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.
Pre 1933 - Bank Bags: Seattle Collection -Seattle Branch Gold Bags :2360Pre 1933 - Bank Bags: Seattle Collection -Seattle Branch Gold Bags :
Two Small gold coin bags. "From Seattle Branch Federal Reserve Bank Seattle, Wash."
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimates : 150.00 - 300.00
Sold for (75.00 + 13.13) x 1 = 88.13
c1940-1960 - Bank Bags: Southeastern US Collection :2361c1940-1960 - Bank Bags: Southeastern US Collection :
Generally large bags approximately 14" X 20". Some bags are 9" X 15". 1) Central Savings Bank & Trust, Monroe, LA 2) Southeast B...
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold for (100.00 + 17.50) x 1 = 117.50
c1950-1990 - Bank Bags: Wells Fargo and Bank of America :2362c1950-1990 - Bank Bags: Wells Fargo and Bank of America :
Wells Fargo Bank (2 different); Bank of America (25 bags, many different styles). Varying condition.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (160.00 + 28.00) x 1 = 188.00
c1930-1990 - Bank Bags: Western Mountain States Collection :2363c1930-1990 - Bank Bags: Western Mountain States Collection :
Collection of bags from Colorado, Montana, Idaho and Utah and includes at least one gold coin bag. Tebo Coin Company (Boulder); United Bank of Denver;
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
c1870 - US Gold and Silver Table of Weights :2364c1870 - US Gold and Silver Table of Weights :
Shows "Trade dollar to Gold Coin to Subsidiary Coin (silver and gold value). American dollar equivalency handwritten in pencil at bottom right....
Start Price : 625.00 | Estimates : 1,250.00 - 1,500.00
Sold for (500.00 + 87.50) x 1 = 587.50
April 18, 1894 - Wilson Tariff Bill Pamphlet :2365April 18, 1894 - Wilson Tariff Bill Pamphlet :
Speech title at top of cover with subtext: 'Tariff and Silver Are Two Sides of the Same Question.' Speech of Hon. James Donald Cameron of Pennsylvania
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00
Sacramento,CA - 1847 - Polhemus, J. L. Counter Marked Coin :2366Sacramento,CA - 1847 - Polhemus, J. L. Counter Marked Coin :
1847-O seated 50c piece. PCGS certified from the wreck of the SS Central America. Pale, silver, grey with even moderate corrosion that allows most of
Start Price : 7,500.00 | Estimates : 15,000.00 - 17,500.00
Sold for (10,000.00 + 1,750.00) x 1 = 11,750.00
San Francisco,CA - 1853 - California Fractional Gold :2367San Francisco,CA - 1853 - California Fractional Gold :
1853 Oct. Liberty 25c BG101 NGC Mint state 61.
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimates : 1,000.00 - 1,500.00
Sold for (550.00 + 96.25) x 1 = 646.25
San Francisco,CA - 1853 - California Fractional Gold :2368San Francisco,CA - 1853 - California Fractional Gold :
1853 Oct. Liberty 50c BG302 AU 58. NGC Certified
Start Price : 1,250.00 | Estimates : 2,500.00 - 3,000.00
Sold for (2,000.00 + 350.00) x 1 = 2,350.00
San Francisco,CA - 1855 - California Fractional Gold :2369San Francisco,CA - 1855 - California Fractional Gold :
1855 Rd Liberty 50c BG406 Mint state 61 NGC Certified
Start Price : 1,000.00 | Estimates : 2,000.00 - 2,500.00
Sold for (1,000.00 + 175.00) x 1 = 1,175.00
San Francisco,CA - 1859 - California Fractional Gold :2370San Francisco,CA - 1859 - California Fractional Gold :
1859 Oct Liberty 25c BG702 Mint state 66.NGC Certified
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimates : 1,000.00 - 1,500.00
Sold for (800.00 + 140.00) x 1 = 940.00
San Francisco,CA - 1860 - California Fractional Gold :2371San Francisco,CA - 1860 - California Fractional Gold :
1860 Oct Liberty $1 BG1102 AU58.NGC Certified
Start Price : 400.00 | Estimates : 800.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (850.00 + 148.75) x 1 = 998.75
San Francisco,CA - 1869 - California Fractional Gold :2372San Francisco,CA - 1869 - California Fractional Gold :
1869 Rd Liberty 25c BG828 Mint state 61.NGC Certified
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimates : 300.00 - 350.00
Sold for (170.00 + 29.75) x 1 = 199.75
San Francisco,CA - 1870 - California Fractional Gold :2373San Francisco,CA - 1870 - California Fractional Gold :
1870 Rd Liberty $1 BG1205 Mint state 61.NGC Certified
Start Price : 1,500.00 | Estimates : 3,000.00 - 3,700.00
Sold for (3,400.00 + 595.00) x 1 = 3,995.00
San Francisco,CA - 1872 - California Fractional Gold :2374San Francisco,CA - 1872 - California Fractional Gold :
1872 Oct. Washington 25c BG722 Mint state 64.NGC Certified
