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San Francisco,CA - c1870 - Selby Lead Ingot :

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Bullion Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,500.00 USD
San Francisco,CA - c1870 - Selby Lead Ingot :
Trapezoidal ingot stamped SELBY No on top with no other writing. Measures: 5.25" long and 2.5" wide on bottom side and 1.5" thick.

Thomas Selby was born in New York in 1820. He became a ‘49er, coming to San Francisco in August, 1849, with the intention of making enough money to pay off the debts he incurred in partnership with his brother in a failed business venture in New York. In 1850 he built one of the first large-scale brick buildings in San Francisco and placed his business of Thomas H. Selby & Co. in it. His partner was Peter Naylor of New York. Selby led an active life in local politics, ultimately elected as Mayor of San Francisco. His metals business flourished, and by the end of the 1850’s he was the largest non-precious metals dealer on the West Coast. That distinction continued, and as important lead-silver ore deposits were discovered at Cerro Gordo, Eureka and elsewhere in California and Nevada, Selby was the one who could process these metals competitively, better than the Mint system, who did not want base metals such as lead.

The company grew greatly after his death in 1875, quickly becoming the largest precious and base metals refinery in California. They built a new smelter on the east bay (today known as Rodeo) that became an industry giant. The company sold out eventually to ASARCO.

Selby ingots have been produced since the 1850’s but few remain. This lead ingot is of such an old style, that it has a distinct possibility of being one of the few from the 1850’s or 60’s. By 1870, lead ingots were large “pigs” generally weighing about 100 pounds. Only one silver Selby ingot is known, and that piece is thought to be from the circa 1900-1920 period.