint. Another great rarity with fifteen graded in MS63 by PCGS and ten coins graded finer, with many of these coins resubmitted for possible upgrade, such that the actual number of coins may be only half. It is a key date- only 87,000 minted, and the same date as the sinking of the Ship of Gold. Twelve 1857-S $5 coins were recovered from the S.S. Central America, which probably account for most of the known mint state coins. Much rarer than the 1857-S $20 coins, you won’t want to miss this coin to add to your S.S. Central America collection and your SSCA $20 1857-S.Est. $20000-30000 HWAC# 166176
62April 29, 2023Treasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1157 1857-S $20 with Golden Red Patina, the “Golden Gate” Coin! S.S. Central America The spectacular and striking golden red patina 1857-S known as the “Golden Gate” coin. Unconserved and pristine gold piece, ex: Christie’s Sale Lot #150, December 2000. Framed and matted with a picture of the S.S. Central America, with a brass plaque detailing its pedigree. The Golden Gate coin is a superb gem, with the appearance of an MS66 obverse with a glowing, colorful, proof-like obverse surface. Another unconserved 1857-S coins known as the “Super Nova” sold in 2018 for $282,000. This coin was one of a very few of the fabulous US 1857-S double eagle coins found in the gold room of the SS Central America that had such striking patina that Chief Scientist Bob Evans “put his foot down” when told to conserve all gold coins, and refused to change the appearance of the stunning golden red patina, so reminiscent of the Golden Gate which was a major emblematic representation of the Gold Rush since the 1850s, often found on gold jewelry of the period. These coins came directly from the San Francisco Mint and went to the bottom of the ocean for 130 years before being rescued. Coins with special colorful patina have always been exceptionally prized by collectors. Est. $75000-200000 HWAC# 165460“The Golden Gate Coin”With Stunning Red Patina!
63View complete catalog, Register, and Bid online at FHWAC.comTreasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1158 Kellogg & Humbert 13.59 Oz Gold Ingot, S.S. Central America Kellogg & Humbert 13.59 Oz Gold Ingot, Serial number 833, 843 fine, $236.82 in 1857 dollars, stamped “Kellogg &” on one long edge and “Humbert” on the opposing long edge. 833 stamped on the reverse with diametrically opposing assay chips from two corners. S.S. Central AmericaSummaryAugustus Humbert and John Glover Kellogg are among the most famous assayers in California Gold Rush history. Kellogg had previously been in partnership with Richter, then John Hewston (1854-55). The Kellogg & Humbert partnership formed in 1855 and lasted till 1860. In addition to the ingots, the firm minted gold coins to fill the void left by the recently opened San Francisco Mint who couldn’t keep up with the Gold Rush demand. They were among the most active and prolific issuers of gold bullion in both ingots and coins during the mid-1850s. After 1860, Kellogg left the partnership, and Humbert partnered with Hewston.Of the 577 gold bars recovered from the S.S. Central America shipwreck, 373 were made by the Kellogg & Humbert firm, clearly demonstrating their dominance and reputation. This ingot is a near-perfect size, showing the attributes of a full-face hallmark so highly desired by collectors today, yet its relatively small size is perfect for any treasure display.The Beginning: Kellogg & Humbert, California Pioneers in More Ways Than One!Augustus Humbert was critical to the beginnings of the California assaying and coining business. He was the first assayer for the newly created US Assay Office in San Francisco in February of 1851, where he produced the very first octagonal $50 gold “slugs”, unquestionably one of the most popular coins collected today among US Coin collectors. It was the very first official US $50 gold piece. Humbert was appointed as US Assayer for the new USAO in San Francisco by Congress. In the fall of 1850, he was escorted to California by John Little Moffat, a veteran Georgia gold man, California pioneer and the man who pioneered gold coinage in California, along with T. Butler King, congressman from California who championed pushing for an official US Assay Office and US Branch Mint in California. Moffat began making his own gold coins in 1849. He hired John Kellogg, a lawyer who also arrived in 1849, to help run the business. Kuner made the dies for the $5 and $10 coins, and Curtis, Perry & Ward joined the group.Humbert et al sold the USAO building and contents to the new US Branch Mint on Dec. 14, 1853. Five days later, he announced a new partnership with Richter, known as Kellogg & Co., who quickly began making $20 gold pieces before the Mint could get into production. This was a much needed source of coinage for the gold-rich California. The partnership with Richter lasted only about four months, and Kellogg brought in John Hewston, an analytical chemist from Philadelphia. A scant year later, Kellogg partnered with his friend Augustus Humbert, together again in a strong working relationship, and the pair grew their business tremendously. By May of 1855, Kellogg was supplying more than 50% more coins into the California monetary stream than the Branch Mint who couldn’t keep up with the Gold Rush demand for coin. Hewston rejoined the firm in 1855, and the company thrived through 1860 as perhaps the largest gold assayers and refinery in America. Kellogg & Humbert’s major competitor was Justh & Hunter. Emanuel Justh had been an assistant assayer at the new US Branch Mint at San Francisco, starting there literally just after the Branch Mint opened.The sinking of the SSCA in 1857 left a pile of gold ingots on the ocean floor 7,200 feet deep, all tightly packed into wood treasure boxes and stacked on the wood shelves of the metal-floored secure storage room, now known as the “gold room.” The shippers of Kellogg & Humbert gold ingots are unknown, and may well have been a number of banks including Wells, Fargo & Co., since at the time, they were among the top two gold ingot producers in California, along with Justh & Hunter. California Gold Rush gold ingots were virtually unknown until the discovery of the S.S. Central America.