Start Price : 1,500.00 | Estimates : 3,000.00 - 3,500.00
Sold for (1,700.00 + 297.50) x 1 = 1,997.50
San Francisco,CA - 1875 - California Fractional Gold :2375San Francisco,CA - 1875 - California Fractional Gold :
1875 Oct Indian $1 BG 1127 Mint state 61.NGC Certified
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimates : 1,000.00 - 1,300.00
Sold for (1,000.00 + 175.00) x 1 = 1,175.00
New York,NY - 1862, 1887 - Coin Manual & Premium Coin List :2376New York,NY - 1862, 1887 - Coin Manual & Premium Coin List :
Lot of two. 1) Hodges' Gold and Silver Coin Chart Manual. Supplementary to the journal of finance and bank reporter, and bank note safe card, containi
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (75.00 + 13.13) x 1 = 88.13
c1850s - Counter - California :2377c1850s - Counter - California :
Weil and Levy - In NCS holder as token genuine, good for 12 1/2c holed. Obverse extremely fine. S.P. Mabke under liberty head. Hole above liberty coro
Start Price : 375.00 | Estimates : 750.00 - 1,500.00
Sold for (500.00 + 87.50) x 1 = 587.50
1850 - Counter - California :23781850 - Counter - California :
California Gold Mines 1850. Dancing Bears. Brass gilt. Uncertified fine. Adams 1913 IV pattern and experimental pieces. No 75. Though to have been th
Start Price : 1,250.00 | Estimates : 2,500.00 - 3,500.00
Sold for (2,000.00 + 350.00) x 1 = 2,350.00
San Francisco,CA - c1850 - Joseph Brothers Token:2379San Francisco,CA - c1850 - Joseph Brothers Token:
Fred Holabird says that: The Joseph Brothers were one of the many California Gold Rush jewelers. They are one of only a very few who issued coins or s
Start Price : 750.00 | Estimates : 1,500.00 - 2,500.00
c1850s - Counter - California :2380c1850s - Counter - California :
The "Model" Series. Listed in Edgar H. Adams 1913 Private Gold Coinage of California 1849-1855 IV. Pattern and Experimental pieces Number ...
Start Price : 125.00 | Estimates : 250.00 - 500.00
Sold for (225.00 + 39.38) x 1 = 264.38
c1850s - Counter - California :2381c1850s - Counter - California :
Storecard. Obverse, A.B. Van Gott Racine Wisconsin. Surrounds Eagle. Reverse, watches, clocks, jewelry, and fancy goods surrounds central watch and fo
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
c1850s - Counters - New York $5 and $10 :2382c1850s - Counters - New York $5 and $10 :
Lot of two store cards. 1) E. Lyon genuine NCS M-New York -New York Ruau 507. Obverse $5 liberty E. Lyon in coronet 424 Broadway New York, New York.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
1960 - Counter - California $1 :23831960 - Counter - California $1 :
Souvenir token. $1 gold. Obverse, dated 1960 liberty head surrounded by eleven stars. Reverse, nation of celestial space 1 gold Celestin 900 fine gold
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (225.00 + 39.38) x 1 = 264.38
c1850s - Counter - Washington $2.50 :2384c1850s - Counter - Washington $2.50 :
Washington counters. Two different 2 1/2 dollar. Certified NGC Washington-Spiel marke tokens. Both in holders as environmental damage; however, both h
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimates : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold for (160.00 + 28.00) x 1 = 188.00
1850s - Counter - California $2.50 :23851850s - Counter - California $2.50 :
Unlisted. 2 1/2 dollar. Similar to Kappen page 110. Liberty comp. smarke obverse. Reverse, city hall of New York. Condition fine. Uncertified. Referen
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (75.00 + 13.13) x 1 = 88.13
1849 - Counter - California $5 :23861849 - Counter - California $5 :
Miner counter "1849". Brass $5. Graded extremely fine. Details damage by NGC. Fauver 305.
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold for (50.00 + 8.75) x 1 = 58.75
Counter - California $5 :2387Counter - California $5 :
Miner counter "1849". Gilt brass $5. Graded almost uncirculated 55 by NGC. Fauvre 315.
Start Price : 125.00 | Estimates : 250.00 - 500.00
Sold for (250.00 + 43.75) x 1 = 293.75
1849 - Counter - California $5 :23881849 - Counter - California $5 :
Miner counter "1849". Graded fine details, damaged by NGC. Brass $5.
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimates : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold for (75.00 + 13.13) x 1 = 88.13
1849 - Counter - California $5 :23891849 - Counter - California $5 :
Miner Counter "1849". BSGilt $5. Grade almost uncirculated 53 by NGC. Fauvre 360.
