AUCTION  /  THE GOLDEN WEST AUCTIONS

THE GOLDEN WEST AUCTIONS

Auction Currency:USD Auction Location:Each session will be held at different locations, Sacramento, California, 95815, United States

Auction Details

The Golden West Sale encompasses three sessions of auctions covering some of the most important historical western material from the Gold Rush periods of California, Nevada and Colorado. The material has been assembled from many of the great western collections, as well as original material handed down within Gold Rush families, held intact for over 100 years.
Session A of the Golden West Sale encompasses the annual WESTS (Western States Token Society) token auction. This year the highlight is clearly and unarguably the finest Western Indian Trader, Fort & Territorial collection ever assembled at public auction. The more than 500 lot sale contains dozens of R9 and R10 tokens, many of which have not seen the light of day in at least four decades. Some ephemera also is included from Indian Trader sites. Indian Trader tokens are an important form of money exchanged between Indians and Anglos in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Trading Posts were a way of life in the isolated outposts of the western plains and mountains, swapping furs, rugs, coats and other items for food stuffs and equipment. There has never been a sale of this magnitude and importance. The end of this sale will include a comprehensive collection of Naval tokens never before offered and with NO ESTIMATES or MINIMUM BID REQUIREMENTS, as this offering will set the pricing precedent for naval tokens.
Session B encompasses many of the popular collecting categories. It includes a strong photograph collection of American saloon interiors, saloon ephemera and Gold Rush region saloon tokens, also known as Pioneer Minor Coinage. Part of the saloon section includes a large collection of the ultra-rare Good-for mirrors, one of the rarest forms of money, many with pictorial representations of the fabulous “gay-90’s” saloon girls, as well as advertising mirrors. This is the largest mirror offering since the Rosa sale of 1988. Most of the mirrors are so rare that only one to three specimens of each are known. The session will be rounded out by a collection of So-called dollars and Hibler Kappen related material, $50 slug facsimiles, Chopmarked coins, Golden Gate International Exposition Medals and more. Much of this section is from the well-known Bill Weber Collection.
Session C The highlight of the sale is certainly the newly discovered Washington Nugget, a nearly 100 ounce nugget (and several others) found in an unmined section of the Omega-Malakoff Tertiary Channel in February, 2010 that made national news. The nuggets are accompanied by two large original nineteenth-century bullion scales (Christian Becker, New York; Henry Troemner, Philadelphia), It is accompanied in the sale by some masterful original Gold Rush art, inclusive of a spectacular and early rendition of a miner, several broadsides- a miner in lithographic form, panoramic views of mining communities, a number of original Currier & Ives prints of the Gold Rush and Salt Lake City, stage coach pieces, and the Alaska 1893 Yukon/Alaska Miners Union Banner.
A massive Gold Rush banking collection covers the 1850’s through 1860’s in California and Nevada, with what is probably the largest Gold Rush period banking collection ever offered publicly. It contains more than 100 different Bills of Exchange, a form of the first circulating currency on the West Coast. A wonderful and large collection of Gold Rush banking documents augments this fine collection, along with original leather gold pokes and money belts.
Some of the highlights of the Gold Rush Collection are documents from the original 1910 San Francisco sale of the estate of James King of William, documents signed by Adolph Sutro, California coiner F. D. Kohler, and others. A very rare letter book from Nevada mining and railroad magnate Hume Yerington from the mid-1860’s contains incredible information about his life prior to his railroad successes.
A large collection of US Mint ephemera is included, including rare bullion receipts, photographs, lithograph, gold coin and other coin bank bags, as well as rare Carson City gold and silver coins. Accompanying the Mint ephemera is a section of California Counters and rare California Gold Rush tokens.
Fort Mead,Dakota South - W.S. Fanshawe & Co. Token *Territorial* :301Fort Mead,Dakota South - W.S. Fanshawe & Co. Token *Territorial* :
Obverse: W.S. Fanshawe & Co. / Good For / 100 / In / Merchandise / Post Traders Fort Mead, D.T.; reverse: Same. Br, 30mm, extremely fine condition,
Start Price : 375.00 | Estimates : 750.00 - 1,500.00
Sold for (750.00 + 131.25) x 1 = 881.25
Fort Sully,Dakota South - N.H. Young Post Trader Token *Territorial* : 15 -302Fort Sully,Dakota South - N.H. Young Post Trader Token *Territorial* : 15 -
Obverse: N.H. Young / Post trader / Ft. Sully, D.T. (all incused). Reverse: 15 (incused). 24mm, white metal. DT150a. Dirt on both sides, possibly a ca
Start Price : 375.00 | Estimates : 750.00 - 1,500.00
Sold for (600.00 + 105.00) x 1 = 705.00
Fort Sully,Dakota South - N.H. Young Token *Territorial* :303Fort Sully,Dakota South - N.H. Young Token *Territorial* :
Obverse: N.H. Young/ Post Trader / Ft. Sully D.T.; reverse: 25. WM, 24mm, very good condition.