64April 29, 2023Treasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1159 1854-O US 50c Arrows S.S. Republic 1854-O Seated Liberty Half Dollar (a.k.a. Arrows) SHIPWRECK EFFECT because this was recovered from the shipwreck of the S.S. Republic as attested by the custom-designed NGC slab design. Original mintage of 5,240,000. These half dollars were part of the approximately 51,000 coins recovered from the shipwreck.Est. $500-1200 HWAC# 166270Lot# 1160 1858-O US 50c Arrows S.S. Republic 1858-O Seated Liberty Half Dollar (a.k.a. Arrows) SHIPWRECK EFFECT (E) AU. This piece was part of the approximately 51,000 coins recovered from the shipwreck of the S.S. Republic. It is housed in a custom-designed NGC slab design labeled SS REPUBLIC. Original mintage of 5,240,000.Est. $500-1200 HWAC# 166271The SSCA Gold Ingots577 gold ingots have been recovered from the SSCA, all from the gold room as shown in the combined inventory of the expeditions of 1988-2014. Several years ago, 78 ingots were removed for melting and conversion to commemorative coins. Today, just over 300 Kellogg & Humbert gold ingots survive. The Kellogg & Humbert gold ingots are among the most desirable ingots from the SSCA treasure. None of the Kellogg & Humbert gold ingots under fifty troy ounces were removed from the population for melting, underscoring their importance and demand. The small ingots are the most popular by far, and this ingot at 13.59 ounces is one of the choice smaller gold ingots.It is just large enough to have the Kellogg & Humbert hallmark split evenly between two opposing sides. Note on Fineness All of the gold ingots found on the SSCA are “dore” bars. They are ingots or bars containing the original amount of gold and silver as present in the original gold consignment given to the assayer. It is often thought that California native gold contains an average of about 885 fine gold, with the rest silver. In an interesting comparison, the average gold content of the 577 gold bars on the SSCA is 876 fine gold and 124 fine silver, coincidently very close to the “accepted average” of California native gold.While gold in the California Mother lode region varies highly from over 950 fine to about 588 fine, it is far different in different parts of the world. As an example, the Appalachian gold belt is generally over 900 fine. Each and every major gold region on different tectonic plates, each with a distinctly different mode of formation, has its own characteristic gold fineness and trace metals that make it (nearly) unique. This Kellogg & Humbert gold ingot is 843 fine, a classic representation of California gold of about average fineness. It is, as such, a perfect example of the California Gold Rush assay ingot, none of which were known to exist prior to the S.S. Central America discovery.Est. $80000-100000 HWAC# 166177S.S. Republic Coins
65View complete catalog, Register, and Bid online at FHWAC.comTreasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1161 1859-O US 50c Arrows S.S. Republic 1859-O Seated Liberty Half Dollar (a.k.a. Arrows) SHIPWRECK EFFECT (B) AU. Another silver piece that was part of the approximately 51,000 coins recovered from the shipwreck of the S.S. Republic. Housed in a custom-designed NGC slab design labeled SS REPUBLIC. Original mintage of 2,834,000.Est. $500-1200 HWAC# 166272Lot# 1162 1859 S.S. Republic 1859-O Counterstamped “TN”, Seated Liberty Half Dollar Certified by NGC as UNC with shipwreck effect, an 1859-O Seated Liberty No Motto half dollar. Hand counter-stamped obverse: “T.N” and reverse: “1861.” As a counter-stamped coin from the S.S. Republic, the coin bears additional importance. The Republic sank off the coast or Louisiana in October, 1865, carrying coin for both public and private parties, as well as a payroll for soldiers. With the Civil War over, New Orleans was beginning to prosper. This coin, dated 1859, may have had a portion of its life originating in Tennessee in 1861. At the onset of the Civil War, Tennessee was approximately 70% Unionist. But after the attack at Fort Sumpter, the political tide changed, such that when the state voted on secession in July, the secessionists barely won the vote, and Tennessee became the last state to enter the Confederacy. The state had loud political factions, and this coin emphasizes that fact, as a Tennessee loyalist clearly stamped TN, 1861 on this coin during these difficult first six months of 1861. This is a unique and fascinating coin.Est. $1000-5000 HWAC# 166056High resolution images, including many additional photos are available online! Zoom in and see close up details by visitingFHWAC.com
