2.12 oz San Francisco Early Assay School Ingot by S.J.V. c1870
Choice silver ingot, 2.12 troy ounces. The ingot is marked in all the classic fashion, inclusive of an assayer’s chip. It bears the initials “S.J.V.” where the assayer’s name should be. We have been unable to locate a western assayer with these initials. The other markings on the ingot, aside from the weight, all show zero’s. Perhaps this ingot was a training piece, possibly from Thomas Price’s school of Assaying in San Francisco. This ingot was long held in a Florida Collection, resurfacing recently. The trapezoidal shape is often typical of the 1870’s period.
Of note, the ingot scans as coin silver on an XRF which is consistent with what one might expect to use as a test piece when the contents of the ingot are known ahead of time prior to an Assay. This unique piece is the only known test/trial/school piece that has survived the era. Quite a unique and desirable find!
[10/2010] https://www.icollector.com/San-Francisco-CA-c1870-Choice-Early-Silver-Assay-School-Ingot_i9799227