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San Francisco,CA - September 12, 1855 - Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited at the Branch Mint of t

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Documents Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,500.00 USD
San Francisco,CA - September 12, 1855 - Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited at the Branch Mint of t
Receipt for gold deposited by S.A. McMeans, signed by Cahill for the San Francisco Branch Mint. Dr. S.A. McMeans was born in Dandridge, TN in 1808 and fought in the war with Mexico, before going to California in 1849. He was elected as State Treasurer in 1853 and during his term finances all over the State of California were in deplorable condition. According to Bancroft, “Millions had been wrung out of the people to support extravagant county and municipal governments”. While reform was underway, it began too late to avert catastrophe and a deficit was discovered in the accounts of McMeans, the State Treasurer. McMeans was also involved in the bank failures of 1855 and 1856. He died in Virginia City in 1876.