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.
NV - 1864-1897 - Sutro Check Collection :2259NV - 1864-1897 - Sutro Check Collection :
Collection of three. Rare Signatures. 1. Signed by Hugo Sutro in Austin N. T. February 7th 1864. Payable to Phillipson and Mansfield for fifty dollars
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimates : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold for (160.00 + 28.00) x 1 = 188.00
San Francisco,CA - Septmember 5, 1854 - Wells Fargo Check2260San Francisco,CA - Septmember 5, 1854 - Wells Fargo Check
To Snow & Rey for $127 signed by the Citizens Steam Navigation Company, E. Chapman, Agent. Printed by Nesbitt & Co. Wallstreet on blue paper. Endorsed
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimates : 150.00 - 250.00
San Francisco,CA - c1910-20 but unknown - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check :2261San Francisco,CA - c1910-20 but unknown - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check :
This is a very rare, unissued, $20 travelers check on Wells Fargo & Co. Extremely Fine.
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimates : 150.00 - 350.00
Sold for (375.00 + 65.63) x 1 = 440.63
Carson City,NV - January 13, 1862 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check :2262Carson City,NV - January 13, 1862 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check :
Identical check to the early Virginia City Wells Fargo check printed by Excelsior Print in S.F. This one is boldly signed by Nevada Territorial Govern
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Gold Hill,NV - June 15, 1863 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check *Territorial* :2263Gold Hill,NV - June 15, 1863 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check *Territorial* :
Certificate of deposit with green ink on buff onion skin paper, manuscript dateline Gold Hill, N.T. Cancelled PAID through the signature. Fine.
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold for (100.00 + 17.50) x 1 = 117.50
Virginia City,NV - Storey County - October 7, 1861 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check :2264Virginia City,NV - Storey County - October 7, 1861 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check :
Very rare check signed by Graves, a Superintendent of the Gould & Curry Mine in V.C. Only a few of these checks are known today, none of which have th
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimates : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold for (50.00 + 8.75) x 1 = 58.75
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1861-1876 - Yerington and Kidder and H. M. Yerington Bank Checks :2265Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1861-1876 - Yerington and Kidder and H. M. Yerington Bank Checks :
Collection of three checks. There is little evidence that Henry Yerington and John Flint Kidder had a partnership of any kind except for these checks
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1867-1874 - Yerington Personal Bank Checks :2266Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1867-1874 - Yerington Personal Bank Checks :
Collection of four checks, one business check, and three personal. The first check, drawn on Wells, Fargo and Co. in Carson City on Sept. 10th 1867 p
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00
Helena,MT - Lewis and Clark County - April 19, 1901 - United States Assay Office Deposit Receipt :2267Helena,MT - Lewis and Clark County - April 19, 1901 - United States Assay Office Deposit Receipt :
Gold Bullion Deposit receipt at the Helena, Montana Assay office for 19 oz of gold dust. The Helena Assay Office was authorized in 1874 and opened in
Start Price : 188.00 | Estimates : 375.00 - 750.00
Sold for (200.00 + 35.00) x 1 = 235.00
1873 - Coinage Act Document :22681873 - Coinage Act Document :
Notice from Adams Express indicating receipt of $322,588.50 in gold coinage part of a lot of $701,000.00 of gold coin received Dec. 31, 1873. Receipt
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimates : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold for (225.00 + 39.38) x 1 = 264.38
San Francisco,CA - 1855 - Nevada Assayers Office Letter to the San Francisco Mint :2269San Francisco,CA - 1855 - Nevada Assayers Office Letter to the San Francisco Mint :
First of Transfer Check from the Unites States Treasury Department Mint at West Point, New York to the Mint at San Francisco, CA. This was issued for
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimates : 400.00 - 200.00
Sold for (850.00 + 148.75) x 1 = 998.75
San Francisco,CA - September 12, 1855 - Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited at the Branch Mint of t2270San Francisco,CA - September 12, 1855 - Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited at the Branch Mint of t
Receipt for gold deposited by S.A. McMeans, signed by Cahill for the San Francisco Branch Mint. Dr. S.A. McMeans was born in Dandridge, TN in 1808 and
Start Price : 750.00 | Estimates : 1,500.00 - 2,500.00
Sold for (750.00 + 131.25) x 1 = 881.25
San Francisco,CA - 1861 - Memorandum Grains, CA- California Placer Gold :2271San Francisco,CA - 1861 - Memorandum Grains, CA- California Placer Gold :
One of the earliest assay receipts. This memorandum records a deposit of Grains, California, referring to California Placer Gold. The memorandum is da
Start Price : 400.00 | Estimates : 800.00 - 1,200.00
Sold for (825.00 + 144.38) x 1 = 969.38
San Francisco,CA - 1856 - Hutchins California Magazine Vol.1 No. IV October 1856 :2272San Francisco,CA - 1856 - Hutchins California Magazine Vol.1 No. IV October 1856 :
Volume 1 number 4 from October 1856. The featured article is a detailed 8 page piece titled "Coining Money" describing the coining process...
