Category: Assayers
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Henry Hanks, Assayer
Read more: Henry Hanks, AssayerHenry G. Hanks Henry Garber Hanks was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 12, 1826. He was borth to Jarvis Frary Hanks (portrait painter) and Charlotte Garber Hanks. He worked in India in 1842 as a seaman for a year and came back to America where he travelled the states. By 1850 (US Census) he…
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F. D. Kohler, Assayer
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Read more: F. D. Kohler, AssayerThe discovery of gold in 1848 at Sutter’s Mill spurred a great wave of migration to California. Hundreds of thousands of people traveled to the territory from around the world to strike it rich. Competition for mining stakes led to tensions among the gold seekers, often resulting in discriminatory actions toward the Chinese. Increasing competition…
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Stephen F. Molitor, Assayer
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Read more: Stephen F. Molitor, AssayerThis is one of only five known tin ingots from San Francisco assayer Stephen Molitor. Stephen Molitor was the son of A. Molitor, considered one of the great California Gold Rush assayers and one of the men originally involved with the U.S. Assay Office. In January 1859 Augustus and his son formed a new company…
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Moffat & Co, Assayers
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Read more: Moffat & Co, AssayersAmong the earliest and most successful private gold assayers and smelters during the California Gold Rush was Moffat & Company, headed by John Little Moffat of New York State. Moffat had previously worked in the gold fields of North Carolina and Georgia, and he came to California well-prepared to serve the miners who needed to…
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Meyers & Co, Assayers
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Read more: Meyers & Co, AssayersThe Only Unique Monetary Ingot or Coin of the California Gold Rush by David McCarthy (Kagin’s) While most coins and ingots of the early California Gold Rush are undeniably rare, Meyers & Company is the ONLY firm that produced Pioneer Gold that is known by only one gold coin or bar. As such, the importance…
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William Sharon
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Read more: William SharonAssayer Edward Ruhling’s Presentation Ingot to William Sharon, circa 1869 This important silver ingot was first illustrated in the book, The Anatomy of an Ingot (Franklin, 2012, p. 12). It is ornately engraved “Presented to William Sharon, Esq. by E. Ruhling & Co., Virginia City, Nevada.” It measures 2 1/4″ x 1 3/16″ and weighs…
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A. Soderling, Assayer
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Read more: A. Soderling, AssayerAugust Soderling, a Swedish immigrant, was the assayer and manager of Theall and Co. in Austin, Nevada during the 1860s [Ref: Gariaeff, Nick, “August Soderling,” 2010]. A. Soderling was a well known assayer in Nevada mining camps, who later worked in such places as Bodie and Treasure Hill. Mark Twain wrote an article titled, “Silver…
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Philip Schuch Jr, Assayer
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Read more: Philip Schuch Jr, Assayer0.1 oz Philip Schuch Jr Assayer Gold Presentation Ingot Gold Presentation Medallion, Cripple Creek, 1896FNH Choice gold presentation medallion “To my first/ teacher/ in/ Colorado/ 1878// 1896/ From/ Philip Schuch/ Assayer/ Cripple Creek”. 0.1 troy ounces gold, 23 x 27mm. This is a handmade, possibly rolled and hammered, crude gold piece probably made by Schuch’s…
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G. W. Bell, Assayer
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Read more: G. W. Bell, AssayerThe Assay Office of G.W. Bell, established in 1859, was located in Parrott’s Iron Building on California Street, one door west of Montgomery, in San Francisco. Trade directory advertisements noted that “Gold Dust, Ores & Minerals of Every Description Assayed. Returns Made at the Usual Rate of Commission with Correctness and Dispatch. For the convenience…