pegleglooker
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- Jun 9, 2006
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California Gold Ingot For Sale
Photo Courtesy of Stack’s, Lot 3535, John J. Ford, Jr. Collection Part XX & XXI, October 2007 Sale.
This rectangular gold ingot measures approximately 1.75 x .75 x .25” and weighs 3.0 troy oz. One side reads: 1849 1879 / 3 OUNCES 883 THOUS / CALIFORNIA PLACER / GOLD. The opposite side reads: VALUE / IN / UNITED STATES COIN / 54 DOLLARS 75 CENTS. The side is stamped J.REED ASSAYER.
John Reed was an assayer in San Bernardino, California in 1880 and 1881, according to McKinney’s Pacific Coast Gazetteer. He was born in 1849 and lived and worked in San Bernadino most of his life. He may be the same John Reed who was a quartz miner in Grass Valley in 1870 (b 1838 England). He is not found in the 1880 census, and may have been working at a remote southern California mining camp, most of which were outside the reach of the census takers.
San Bernardino was near three placer districts, Bear Valley, Holcomb Valley and San Antonio, each within 15 to 40 miles of the mountains to the east. These were quite active in 1880, and new discoveries at Calico and other sites caused a stir in the mining world. San Bernardino was the business center to these remote districts and Reed probably took advantage of it. More research is necessary to ascertain why Reed made this gold bar for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. He may have been promoting one of the southern California placer gold camps, which would explain its significance to be displayed at the Centennial Expo. John Reed of San Bernadino was the only assayer with this surname found in an extensive search of records. Two other Reeds appear which here mention: John S. Reed was a melter, and jesse Reed was a refiner with the Pacific Refining and Bullion Exchange in San Francisco. It is Unique and From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection.
Two silver ingots are known from the Centennial Expo, both from Nevada. This is the only gold ingot known today from this famous exposition.
$55,000.
Here's the link if you're inclined....http://www.holabirdamericana.com/HKA-Spring2008-Cat1/Spring_Cat_2008.html
