LOT Heritage Rare Coin Galleries  /  2007 Jan (FUN) Heritage Signature Coin #422  / 

3894

Uncertified Kellogg & Humbert Ingot.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:95,001.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 2.00 USD
Uncertified Kellogg & Humbert Ingot.
<B>Kellogg & Humbert Gold Ingot.</B></I> The firm of Kellogg & Humbert was well known among the California private concerns that produced coins and assayed the raw gold bullion that was discovered in the American River region beginning in 1848. The partnership of Kellogg and Humbert was formed in April of 1855, just 17 months before the massive transport of bullion went to the bottom of the North Atlantic. The loss was catastrophic, not only in terms of the number of lives lost but also the monetary value that sank to the bottom of the ocean. One hundred thirty-one years later the wreckage of the <I>S.S. Central America</B></I> was discovered and salvage operations began. In October 1988, Tommy Thompson and the salvage crew saw images from the remote underwater explorer <I>Nemo</B></I> of a color they had not seen before: gold. In <I>America's Lost Treasure,</B></I> Thompson relates that moment of discovery:<BR><BR> "Because <I>Nemo's</B></I> 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. Then, a little farther along, we found piles of coins, heaped in towers and seemingly spilling into frozen waterfalls. The coins in this part of the shipwreck, which we named the "Garden of Gold," were spread amid the wreckage, stretching beyond <I>Nemo's</B></I> lights into the blackness of the sea."<BR><BR> This was one of the "loaves of bread" the crew saw that October morning 19 years ago. This medium to large-sized ingot is impressed on the top side: No 826 / company imprint / 85.35 Oz / 896 FINE / $1580.85. The back side has a repeat of the individual ingot number, 826. Two assay cuts are out of opposing corners. The ingot is bright yellow-gold, except for deep red patina in the center of the back side. An important ingot from this highly respected California firm.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coin/Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
Sign In to Bookmark Lot