Rare Ingot – Vintage Silver, Gold Bars, and Rare Bullion

Thorne Mining & Refining Co

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2.995 oz Thorne Mining and Reduction Co. Gold Ingot, Arizona

Much has been written on the Thorne ingots. These ingots, like those of the Eagle Mining Co., also surfaced in the late 1960s. More than 80 silver ingots are known, and just a few (3) gold ingots are known. It was opined that these were sold into the bullion market in the 1920s or 1930s, in the same way the Nevada Silver Company ingots were around 1919-1920, and the Pedley-Ryan and other silver rounds from the early 1930s.
Since that time, however, a thorough search has been made of corporate records in California, Arizona, Nevada, South Dakota, and Delaware for this company with negative results. This leads to the conclusion that the Thorne pieces, which are not dated, are a product of the post-1964 silver craze in a manner similar to the Eagle Mining Company pieces. They were most probably made for sale into the bullion markets, though most are silver. They have remained collectible, primarily because they are an artistic bar, and also because they generate cognitive thought, both about Arizona mining history, and about ingots in general.
This gold Thorne ingot is punched 2.995 oz on the reverse, along with “fine gold.” A modern “24K” is punched at the bottom of the reverse as well, a mark not as yet seen on antiquated ingots. This piece has never surfaced at public auction and is unrecorded. Two other Thorne gold ingots are known. All three carry dissimilar attributes in purity and weight measurements as recorded on the ingots.

[08/2006] https://coins.ha.com/itm/ingots/thorne-mining-and-reduction-co-arizona-much-has-been-written-on-the-thorne-ingots-these-ingots-like-those-of-the-eagle-m/a/414-2584.s ($4,600)

$16.37 Thorne Mining and Refining Co. Gold Ingot, Arizona

Obverse Text: THORNE MINING AND REFINING CO. ARIZONA

Reverse Text: VALUE $16.37 / GOLD. 895 / SILVER. 104 FINE / OZ. DWT. GR. / 0. 17. 17. / 0.15

Donated by Josiah K. Lilly Jr. to the Smithsonian Institution where it is currently housed.

See: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1102729

$68.25 Thorne Mining and Refining Co. Gold Ingot, Arizona

Obverse Text: THORNE MINING AND REFINING CO. ARIZONA / MONETARY VALUE / 68 DOLS. 25 CTS. / CONTAINS 3.3 OZS. TROY / GOLD. 999 / SILVER. 000 FINE / SERIAL NO. G48

Reverse Text: ECHO MINE / NO. 48 / 3 OZS 6 DWT 1 GR

Donated by Josiah K. Lilly Jr. to the Smithsonian Institution where it is currently housed.

See: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1102727

There are approximately 25 silver Thorne ingots known. A partial census of serial numbers for some of those appears below:

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