LOT Heritage Rare Coin Galleries  /  2007 Signature Coin - Charlotte, NC #432  / 

2462

Harris, Marchand & Co. Gold Ingot. 13.52 ounces. Harvey

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Bullion Start Price:8,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
Harris, Marchand & Co. Gold Ingot. 13.52 ounces. Harvey
<B>Harris, Marchand & Co. Gold Ingot.</B></I> 13.52 ounces. Harvey Harris was a native of Denmark and was employed in the mints at both New Orleans and San Francisco. He was also associated with private assayers, including Kellogg & Co. and Justh and Hunter. Desire' Marchand was trained as an assayer in the Paris Mint. The two formed a partnership with C.L. Farrington as treasurer in October 1855. Between the three of them they were able to cater to the international community that emigrated to San Francisco in the 1850s, and could converse in Spanish, French, English, German, Swedish, and Danish. In the announcement of the founding of the firm, the partners pledged that "Gold and ores of every description assayed promptly and faithfully, and returns made within 6 to 24 hours in bars or coin." Harris, Marchand was a Sacramento-based company, and a second office was opened in Marysville in January 1856. Curiously, traces of the Marysville office are almost unknown today. Of the 36 ingots recovered from the wreckage of the <I>S.S. Central America,</B></I> only one is from the Marysville office.<BR> The French nationality of the assayer and co-founder of this firm is seen in the circular stamp on these ingots: Marchand / Essayeur. The stamp is located in the lower center of the top side of the ingot with the HARRIS, MARCHAND & Co curved stamp imprinted above. The long, lower side reads 807. FINE. The long, upper side has the individual ingot number: No 6488. The short, left side has the value: $225.54, and the short, right side shows the weight as: 15.52 OZ. A small ingot with bright surfaces, only a couple of short pinscratches are seen on the top side, most likely done during the salvage operations.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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