1250

G. Blake Assayer Gold Ingot--Possible Fantasy - Sacramento, CA

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:1,250.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 5,000.00 USD
G. Blake Assayer Gold Ingot--Possible Fantasy - Sacramento, CA
Preview
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite#309
Reno, NV 89511
Thursday Feb 20th, 10am-6pm
* Preview also available by appointment

Live Auction
Friday & Saturday
Feb 20 & 21, 2014
9am PDT starting time, both days

Location
Atlantis Casino & Resort
Paradise A Room
3800 S. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89502

Lot Pick Up
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite #309
Reno, NV 89511
Sunday February 23rd, 10am-1pm

This 1.25" x 1" gold ingot is stamped "G. Blake/ Assayer/ Sac. Cal." on obverse, and "198 Dolls/ 900 Thous/ 1854" on reverse. Weight: 1.06 troy oz. Gorham Blake was born on 26 May 1829 in Boston. After having served as Superintendent of Iron Mines in Vermont, he moved to Placerville, California in 1851, where he was employed by Adams & Co. Wells, Fargo & Co. later hired him to buy gold dust. By 1853 he was part principal owner of the Dardanelles Mine of El Dorado County and principal owner and superintendent of the Shaws Flat Ditch mine. The next year, he moved to Sacramento, where he became an assayer and issued ingots stamped “G. Blake Assayer.” Since Sacramento was closer to the gold mines than San Francisco, several assayers set up businesses there. Later, Blake partnered with John Agrell, who came from Sweden, to assay gold together from November to the end of December 1855. Blake is best known for the 1857 gold ingots of the SS Central America. This particular ingot is ingot, however, is thought to have been produced between 1950 and 1970, likely a fantasy piece. - HKA#61612