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold for (350.00 + 61.25) x 1 = 411.25
San Francisco,CA - 1856-s - Five Dollar Gold Piece :2273San Francisco,CA - 1856-s - Five Dollar Gold Piece :
Uncertified 1856-S. Found by Bob Hilts in 1967 with a metal detector. Johntown, Nevada. Very Good Condition.
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimates : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (425.00 + 74.38) x 1 = 499.38
San Francisco,CA - 1865-1874 - Pollock, James Signed Checks :2274San Francisco,CA - 1865-1874 - Pollock, James Signed Checks :
Lot of four. 1) Feb. 3, 1874. Personal check No. 220 for $154.28. Issued to E. Knight & Co. 2) Sept. 12, 1865. Personal check (unnumbered) issued to M
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimates : 400.00 - 500.00
San Francisco,CA - March 31st, 1869 - San Francisco Branch Mint Silver Presentation Tray, John N. So2275San Francisco,CA - March 31st, 1869 - San Francisco Branch Mint Silver Presentation Tray, John N. So
Coin silver tray made by Shreve & Co. of San Francisco 4.5” x 6.5”, engraved, “J.N.S. from his fellow clerks of the Treasury Department U.S. Branch Mi
Start Price : 4,000.00 | Estimates : 8,000.00 - 10,000.00
Sold for (6,500.00 + 1,137.50) x 1 = 7,637.50
San Francisco,CA - 1874 - San Francisco Mint Stereoview :2276San Francisco,CA - 1874 - San Francisco Mint Stereoview :
Stereoview of the second San Francisco Mint Building shortly after its completion in 1874. It measures 3 ½” x 6 ¾” and is on a yellow card...
Start Price : 175.00 | Estimates : 350.00 - 650.00
Sold for (275.00 + 48.13) x 1 = 323.13
San Francisco,CA - 1875-1906 - San Francisco Mint Photographs :2277San Francisco,CA - 1875-1906 - San Francisco Mint Photographs :
This is a lot of 3 photographs, all are different sizes. The first is the largest of the three, measuring 9 ½” x 7.” This photograph has the sh...
Start Price : 400.00 | Estimates : 800.00 - 1,200.00
San Francisco,CA - June 4, 1877 - Pollock, James US Mint "Garage Sale" Document :2278San Francisco,CA - June 4, 1877 - Pollock, James US Mint "Garage Sale" Document :
Office of the U.S. Assistant Treasurer of documenting "sale of old material" totaling $98.90 deposited to the U.S. Treasury. The following...
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (50.00 + 8.75) x 1 = 58.75
San Francisco,CA - July 23, 1878 - Mint of the United States Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposit :2279San Francisco,CA - July 23, 1878 - Mint of the United States Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposit :
Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited (Am Gold)
Start Price : 125.00 | Estimates : 250.00 - 350.00
San Francisco,CA - c1900 - San Francisco Branch Mint Bar :2280San Francisco,CA - c1900 - San Francisco Branch Mint Bar :
Silver San Francisco Mint Bar, #936, 6.20 oz., 999.5 fine.
