Category: John J. Ford
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Justh & Hunter (Ford)
Read more: Justh & Hunter (Ford)$80.40 dollar ingot, 4 oz, Justh & Hunter California, United States, 1857 Obverse Image: Scales with shield. – the OIR / IRS Office of Internal Revenue double stamped Obverse Text: JUSTH & HUNTER / ASSAYERS / 4 OZ / 6 1/2 D Reverse Text: NO. 1798 / THOUS / 900 FINE / COIN VAL. /…
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Felix Grundy Hoard (Ford)
Read more: Felix Grundy Hoard (Ford)F. G. Hoard, Assayer Felix Grundy Hoard, who was named after the Attorney General in the administration of Martin Van Buren, was listed as an assayer in Fiddletown, California, in the Pacific Coast Business Directory, 1867 edition. His occupation apparently changed, and the same publication in its 1871-1873 edition listed him as a stock and…
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Haraszthy & Uznay (Ford)
Read more: Haraszthy & Uznay (Ford)Haraszthy, Uznay & Company, Assayers Col. Agoston Haraszthy became prominent in California in two areas: the cultivation of grapes for wine and the assaying and refining of metals. Born in Futtak in southern Hungary in 1812, Haraszthy served in the Royal Guard under Austrian Emperor Ferdinand. In 1840 he came to America, settling in what…
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Blake & Co. (Ford)
Read more: Blake & Co. (Ford)G. Blake Assayer, Sacramento, California 1854 $19.8 Gold Bar, 900 THOUS Assayer Sacramento California The present ingot is more akin to a $20 gold piece however, thus more interesting even if not made in the 19th century as a real monetary unit. Only one of two known in this style. The other being a larger…
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Blake & Agnell (Ford)
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Read more: Blake & Agnell (Ford)Ford once wrote a brief historical paper titled “Blake and Agnell: Pioneer Coiners and Assayers of Sacramento 1854-1862”. He once sold a 3 bar uncut stripe to Mrs. Norweb who bought it based on trust but later realized she had been duped and donated it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1970’s. Blake & Agrell conducted…
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Star Mining Co. (Ford)
Read more: Star Mining Co. (Ford)Backstory: Star Mining Co., Hidden or lost: 1880s, Found July 1968, Treasure: 52 or more gold bars Through auction appearances we’ve been able to locate 27 distinct Star Mining Co. ingots. Of those, roughly 5-6 have surfaced in the past 20 years. In addition, 12 more ingots have been listed by weight and serial number…
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Knight & Co (Ford)
Read more: Knight & Co (Ford)In 1867 the Pacific Coast Business Director carried a quarter page advertisement for the firm which read: “KNIGHT & CO. Assayers of Gold, Silver and Ores, of Every Description. 32 D Street, Marysville, California. Assays Guaranteed.” John J. Ford, Jr. believes that this firm, in business about ten years, was earlier located in Sacramento. The…
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Edward Posen, Assayer (Ford)
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Read more: Edward Posen, Assayer (Ford)NOTE: The ingots below are believed to be fantasy pieces, not genuine made by Edward Posen. Instead we classify them in the “Fantasy” category. Although Edward Posen history is real, all known Posen ingots are likely 20th century modern pieces. Edward Posen, Assayer. Denver, Colorado. Gold & silver assay ingot no. 2959. Overall appearance of…
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Knight and Company, Assayers
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Read more: Knight and Company, AssayersKnight formed a partnership with experienced California and Nevada assayer H. Harris in Marysville. Knight’s early work in Unionville, Nevada Territory, gave him the experience necessary to run his own assay business, and he bought Harris’ Marysville Pioneer Assay Office in 1863 after spending part of a year in Unionville. Harris went on to establish…