LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 April Rosemont, IL (CSNS) US Coin #1104  / 

2537

Kellogg & Humbert MS Medium to Large Sized Gold

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Bullion Start Price:70,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
Kellogg & Humbert MS Medium to Large Sized Gold
<B>Kellogg & Humbert MS Medium to Large Sized Gold Ingot.</B></I> CAGB-504. Mold K&H-03. Serial Number 644. The vastness of the loss of $2 million in gold bullion in 1857 dollars can scarcely be imagined by someone in the present century. An idea of how it appeared in 1988 when the treasure hoard was first discovered by the Remote Operating Vehicle <I>Nemo</B></I> is related in <I>America's Lost Treasure </B></I>by Tommy Thompson:<BR><BR> "Because Nemo's dives are precise, we knew exactly where on the shipwreck site the underwater robot had taken the pictures and where the next dive would take place. Within hours, the submersible was back on the bottom. As we flew the ROV toward the location of the photographs, Milt set the lights. At first we thought we were looking at bricks, but as the beams were adjusted, the color came out. Suddenly, the same monitors that had revealed nothing but colorless ocean terrain for weeks now appeared to be painted a brilliant gold.<BR> "These weren't bricks, but ingots, ingots everywhere ... stacked on the bottom like brownies ... stacked like loaves of bread ... spectacular gold bridges of gold ingots piled on top of timbers and spread over the ocean floor."<BR><BR> This was one of those "loaves of bread" seen by the recovery crew. Of the 343 Kellogg & Humbert ingots recovered from the wreckage of the <I>S.S. Central America</B></I>, this 43-ounce ingot is a medium to slightly larger size bar compared to the truly gigantic scale of some of the ingots on board. One of the interesting aspects of this ingot is that the fineness is the equivalent of federal gold coinage (900). The top side reads: No 644 / Kellogg and Humbert imprint / 43.58 Oz / 900 FINE / $810.78. On the lower back side is the serial number 779 in a different font. All sides are bright yellow-gold with no traces of rust-colored stains, as often seen.<BR><I>Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity and a copy of Bowers'</B></I> A California Gold Rush History.<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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