Start Price : 375.00 | Estimates : 750.00 - 1,250.00
Sold for (850.00 + 148.75) x 1 = 998.75
San Francisco,CA - January 27, 1904 - Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited and Yellow Aster Assay Re2281San Francisco,CA - January 27, 1904 - Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited and Yellow Aster Assay Re
This is a two item lot consisting of a Memorandum of Gold Bullion at the United States Mint of San Francisco and its assay receipt from the Yellow Ast
Start Price : 60.00 | Estimates : 120.00 - 250.00
Sold for (75.00 + 13.13) x 1 = 88.13
San Francisco,CA - 1939 - Memorandum of Deposit Report at US San Francisco Mint from Talapoosa Taili2282San Francisco,CA - 1939 - Memorandum of Deposit Report at US San Francisco Mint from Talapoosa Taili
Lot of six memorandums of deposit for gold and silver bullions at. Talapoosa was small mining community that was worked at early as 1864 according to
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
Denver,CO - 1873 - Denver Mint White Rocks Lode Assay Receipt (1) :2283Denver,CO - 1873 - Denver Mint White Rocks Lode Assay Receipt (1) :
From the United States Mint at Denver dated May 19, 1873. The ore assayed originated in the White Rocks Lode near Boulder, Wyoming. Gold was first dis
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimates : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (500.00 + 87.50) x 1 = 587.50
Denver,CO - 1873 - Denver Mint White Rocks Lode Assay Receipt (2) :2284Denver,CO - 1873 - Denver Mint White Rocks Lode Assay Receipt (2) :
Denver,CO - 1873 - Denver Mint White Rocks Lode Assay Receipt (2) :
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimates : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (500.00 + 87.50) x 1 = 587.50
Denver,CO - 1873 - Denver Mint White Rocks Lode Assay Receipt (3) :2285Denver,CO - 1873 - Denver Mint White Rocks Lode Assay Receipt (3) :
Denver,CO - 1873 - Denver Mint White Rocks Lode Assay Receipt (3) :
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimates : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (475.00 + 83.13) x 1 = 558.13
Denver,CO - June 27, 1875 - Denver Mint Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposit :2287Denver,CO - June 27, 1875 - Denver Mint Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposit :
Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited (Am Gold)
Start Price : 175.00 | Estimates : 350.00 - 700.00
Sold for (375.00 + 65.63) x 1 = 440.63
Denver,CO - 1876 - Memorandum of Gold Bar :2288Denver,CO - 1876 - Memorandum of Gold Bar :
Memorandum of gold bullion of Colorado Placer Gold deposited at the United States Mint at Denver, CO. The gold bullion came by way of the First Nation
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (375.00 + 65.63) x 1 = 440.63
New Orleans,LA - 1899-1902 - U.S. Mint Letters ~ Frank D. Hetrich :2289New Orleans,LA - 1899-1902 - U.S. Mint Letters ~ Frank D. Hetrich :
Lot of five personal letters signed by Frank D. Hetrich, Melter and Refiner of the U.S. Mint in New Orleans and former Superintendent of the Carson Ci
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (250.00 + 43.75) x 1 = 293.75
Carson City,NV - Ormbsy County - 1974 - Carson City Mint Painting :2290Carson City,NV - Ormbsy County - 1974 - Carson City Mint Painting :
Framed, wood with plastic veneer. No glass. Measures 29” x 34.” Signed by artist Eugene Clay. No information on the artist. Very colorful, active, c
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (375.00 + 65.63) x 1 = 440.63
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - Various dates - Carson City Minter Don Schmitz Token Collection :2291Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - Various dates - Carson City Minter Don Schmitz Token Collection :
Don Schmitz Nevada City Mint Collection. Lot of 36 different commemorative dollar size tokens. All mint state displayed in mahogany frame with Lucite
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimates : 300.00 - 600.00
Sold for (425.00 + 74.38) x 1 = 499.38
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - Modern - Carson City Mint Ingots :2292Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - Modern - Carson City Mint Ingots :
Lot of two. Made by Nevada City per Carson City Mint under contract. 1) Silver. 1993. No. CC633. .999 fine. DWT 3. GR 4. 2) Silver. 1992. No. CC106. .
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimates : 150.00 - 300.00
Sold for (375.00 + 65.63) x 1 = 440.63
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1999 - Carson City Silver Bar :2293Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1999 - Carson City Silver Bar :
The Nevada State Museum Carson City Mint Coin Show Grand Prize. A 10oz silver bar etched on the face by a Russian Faberge machine displaying ob
Start Price : 2,000.00 | Estimates : 4,000.00 - 7,000.00
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1875-76 - Carson City US Coin 10 Cents (Dime) :2294Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1875-76 - Carson City US Coin 10 Cents (Dime) :
Lot of two. Both uncertified 1) 1875 CC 10c. Very fine condition. Original. 2) 1876 CC. Extremely fine. Original. This lot and the following Carson Ci
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 125.00
Sold for (130.00 + 22.75) x 1 = 152.75
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1876 - Carson City US Coin 25 Cents (Quarter) :2295Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1876 - Carson City US Coin 25 Cents (Quarter) :
Uncertified Mint state.