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimates : 300.00 - 600.00
Sold for (120.00 + 21.00) x 1 = 141.00
1849 - Counter - California $5 :23901849 - Counter - California $5 :
Miner counter "1849". Gilt brass $5. Graded mint state 61 by NGC. Fauvre 400. Rare.
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimates : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (425.00 + 74.38) x 1 = 499.38
c1850s - Counter - California $5 :2391c1850s - Counter - California $5 :
Spiel-Marke. Copper $5. Graded very fine details environmental damage NGC.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (100.00 + 17.50) x 1 = 117.50
1847 - Counter - California $10 :23921847 - Counter - California $10 :
Liberty Head brass. $10 counter. Liberty obverse, flag reverse. NGC certified extra fine.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (100.00 + 17.50) x 1 = 117.50
c1850s - Counter - California $10 :2393c1850s - Counter - California $10 :
$10 brass. NGC graded AU details. Environmental damage. Obverse, flag and reverse, eagle.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (100.00 + 17.50) x 1 = 117.50
c1850s - Counter - California $10 :2394c1850s - Counter - California $10 :
Spiel-Marke. Counter brass $10. Graded extra fine 45 NGC nice.
Start Price : 125.00 | Estimates : 250.00 - 500.00
Sold for (225.00 + 39.38) x 1 = 264.38
c1850 - Counter - California $10 :2395c1850 - Counter - California $10 :
Spiel-Marke Counter. Brass $10. NGC very fine details damaged.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (100.00 + 17.50) x 1 = 117.50
1849 - Counter - California $20 :23961849 - Counter - California $20 :
$20 Brass. Dated 1849. NGC very fine details environmental damage. Obverse, ship above flag with date below. Reverse, eagle California Token. Softly s
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimates : 400.00 - 800.00
Sold for (500.00 + 87.50) x 1 = 587.50
c1850s - Counter - California $20 :2397c1850s - Counter - California $20 :
$20 brass. NGC extra fine details, environmental damage.? Nice Kappen 35.
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimates : 300.00 - 600.00
Sold for (150.00 + 26.25) x 1 = 176.25
1852 - Counter - California $20 :23981852 - Counter - California $20 :
Copper $20. Extra fine details environmental damage. Liberty obverse, flag reverse. Extremely fine Kappen 5.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 600.00
Sold for (100.00 + 17.50) x 1 = 117.50
c1850s - Counters - California $20 :2399c1850s - Counters - California $20 :
Speil-Marke Counters. Brass $20. Two different varieties: 1) NGC Extremely Fine details damaged. 2) NGC very fine details, with scratches.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
1874 - Counter - Switzerland $20 :24001874 - Counter - Switzerland $20 :
Storecard counter. Obverse United States 1874 $20. Reverse, "Piaget Horlogers Joailliers en 1874 deja" plated? Geneve, Switzerland. Unce...
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimates : 150.00 - 250.00
1849 - Counter - California :24011849 - Counter - California :
California encased. Brass encased in three-leaf aluminum clover, perhaps keychain hole at top. Denominations 25c and 50c. Reverse "1849." ...
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold for (130.00 + 22.75) x 1 = 152.75
1849 - Counter - California :24021849 - Counter - California :
Unknown. Graded fine, details damaged by NGC. Appears to be different metallic composition. Fauver 305. Lib 1, Cal 1.
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00
San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1849 :2403San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1849 :
Lot of three. All round in 1/4, 1/2, and 1 dollar denominations.
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 150.00
1850 - California Tokens :24041850 - California Tokens :
Lot of two. California Souvenir Tokens. Eureka obverse. Reverse, California gold bear, mountains, sun, wreath. One dollar size, plain edge, plated. Co
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold for (70.00 + 12.25) x 1 = 82.25
San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1851 :2405San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1851 :
California token. 1851. Liberty obverse. Reverse 1851 california gold. Crimp marks on edge possibility of gold one of the rarest dates, only one in th
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold for (50.00 + 8.75) x 1 = 58.75
San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1852 :2406San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1852 :
Lot of eight. Six Indian heads, two round 1/2, two oct. 1/2, two oct 1/4, and two lib 1/2.
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimates : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold for (95.00 + 16.63) x 1 = 111.63
San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1853 :2407San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1853 :
Lot of five. Four round lib, and one round indian 1/4.
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 150.00
San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1853 :2408San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1853 :
Lot of three. Two Oct. Lib 1/4. One BG 429 holed.
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold for (50.00 + 8.75) x 1 = 58.75
San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1854 :2409San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1854 :
Lot of three. One oct. Lib 1/2. One round indian with bear reverse 1/2. And the last is one round obverse indian, reverse 1854.
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold for (50.00 + 8.75) x 1 = 58.75