2275

San Francisco,CA - March 31st, 1869 - San Francisco Branch Mint Silver Presentation Tray, John N. So

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
San Francisco,CA - March 31st, 1869 - San Francisco Branch Mint Silver Presentation Tray, John N. So
Coin silver tray made by Shreve & Co. of San Francisco 4.5” x 6.5”, engraved, “J.N.S. from his fellow clerks of the Treasury Department U.S. Branch Mint San Francisco March 31, 1869”.

Shreve & Co. was the leading house of silver manufacturers in the west in the 1860's and 1870's. This piece bears their name and hallmarks, and is made of coin silver, more customary during the 1860's (90% instead of sterling at 92%). The initials J.N.S. can only be the abbreviations for one man, John N. Southern.

Southern started at the San Francisco Branch Mint in late 1861 or early 1862, according to directory entries, as the Receipt Clerk in the Treasurer's office, and remained in that position until his retirement in 1869. He retired on the day this tray is dated, March 31, 1869 and immediately went to work as a full partner with his friend and mining man, Richard Chenery in the new firm of Chenery, Southern & Co., importers and jobbers of wines and liquors. Their first office was at 311 Clay Street, though they moved shortly afterward to 215 and 217 California Street. The pair apparently did not take over an existing liquor wholesale business, since no such business was located at that address the year prior.

At the time Southern got into the liquor business, it was at the front end of a massive liquor boom in the west. With the discovery of new mines ubiquitous throughout the west, liquor was flowing like rivers into the bars and saloons. Southern and his partner were in for a profitable ride, particularly if they landed one of the cherished name branch distributorships.

By 1876 Southern was left to run the business, while his partner Chenery ran a mining office. The tray has four feet elevating the tray from a tabletop about one half inch. It is oval shaped and bears the engraved inscription in an oval at the center of the tray that is about 1.5” x 2.5”.

This may be the earliest presentation piece extant for a San Francisco Branch Mint employee. There is a slight adhesive mark at center, and minimal hairlines; Otherwise, this piece is in Exceptional condition.