669

Latouche, Alaska Gold Nugget Token - AK

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Exonumia - Tokens Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Latouche, Alaska Gold Nugget Token -  AK
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

c1908 This is one of the all-time classic Alaska gold rush related tokens. We have been fortunate to have offered two near mint examples of this great rarity over the past decade. With the token in the shape of a gold pan, inclusive of a gold nugget in the middle, it is among the most sought after. This piece came to us dug, dark and unreadable. It has been professionally restored, using the same techniques used on the SS Central America gold coins, which involves reversing the oxidation process, thus removing the dirt and "crud". The soil enviornment this token was in for nearly 100 years stripped the token of its original nickel coating, exposing the brass core. Once the oxidation reversal process was completed, the piece was then replated with nickel. This particular piece has a real gold nugget, unlike the others we have seen which are gold colored brass or copper nuggets. The Latouche gold nugget token bearing Charles Sealey’s name token is considered one of the great western monetary pieces from the Alaska gold rush. It is the very essence of why people collect pioneer minor coinage – the history behind the coin opens up new doors to learning about our past in exciting ways. In researching the Latouche piece, semi-obscure aspects of the Alaska gold rush came to light: prospecting on a remote Alaskan island, natural multiple-metal nuggets, lives of prospectors and merchants in an evolving mining scene and how prospecting for gold can lead to the production of other metals. It also focuses on a great Alaska gold rush promotion, the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition (AYPE) held in Seattle in 1909. There are less than ten different nugget tokens known, and all relate directly to the Alaska gold mining business in the poet-1900 era. For a complete paper written by Fred Holabird regarding these facinating pieces visit our online catalog or request a copy from our office. - HKA#65778