Start Price : 375.00 | Estimates : 750.00 - 1,500.00
Sold for (550.00 + 96.25) x 1 = 646.25
Fort Thompson,Dakota South - Buffalo County - F.J.D & Co. Token *Territorial* :304Fort Thompson,Dakota South - Buffalo County - F.J.D & Co. Token *Territorial* :
Obverse: Payable / In Goods / 100 /F.J.D. & Co. / Fort Thompson D.T.; reverse: Liberty head. Br, 26mm, fine condition.
Start Price : 375.00 | Estimates : 750.00 - 1,500.00
Sold for (550.00 + 96.25) x 1 = 646.25
Sioux Falls,Dakota South - Minnehaha/Lincoln County - Mark Bridge Token :305Sioux Falls,Dakota South - Minnehaha/Lincoln County - Mark Bridge Token :
Obverse: Mark / Bridge / Sioux Falls / S. Dak. Reverse: 2 1/2. White metal, 25mm, extra fine condition. Mark Bridge came to Sioux Falls when he was tw
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimates : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (120.00 + 21.00) x 1 = 141.00
Indianapolis,IN - Marion County - Parry Mfg. Co. Token :306Indianapolis,IN - Marion County - Parry Mfg. Co. Token :
Obverse: Parry Mfg. Co. Indianapolis / high grade / buggies; Reverse: Buggies / High Grade / Surreys / Indianapolis. Copper, 28mm. Extremely fine cond
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
Indianapolis,IN - Marion County - Stegemeier Bros. Token : 2.5c -307Indianapolis,IN - Marion County - Stegemeier Bros. Token : 2.5c -
Obverse: Stegemeier Bros. / 17 & 19 / N. Illinois / Street; Reverse: Good For / 2 1/2c / In Trade. Fine condition, a couple of flecks of corrosion on
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :308Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :
Obverse: Lee & Reynolds / camp / supply / Ind. Terr.; reserve: good for / one dollar / in merchandise / in our Indian / trade. Brass, 25mm. Extremely
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (300.00 + 52.50) x 1 = 352.50
Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :309Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :
Obverse: left facing buffalo; Reverse: Lee & Reynolds / trade check / Cheyenne Agency. 30mm, fine condition.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (200.00 + 35.00) x 1 = 235.00
Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :310Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :
Obverse: left facing buffalo; Reverse: Lee & Reynolds / trade check / Cheyenne Agency. 30mm, very good condition.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (300.00 + 52.50) x 1 = 352.50
Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :311Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :
Obverse: Lee & Reynolds / Camp / Supply / Ind. Ter. Reverse: Good for / one dollar / in / merchandise / in our indian / trade. Brass, 26mm. Extremely
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (325.00 + 56.88) x 1 = 381.88
Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :312Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :
Obverse: left facing buffalo; Reverse: Lee & Reynolds / trademark/ Cheyenne Agency. 30mm, fine condition.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (450.00 + 78.75) x 1 = 528.75
Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :313Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :
Obverse: Lee & Reynolds / camp / supply / Ind. Terr.; reserve: good for / one dollar / in merchandise / in our indian / trade. Brass, 25mm. Very good
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimates : 500.00 - 700.00
Sold for (250.00 + 43.75) x 1 = 293.75
Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :314Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :
Obverse: left facing buffalo; Reverse: Lee & Reynolds / trade check / Cheyenne Agency. 30mm, fine condition.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (350.00 + 61.25) x 1 = 411.25
Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :315Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :
Obverse: Lee & Reynolds / camp / supply / Ind. Terr.; reserve: good for / one dollar / in merchandise / in our Indian / trade. Brass, 25mm. Fine condi
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimates : 500.00 - 700.00
Sold for (350.00 + 61.25) x 1 = 411.25
Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :316Indian Terr - Lee & Reynolds Token :