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimates : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (475.00 + 83.13) x 1 = 558.13
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1878 - Carson City US Coin 25 Cents (Quarter) :2296Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1878 - Carson City US Coin 25 Cents (Quarter) :
Brilliant Uncirculated with light rub. Small scratch in obverse field. Uncertified.
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimates : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (225.00 + 39.38) x 1 = 264.38
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1871 - Carson City US Coin 50 Cents :2297Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1871 - Carson City US Coin 50 Cents :
Uncertified. Very good-fine. Original.
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimates : 400.00 - 700.00
Sold for (900.00 + 157.50) x 1 = 1,057.50
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1872 - Carson City US Coin 50 Cents :2298Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1872 - Carson City US Coin 50 Cents :
Uncertified. Fine-Very fine. Original.
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimates : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (650.00 + 113.75) x 1 = 763.75
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1873 - Carson City US Coin 50 Cents :2299Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1873 - Carson City US Coin 50 Cents :
Lot of two. 1) 1873 with arrows. Good-very good. 2) 1873 no arrows. Very good.
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimates : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (475.00 + 83.13) x 1 = 558.13
Carson City,NV - Orsmby County - 1875-76 - Carson City US Coin 50 Cents :2300Carson City,NV - Orsmby County - 1875-76 - Carson City US Coin 50 Cents :
Lot of two. Both uncertified. 1) 1875 CC. Very good. 2) 1877 CC. Fine. Light obverse scratches in right field.
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold for (180.00 + 31.50) x 1 = 211.50
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1870 - Carson City US Coin $1 :2301Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1870 - Carson City US Coin $1 :
Seated Liberty NGC Certified. Very fine 30. Nice original piece. Accurately graded.
Start Price : 750.00 | Estimates : 1,500.00 - 2,500.00
Sold for (1,700.00 + 297.50) x 1 = 1,997.50
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1875 - Carson City US Coin $1 :2302Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1875 - Carson City US Coin $1 :
Uncertified trade dollar. Extremely fine to almost uncirculated. Cleaned.
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimates : 500.00 - 750.00
Sold for (375.00 + 65.63) x 1 = 440.63
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1891 - Carson City US Coin $1 :2303Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1891 - Carson City US Coin $1 :
Morgan Dollar. Almost uncirculated/ uncirculated. Uncertified.
Start Price : 125.00 | Estimates : 250.00 - 350.00
Sold for (170.00 + 29.75) x 1 = 199.75
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1875 - Carson City US Coin $20 Gold :2304Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1875 - Carson City US Coin $20 Gold :
Extremely fine/ almost uncirculated. Uncertified $20.
Start Price : 1,000.00 | Estimates : 2,000.00 - 2,500.00
Sold for (2,700.00 + 472.50) x 1 = 3,172.50
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1881 - Carson City US Coin $10 Gold :2305Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1881 - Carson City US Coin $10 Gold :
Lightly cleaned. Extremely fine. Almost Uncirculated. Uncertified $10.
Start Price : 750.00 | Estimates : 1,500.00 - 2,000.00
Sold for (800.00 + 140.00) x 1 = 940.00
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1891 - Carson City US Coin $10 Gold :2306Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1891 - Carson City US Coin $10 Gold :
Almost uncirculated/circulated. Uncertified $10.
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimates : 1,000.00 - 1,500.00
Sold for (800.00 + 140.00) x 1 = 940.00
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1891 - Carson City US Coin $5 Gold :2307Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1891 - Carson City US Coin $5 Gold :
Lightly cleaned. Extremely fine. Uncertified $5.
Start Price : 300.00 | Estimates : 600.00 - 900.00
Sold for (425.00 + 74.38) x 1 = 499.38
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1892 - Carson City US Coin $20 Gold :2308Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1892 - Carson City US Coin $20 Gold :
Very fine-extremely fine. Cleaned. Uncertified $20.
Start Price : 1,000.00 | Estimates : 2,000.00 - 2,500.00
Sold for (1,500.00 + 262.50) x 1 = 1,762.50
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1882 - Carson City US Coin $20 Gold :2309Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1882 - Carson City US Coin $20 Gold :
Almost uncirculated/uncirculated. Uncertified $20.
Start Price : 1,500.00 | Estimates : 3,000.00 - 5,000.00
Sold for (3,000.00 + 525.00) x 1 = 3,525.00