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Blake & Co. Gold Ingot. No. 5217. This small, historic

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Bullion Start Price:3,500.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
Blake & Co. Gold Ingot. No. 5217. This small, historic
<B>Blake & Co. Gold Ingot.</B></I> No. 5217. This small, historic ingot has the following identifying inscriptions: .851 FINE / $102.03 on the top; 5.80 Oz on the long side, with an assayer's cut out of the top right portion; BLAKE & on the other long side; Co on the short side; on the opposite short side is No/5217.<BR> Blake & Agrell was the second assaying company established in Sacramento after the Gold Rush began. It was founded prior to November 12, 1855 and was dissolved on December 27 of that year. Gorham Blake was the former superintendent of an iron mine in Vermont and an experienced assayer at the age of 26. He founded Blake & Co. on December 28, 1855. He was a highly respected assayer, and after the dissolution of the Blake & Agrell partnership he increased the number of ounces of gold he assayed tenfold over the next year from 20,000 ounces to 200,000 ounces.<BR> Blake & Co., along with Harris, Marchand & Co. and Henry Hentsch, had the lowest numbers of ingots recovered from the <I>S.S. Central America.</B></I> There were only 34 Blake ingots recovered. Henry Hentsch had one fewer with 33 recovered. This is one of the smaller Blake ingots and it measures 40 mm. x 21 mm. x 13 mm. As such, it is one of the more affordable ingots from this important Sacramento assayer. This high fineness ingot has bright, even yellow-gold coloration with no discoloration.<BR><I>Ex: Gold Rush Treasures From the</B></I> S.S. Central America <I>(Christie's, 11/2000), lot 1.</B></I><BR><I>From The Groth Family Collection.</B></I>