G. W. Bell, Assayer – Rare Ingot – Vintage Silver, Gold Bars, and Rare Bullion

The 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 of Parties desiring Bars early on Steamer Days, Deposits will be received on arrival of the Expresses of the Evening previous,” and “Having a complete CHEMICAL LABORATORY in connection with my facilities for Melting and Assaying, I feel confident of being able to give complete satisfaction to all who may favor me with their patronage.”

On April 16, 1866, the Daily Evening Bulletin ran an article, “Terrible Calamity” on page 5, which noted, in part:

One of the most terrible calamities that ever occurred in San Francisco — explosions so powerful as to shake the earth like an earthquake — caused by combustion of a case of nitro glycerine which had been brought to Wells Fargo . . . Mr. Bell was in the act of taking a horse from the stable to the rear of the building.

And, so, he met his demise.

In 1867 the Pacific Coast Directory noted that the firm of Rogers & Brown, Assayers, was the successor to G.W. Bell and was located in the same office.

.9291 oz $19.20 G. W. Bell Assayer Gold Ingot

G.W. Bell, Assayer, San Francisco. $19.20 gold ingot. Extremely Fine with a few minor handling marks and edge bumps. Undoubtedly unique in this denomination.

The face of the ingot bears the inscription in various lines as illustrated: BELL / ASSAYER / GOLD / .999 / FINE / .9291 / OZS. The edges of the bar are unmarked. The back bears the denomination $19.20. ($7000-8000)

Obtained from Werner Amelingmeicr around 1957, who obtained it in June of that year from an elderly prospector, Lee Hedgpeth, Phoenix, Arizona.

Henry H. Clifford Collection, by Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, March 1982.

[03/1982] https://archive.org/details/henryhcliffordco1982bowe/page/n29

[06/1997] https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctionlots?AucCoId=3&AuctionId=516717

1.15 oz $21.00 G.W. Bell, Assayer, San Francisco, 1866 Dated, Gold Ingot

Extremely Fine. Some normal minor marks. Probably unique as a denomination.

The only dated Bell ingot and the only one with an IRS (OIR) stamp, and the only one dated (1866). This bar contains more elaborate inscriptions than the preceding and is dated 1866, the year of Bell’s death. It probably was among his last productions.

Examination of the piece under magnification reveals many interesting details. The face inscriptions in various lines as illustrated read: $21.00 / G.W. BELL / ASSAYER / 1 OZS 3 DWT / SILVlll / 66 / GOLD / 885 / FINE. Magnification reveals that the word “SILVER” at the end of the bar has the last two letters overstamped with the numerals 111. The inscriptions reveal that the piece is made of 885 parts gold, 111 parts silver, and by implication, 4 parts of impurities.

The edges of the bar are plain.

The back has at the center a light impression of the U.S.I.R. tax stamp (Act of June 30, 1864) over which is stamped in individual letters: G.W. BELL / ASSAYER / 1866. To the left of the inscription is the serial number 1592.

Further examination reveals a lightly engraved inscription on the back, possibly indicating that the piece was given as a gift at one time. This inscription seems to read “A.T. to HAT.” Does A.T. refer to a name or Arizona Territory?

Obtained from John J. Ford, Jr., 1969, who acquired il from Paul Franklin.

Henry H. Clifford Collection, by Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, March 1982.

[03/1982] https://archive.org/details/henryhcliffordco1982bowe/page/n29

[02/1992]: https://archive.org/details/centurycollectio1992supe/page/346/

2.16 oz $39.92 G. W. Bell Assayer ADAMS S. F.

Only one other example has been seen, and it is permanently sequestered at the Smithsonian Institution.