Obverse: left facing buffalo; Reverse: Lee & Reynolds / trademark/ Cheyenne Agency. 30mm, very good condition.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (160.00 + 28.00) x 1 = 188.00
Sac & Fox Agency,Indian Territory - Lewis & Pickett Token :317Sac & Fox Agency,Indian Territory - Lewis & Pickett Token :
Obverse: liberty head / 1876; reverse: Good in trade with / Lewis & Pickett / for / 50 / Sac and Fox Agency / Indian Territory. Copper, 24mm. Good con
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimates : 300.00 - 700.00
Sold for (300.00 + 52.50) x 1 = 352.50
Sac & Fox Agency,Indian Territory - Lewis & Pickett Token :318Sac & Fox Agency,Indian Territory - Lewis & Pickett Token :
Obverse: Liberty facing left / 1875; Reverse: Good in trade with / Lewis & Pickett / for / 25 / Sac & Fox Agency / Indian Territory. 20mm, brass. Goo
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimates : 300.00 - 700.00
Sold for (800.00 + 140.00) x 1 = 940.00
Leavenworth,KS - Durfee & Peck Token :319Leavenworth,KS - Durfee & Peck Token :
Obverse: Indian, with spear, on pony running to right; Reverse: Good for / one dollar / in merchandise / Durfee & Peck. Brass, 28mm. Extremely fine co
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimates : 300.00 - 700.00
Sold for (600.00 + 105.00) x 1 = 705.00
Leavenworth,KS - Durfee & Peck Token :321Leavenworth,KS - Durfee & Peck Token :
Obverse: (pictorial steamship); reverse: Good For / 50 cents / In Merchandise / Durfee & Peck. Br, 23mm. Very fine condition, indented at top of each
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimates : 300.00 - 700.00
Sold for (100.00 + 17.50) x 1 = 117.50
Leavenworth,KS - Durfee & Peck Token :322Leavenworth,KS - Durfee & Peck Token :
Obverse: Buffalo charging to left. Reverse: Good for / 25 cents / in / Merchandise Durffee & Peck. Brass, 20mm. EF condition.
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimates : 300.00 - 700.00
Sold for (600.00 + 105.00) x 1 = 705.00
Leavenworth,KS - Durfee & Peck Token :323Leavenworth,KS - Durfee & Peck Token :
Obverse: Side wheel ferry boat; Reverse: Good for / 50 cents / in merchandise / Durfee & Peck. Copper, 24mm. Curto 49. Extremely fine condition with s
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimates : 300.00 - 700.00
Sold for (600.00 + 105.00) x 1 = 705.00
Central Area,MN - Mille Lacs Token : 25c -324Central Area,MN - Mille Lacs Token : 25c -
Obverse: Mille Lacs/ Indian / Trading Post; Reverse: Good For / 25c / in / Merchandise. Very fine condition.
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimates : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (325.00 + 56.88) x 1 = 381.88
Weston,MO - M.A. Abrahams Token :325Weston,MO - M.A. Abrahams Token :
Obverse: M.A. Abrahams / 10; Reverse: the peoples outfitting store/ Weston / Mo. Brass, 28mm. Fine condition.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (70.00 + 12.25) x 1 = 82.25
Butte,MT - Vieanna Brewery Token *Territorial* : 12 1/2c -326Butte,MT - Vieanna Brewery Token *Territorial* : 12 1/2c -
Obverse: John V. Petritz / Butte/ & / Walkerville /M.T. Reverse: Good for / 12 1/2c /Vieanna / Brewery / in / Trade. Fine condition,
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimates : 1,000.00 - 3,000.00
Sold for (1,100.00 + 192.50) x 1 = 1,292.50
Fort Benton,MT - Fort Benton Token :327Fort Benton,MT - Fort Benton Token :
Obverse: Fort Benton/1860; Reverse: Baker Street / Ferry / 25 / M. L. Lynch. Brass, 24mm. Purchased from Hal Dunn in 1974. Rare
Start Price : 375.00 | Estimates : 750.00 - 2,000.00
Sold for (750.00 + 131.25) x 1 = 881.25
Fort Benton,MT - Chouteau County - Grand Union Hotel Token - Fake!328Fort Benton,MT - Chouteau County - Grand Union Hotel Token - Fake!
This is a modern Fantasy Piece Obverse: Grand Union / Hotel / Spitzley & / Travers / Props / Fort Benton, M.T.; reverse: Good For / 1 / Drink. Br, 30
Start Price : 25.00 | Estimates : 50.00 - 200.00
Wolf Point,MT - Roosevelt County - P.W. Lewis Token :329Wolf Point,MT - Roosevelt County - P.W. Lewis Token :
Obverse: P.W. Lewis / Trader / Wolf Point / Store. Reverse: Good For / 50c / In Merchandise. 28mm, brass. Fine condition, some staining on obverse.
