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 a rough Very Fine. Pale yellow gold color. Surfaces quite rough, top edge irregular as made. An odd ingot. The shape of the bar calls for a layout along the long axis but the assayer has chosen to enter the bar’s details along the shorter one. The layout betrays deliberation and must have been to a purpose because it has been accomplished with some finesse. The absence of specific notations of the bar’s silver and gold values may be explained by the exigencies of the chosen layout.
The bar is more yellow than might have been expected from the gold content. The piece was made with some care but the facilities available to the assayer were not sophisticated judging from the bar’s rough and flawed appearance. Edges and corners not all well finished. The ethnic (E POSEN/ASSAYER/DENVER) was probably a logotype and thus with unalterable spacing between individual elements in the punch. Otherwise, given the care exercised elsewhere on the bar to work within the demands of the vertical layout, the letters at the right of the ethnic would not have been allowed to run off that edge.
Posen ingots are extremely rare, Clifford:231 being one of the few others that come to mind. If this is the right Edward Posen, presumably his products became more accomplished by 1883.
- Face: E POSEN / ASSAYER / DENVER / G 584 / S 342 / $43.31 / 3.47OZ / OIR stamp.
- Back: No. 2959.
- Top side: blank.
- Bottom side: blank.
- Left side: blank.
- Right side: blank.
- Dimensions: 76.2 x 23.4 x 4.6 mm.
- Current weight: 108.2 gms.
From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection
Provenance: Ex Ben Kuehling, Paul Franklin on May 18, 1966. Mr. Ford’s information card and Rankow photographs accompany the lot.
[10/2007] https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-AV6O3/edward-posen-assayer-denver-colorado-gold-silver-assay-ingot-no-2959 ($31,625)
6.531 oz E. Posen Gold Ingot
The 1883 edition of the Colorado Mining Directoiy noted that Edward Posen, Ph. D. maintained his business at 350 Curtis Street, Denver. Presumably, most of his business came from gold mined in the district to the west of Denver which included Central City, Black Hawk, and several other mining communities.
Extremely Fine or better condition. Virtually as issued, but with some minor handling marks.
The sides and back of the bar are plain. The front, as illustrated, contains the following inscription in several lines: No. 511 / G (clover design) T / 999 F / E. POSEN / ASSAYER / 6.531 OZS. The inscription E. POSEN / ASSAYER” is struck from a prepared stamp or die.
Although no date is impressed on the bar, it is reasonable to assume that it may have been made in the 1880s, the time he was listed in the aforementioned directory (see the above introduction). ($4000-5500)
Obtained from a Geneva, Switzerland source in 1972 by John J. Ford, Jr. Sold to Henry H. Clifford in January 1973.
[03/1982] https://archive.org/details/henryhcliffordco1982bowe/page/n97/
The 1883 edition of the Colorado Mining Directoiy noted that Edward Posen, Ph. D. maintained his business at 350 Curtis Street, Denver. Presumably, most of his business came from gold mined in the district to the west of Denver which included Central City, Black Hawk, and several other mining communities.
The cited directory listing noted the following:
Edward Posen, Ph.D. Bureau of Mines, Assay Office, Analytical Laboratory, 350 Curtis Street, Denver, Colorado.
Makes investigations of mines, reporting on the same. Makes assays tor gold, silver, quick-silver, lead, copper, tin, zinc, nickel, cobalt, antimony, arsenic, coal, and sulphur, and etc. etc.
Also makes analysis of mineral waters and those in use for all technical purposes. Finest display of minerals — the celebrated collection or Dr. Eisner can be seen in my office.
E. Posen, Assayer, Denver. 6.531 ounce gold ingot. Extremely Fine or better condition. Virtually as issued, but with some minor handling marks.
The sides and back of the bar are plain. The front, as illustrated, contains the following inscription in several lines: No. 511 / G (clover design) T / 999 F / E. POSEN / ASSAYER / 6.531 OZS. The inscription E. POSEN / ASSAYER” is struck from a prepared stamp or die.
Although no date is impressed on the bar, it is reasonable to assume that it may have been made in the 1880s, the time he was listed in the aforementioned directory (see the above introduction). ($4000-5500)
Obtained from a Geneva, Switzerland source in 1972 by John J. Ford, Jr. Sold to Henry H. Clifford in January 1973.
[01/1985] https://archive.org/details/drjerrybusscolle1985supe/page/240/
$10 1877 E. Posen Assayer, Denver City
Obverse Text: E. POSEN ASSAYER / DENVER CITY / 1877
Reverse Text: 10 DOLLARS / 10 D.
Housed at the Smithsonian Institution.
See: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1102591