5793

Justh & Hunter Gold Ingot. No. 9523. The top side reads

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Bullion Start Price:19,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
Justh & Hunter Gold Ingot. No. 9523. The top side reads
<B>Justh & Hunter Gold Ingot.</B></I> No. 9523. The top side reads NO. 9523 / JUSTH & HUNTER (imprint) / 24.63 OZS. 893 FIN(E). The assayer's cut is evident on the top right of this side also. The adjacent, long side gives the only other imprint, the 1857 value of $454.66. The firm of Justh & Hunter is one of great stories among territorial assayers. Born in Hungary and a follower of Kossuth, Emil Justh arrived in San Francisco on November 14, 1850. Upon arrival, he founded a lithographic firm, then became a Ship and Customs House Broker. He then became an Assistant Assayer at the newly opened San Francisco mint. Then in early 1855, he and Solomon Hillen Hunter formed a partnership as assayers of "Gold, Silver, and Ores of every description." As an interesting sidenote, Hunter took passage to San Francisco via Panama on the <I>S.S. George Law.</B></I> That ship was later renamed the <I>S.S. Central America,</B></I> the treasure ship that sank in a hurricane on September 12, 1857, and the same ship this ingot was recovered from. In 1856 Justh and Hunter opened a branch office in Marysville. The firm added another partner, Charles Uznay, but the firm dissolved the partnership on August 17, 1857. One would think that would be the end of the story of Emil Justh, but the truly interesting part will be discussed under the 144 ounce ingot, which will be the next lot.<BR> The ingot shows even yellow-gold coloration, apparently having a high silver content of the 10.7% of the ingot that is not gold. Only the usual small marks and gas bubbles from manufacture are noted on the surfaces.<I>Accompanied by a copy of</B></I> A Gold Rush History, <I>by Q. David Bowers.</B></I><BR><I>From The Groth Family Collection.</B></I>