Start Price : 375.00 | Estimates : 750.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (900.00 + 157.50) x 1 = 1,057.50
Wolf Point,MT - Roosevelt County - S.T. Cogswell Token :330Wolf Point,MT - Roosevelt County - S.T. Cogswell Token :
Obverse: S.T. Cogswell / Indian / Trader / Wolf Point, Mont. Reverse: Good for /25c / in / Merchandise. 30mm, white metal, extra fine condition. Roy D
Start Price : 375.00 | Estimates : 750.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (400.00 + 70.00) x 1 = 470.00
Fort Kearney,NE - S.W. Beall Tokens :331Fort Kearney,NE - S.W. Beall Tokens :
Two tokens: 1)Obverse: Good For / 50 / cents in / Suttlers / Goods /S.W. Beall Sutler; reverse: (liberty coronet head) / 1866. Br, 26mm. Extremely fi
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimates : 400.00 - 800.00
Sold for (650.00 + 113.75) x 1 = 763.75
Fort Niobrara,NE - Cherry County - J.M. Thacher Token :332Fort Niobrara,NE - Cherry County - J.M. Thacher Token :
Obverse: J.M. Thacher / Post trader / Fort / Niobrara. Reverse: Redeemable value / 10c / In Merchandise. 28mm, brass. Almost uncirculated. J. M. Thach
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimates : 400.00 - 800.00
Sold for (225.00 + 39.38) x 1 = 264.38
Fort Niobrara,NE - Cherry County - J.M. Thatcher Token :333Fort Niobrara,NE - Cherry County - J.M. Thatcher Token :
Obverse: J.M. Thacher / Post trader / Fort / Niobrara. Reverse: Redeemable value / 10c / In Merchandise. 28mm, brass. Almost uncirculated. The holder
Start Price : 10.00
Sold for (650.00 + 113.75) x 1 = 763.75
Omaha Barracks,NE - J.L. Jewett Token :334Omaha Barracks,NE - J.L. Jewett Token :
Obverse: liberty head facing left / 1868; Reverse: Good / for 50 cts / at the / post traders / J.L. Jewett. Brass, 26mm. Fine condition. NE330 (Cunnin
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimates : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (700.00 + 122.50) x 1 = 822.50
NM - c1925 - Covers from New Mexico & Postcard :335NM - c1925 - Covers from New Mexico & Postcard :
Lot of 5. 1) Tan colored envelope with contents, UNOPENED, contents may be of a postcard. 3c purple hawaii postage stamp, cancelled Feb 28, 1938, Ado
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimates : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold for (75.00 + 13.13) x 1 = 88.13
NM - G.W. Sampson Token :336NM - G.W. Sampson Token :
Obverse:G.W. Sampson / Indian / Traders / New Mexico; Reverse: Good For / 5 / In Trade. Unlisted in Kiser. Sampson had stores in Rock Springs, New Mex
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimates : 500.00 - 1,500.00
Sold for (475.00 + 83.13) x 1 = 558.13
NM - 1883 - Tertio Mellenial Token :337NM - 1883 - Tertio Mellenial Token :
Obverse: Tertio / Mellenial / 1883 / Sante Fe / NM. Silver 15mm/ Commemorative Medalet. Very good condition.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 1,400.00
Sold for (100.00 + 17.50) x 1 = 117.50
Albuquerque,NM - Bernalillo County - Maisel's Indian Trading Post Token :338Albuquerque,NM - Bernalillo County - Maisel's Indian Trading Post Token :
Obverse: Maisel's / Indian Trading / Post / Albuquerque / New Mexico / sterling; reverse: blank. 17x33mm, 2.4 grams. Fine condition. Unlisted in Kiser
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimates : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (300.00 + 52.50) x 1 = 352.50
Antelope Trails,NM - J.H. McAdams Tokens :339Antelope Trails,NM - J.H. McAdams Tokens :
Three tokens: Obverse: J.H. McAdams / Antelope / Trails, / N. Mex.; reverse: Good for / 10, 25, 50 / In Merchandise. Al, 24,28,31mm. Good condition ov
Start Price : 300.00 | Estimates : 600.00 - 1,500.00
Sold for (200.00 + 35.00) x 1 = 235.00
Bernalillo,NM - Sandoval County - San Diego Merc. Co. Token :340Bernalillo,NM - Sandoval County - San Diego Merc. Co. Token :
Obverse: San Diego / Merc. / Co.; reverse: Good for / 10c / In / Merchandise. AL, 23mm. Very fine condition, some dirt in lettering. Purchased from Bi