66April 29, 2023Treasure Trove of RaritiesLot# 1164 1865 US $20, SS Republic, MS64 1865 US $20, SS Republic, NGC MS64. This is a spectacular coin, in nearly perfect condition, from the SS Republic, which sank off the coast of Port Royal in 1865. As a dead mint coin, it was part of a monetary shipment of brand new $20’s as part of one of the shipments, probably perfectly preserved in a treasure box. Gold coins from the Republic are rare. Most of the volume of coins recovered were silver. The fields of this coin are near proof-like. It is a coin of exceptional rarity in MS64 and MS65, with five graded in MS64, and only two finer in MS65. This is a prize for any collection as a great rarity, but is even better as a treasure coin in this condition! Est. $35000-60000 HWAC# 166173Lot# 1163 1864 $20, MS61, Liberty Head Gold Piece, S.S. Republic Treasure NGC certified MS 61 and recovered from the S.S. Republic whose image appears on the label. Mintage of 204,285. Total Graded by NGC: In MS 61: 11; In Higher Grades: 6. Very tough and popular Civil War date. Beautiful coin. Est. $30000-45000 HWAC# 166266
PHONE BID SHEETHolabird Western Americana Collections3555 Airway Dr. #308 Reno, NV 89511 775-851-1859 fax 775-851-1834Email: info@ hwac.com Website: www.FHWAC.comfName ___________________________________________________Company ________________________________________________Phone ___________________________________________________Alt. Phone _______________________________________________Address _________________________________________________City ________________________________State ___ Zip__________Email ____________________________________________________Dealer ________ Retail Tax ID ________________________________Absentee bidding is offered as a convenience to our clients who cannot attend the live sale. We are not responsible for any errors or failures to execute bids. For highly desired lots, bidding live is always the best way to secure your bids, whether in person or on the phone. If you have any questions or concerns regarding bidding, please contact us and we will guide you through the process and help you find the best method of bidding for your circumstance.By submitting these bids, I agree that I have read and will honor all terms and conditions of the sale. I have submitted all lot numbers and bid amounts correctly, and acknowledge that it is my responsibility to check the accuracy. I understand that a 2 % bidder’s premium will be added to the hammer price as outlined in the terms and conditions.0Signed_____________________________________________________________________________ Date_____________________Lot #BidLot #BidLot #BidFor Office Use OnlyBidder #Entered ByDateBid IncrementsFrom: To: Increment:$1 $95 $5$100 $190 $10$200 $475 $25$500 $1450 $50$1500 $3400 $100$3500 $9750 $250$10,000 $30,000 $500$30,000 up $1000April 202320%
ABSENTEE BID SHEETHolabird Western Americana Collections3555 Airway Dr. #308 Reno, NV 89511 775-851-1859 fax 775-851-1834Email: info@ hwac.com Website: www.FHWAC.comfName ___________________________________________________Company ________________________________________________Phone ___________________________________________________Alt. Phone _______________________________________________Address _________________________________________________City ________________________________State ___ Zip__________Email ____________________________________________________Dealer ________ Retail Tax ID ________________________________Absentee bidding is offered as a convenience to our clients who cannot attend the live sale. We are not responsible for any errors or failures to execute bids. For highly desired lots, bidding live is always the best way to secure your bids, whether in person or on the phone. If you have any questions or concerns regarding bidding, please contact us and we will guide you through the process and help you find the best method of bidding for your circumstance.By submitting these bids, I agree that I have read and will honor all terms and conditions of the sale. I have submitted all lot numbers and bid amounts correctly, and acknowledge that it is my responsibility to check the accuracy. I understand that a 2 % bidder’s premium will be added to the hammer price as outlined in the terms and conditions.0Signed_____________________________________________________________________________ Date_____________________Lot #BidLot #BidLot #BidFor Office Use OnlyBidder #Entered ByDateBid IncrementsFrom: To: Increment:$1 $95 $5$100 $190 $10$200 $475 $25$500 $1450 $50$1500 $3400 $100$3500 $9750 $250$10,000 $30,000 $500$30,000 up $1000April 2023
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