Category: California
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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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Selby Gold & Silver Refinery
Read more: Selby Gold & Silver RefineryThe Selby Smelting Company was organized in 1865 by Thomas H. Selby and Peter Naylor of New York. The lead produced here was used at the Selby Shot Tower in San Francisco. In 1879 the company purchased the property and business of the Pacific Refinery and Bullion Exchange. They refined gold, silver, and lead, and…
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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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O. B. Hardy
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Read more: O. B. HardyOrlando B. Hardy (O. B. Hardy for short) was a wealthy mining magnate and influential entrepreneur throughout the latter part of the 19th century. His connections, reach, and access spanned several states including Ohio, California, Utah, and Arizona. Hardy was best known for his Patent on blasting powder used in mining as a safer alternative…
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Henry Hentsch, Assayer
Read more: Henry Hentsch, AssayerIn 1856, 21 year old Henry Hentsch set up banking office in San Francisco. In its February 2, 1856 edition, the Alta California announced: “ASSAY OFFICE OF HENRY HENTSCH. Northwest corner of Montgomery and Jackson Streets. I have this day annexed to my Banking Establishment an Assay Office, and am prepared to carry on this…
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Harris, Marchand & Co, Assayers
Read more: Harris, Marchand & Co, AssayersHarris, Marchand & Co. was formed on October 3, 1855, by Harvey Harris, who had come to America from Denmark, and who had worked as a melter and refiner at the New Orleans Mint, later moving to San Francisco where he worked at the Mint there, as well as at Kellogg & Humbert and at…
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Blake & Co, Assayers (SSCA)
Read more: Blake & Co, Assayers (SSCA)Gorham Blake arrived in San Francisco on May 22, 1852, and gained employment as an express agent for Adams & Co., and later as a buyer of raw gold for Wells, Fargo & Co. In October 1853, he became an assayer. In late 1855, the partnership of Blake & Agrell, refiners and assayers, was established…
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Kellogg & Humbert, Assayers
Read more: Kellogg & Humbert, AssayersThe sinking of the SS Central America created a massive and accidental accumulation of treasure – at the bottom of the ocean. Bound for New York with tons of gold ingots, coins, nuggets, and dust mined from the California gold fields, its loss created a unique time capsule of information and artifacts of an era…