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold for (120.00 + 21.00) x 1 = 141.00
Cabezon,NM - R.F. Heller Token :341Cabezon,NM - R.F. Heller Token :
Obverse: R.F. Heller / Cabezon / N.M.; reverse: Good for / 5c / In Trade. Br, 21mm. Extremely fine condition, but Kiser reports brass tokens are fake.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00
Cabezon,NM - R.F. Heller Token :342Cabezon,NM - R.F. Heller Token :
Obverse: R.F. Heller / Cabezon / N.M.; reverse: Good for / 5c/ In Trade. AL, 21mm. Extremely fine condition. Former ranch town near Cabezon peak estab
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (170.00 + 29.75) x 1 = 199.75
Cabezon,NM - R.F. Heller Token :343Cabezon,NM - R.F. Heller Token :
Obverse: R.F. Heller / Cabezon / N.M.; reverse: Good for / 10c / In Trade. AL, 25mm. Extremely fine condition, environmental damage lower right obvers
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (100.00 + 17.50) x 1 = 117.50
Cabezon,NM - R.F. Heller Token :344Cabezon,NM - R.F. Heller Token :
Obverse: R.F. Heller / Cabezon / N. M. ; reverse: Good for / 50c /In Trade. AL, 30mm. Extremely fine condition. Purchased from Hal Birt in 1980. Forme
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (180.00 + 31.50) x 1 = 211.50
China Springs,NM - McKinley County - China Springs Token :345China Springs,NM - McKinley County - China Springs Token :
Obverse: China Springs / Trading / Post; reverse: $1.00. Triangle. Fine condition, holed at top. Purchased from Birt in 1984. Unlisted in Kiser. Near
Start Price : 300.00 | Estimates : 600.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (450.00 + 78.75) x 1 = 528.75
China Springs,NM - McKinley County - China Springs Token :346China Springs,NM - McKinley County - China Springs Token :
Obverse: China Springs / Trading / Post; reverse: 25. Triangle, 29mm, R10. Fine condition, occasional dark toning. Near U.S. 666, just North of Gamer
Start Price : 300.00 | Estimates : 600.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (650.00 + 113.75) x 1 = 763.75
China Springs,NM - McKinley County - Mary Louis Token :347China Springs,NM - McKinley County - Mary Louis Token :
Obverse: Mary Louis / Indian /Trader/ China Springs; reverse: Good for / 25c / in / Merchandise. AL, 28mm. About uncirculated, some small environmenta
Start Price : 300.00 | Estimates : 600.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (800.00 + 140.00) x 1 = 940.00
China Springs,NM - McKinley County - Mary Louis Token :348China Springs,NM - McKinley County - Mary Louis Token :
Obverse: Mary Louis / Indian / Trader / China Springs; reverse: Good for / 50c / in / Merchandise. AL, 30mm. Very good condition, purchased from Birt
Start Price : 300.00 | Estimates : 600.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (700.00 + 122.50) x 1 = 822.50
Clarkville,NM - Ortega Gomez Token :349Clarkville,NM - Ortega Gomez Token :
Obverse: Ortega Gomez / Indian / Trading / Clarkville, N.M.; reverse: Good for / 1.00 / In / Merchandise. AL, 33mm. Extremely fine condition. Post of
Start Price : 350.00 | Estimates : 700.00 - 1,500.00
Sold for (600.00 + 105.00) x 1 = 705.00
Clarkville,NM - Ortega Gomez Token :350Clarkville,NM - Ortega Gomez Token :
Obverse: Ortega Gomez / Indian / Trading / Clarkville, N.M.; reverse: Good for / 50 / In / Merchandise. Al, 30mm, R10. Fine condition. Post office wa
Start Price : 350.00 | Estimates : 700.00 - 1,500.00
Sold for (550.00 + 96.25) x 1 = 646.25
Coolidge,NM - McKinley County - Chas. Paxton Token : 1 drink -351Coolidge,NM - McKinley County - Chas. Paxton Token : 1 drink -
Obverse: Chas. Paxton/ Coolidge / New Mexico; Reverse: Good For / One / Drink. R10. General Store & Saloon: 1886-1893 per Kiser. Poor condition, corr
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimates : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (275.00 + 48.13) x 1 = 323.13