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Since we're Looking at Silver Bars Today...

RegulatedRegulated Posts: 2,992 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
I got this bar back from someone last week. Because of the tax stamp, it's not immediately obvious who made it, but the assayer is very well known (at least to those of us who care about these things). Does anyone out there care to take a swing?

image

What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake

Comments

  • MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 33,500 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The gub-mint?

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • RegulatedRegulated Posts: 2,992 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It was a private assayer, although the tax stamp is courtesy of Uncle Sam.

    What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,663 ✭✭✭✭✭
    gorgeous bar!

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

  • ranshdowranshdow Posts: 1,442 ✭✭✭✭
    The edge work & number font reminds me of Wiegand but I think the tax stamp is too early for him (late 1860's?). Also the stamp of "FINE" doesn't quite fit.
  • MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 33,500 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bechtler?

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • BoosibriBoosibri Posts: 12,217 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Conrad Weigand?

    Latin American Collection

  • BustHalfBrianBustHalfBrian Posts: 4,179 ✭✭✭✭
    Is that electrum? I ask because I cannot figure out what the G and S followed by a decimal number stand for (Gold and Silver?)
    Lurking and learning since 2010. Full-time professional numismatist based in SoCal.
  • ranshdowranshdow Posts: 1,442 ✭✭✭✭
    The term for mixed-metal ingots is "dore" bullion.
  • TopographicOceansTopographicOceans Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭
    Wiegand out of the Branch Mint in San Francisco.

    Maybe it was a Mark Twain bar?
  • Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Cool, I like it !!! :-)
    Timbuk3
  • MeltdownMeltdown Posts: 8,862 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That is a seriously cool bar! Spill the beans man... who, what, when?

    Click on this link to see my ebay listings.

  • QuarternutQuarternut Posts: 1,481 ✭✭✭
    The Revenue stamp looks like the same one used on several "Franklin Hoard" pieces that are suspect.

    It does have the look of a Weigand, but also is similar to several other supposed assayer bars.

    Can we see the other sides?

    QN

    Go to Early United States Coins - to order the New "Early United States Half Dollar Vol. 1 / 1794-1807" book or the 1st new Bust Quarter book!

  • QuarternutQuarternut Posts: 1,481 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Is that electrum? I ask because I cannot figure out what the G and S followed by a decimal number stand for (Gold and Silver?) >>



    It is a mixed metal bar...G for gold content, S for silver.

    QN

    Go to Early United States Coins - to order the New "Early United States Half Dollar Vol. 1 / 1794-1807" book or the 1st new Bust Quarter book!

  • DaveWcoinsDaveWcoins Posts: 1,185 ✭✭✭


    << <i>The Revenue stamp looks like the same one used on several "Franklin Hoard" pieces that are suspect.



    QN >>



    That was my first thought as well.
    Dave Wnuck. Redbook contributor; long time PNG Member; listed on the PCGS Board of Experts. PM me with your email address to receive my e-newsletter, and visit DaveWcoins.com Find me on eBay at davewcoins
  • epcjimi1epcjimi1 Posts: 3,489 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I got this bar back from someone last week. Because of the tax stamp, it's not immediately obvious who made it, but the assayer is very well known (at least to those of us who care about these things). Does anyone out there care to take a swing? >>



    imageimage

    WAG, Western Assayer? The big zero between the two images seems to match, but, wth, maybe, maybe not...the Z with the underline...going with What is Western Assayer for $2000, Alex?
  • RegulatedRegulated Posts: 2,992 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Weigand is close, but it's actually a Harvey Harris (of Harris & Marchand) mixed metal ingot. Frod (or whoever made his bars) had a similar Internal Revenue stamp, but it was not the same. The decorative edging appears on several bars that I have seen - some by Weigand and some by Harris. I suspect that these bars were gussied up after the fact by a Wells Fargo agent named J W Grier.

    What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
  • ranshdowranshdow Posts: 1,442 ✭✭✭✭
    With that 1861 CSA half, and now this bar, one has to wonder, are you reconstructing the JJF collection? image
  • RegulatedRegulated Posts: 2,992 ✭✭✭✭✭
    JJF never owned this one - it was bought in over the counter at a Southeastern coin shop that closed in 1909. It stayed in the family until two years ago, when I bought it from the heir.

    What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
  • MidLifeCrisisMidLifeCrisis Posts: 10,547 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Interesting thread! image
  • ranshdowranshdow Posts: 1,442 ✭✭✭✭
    Provenance prior to 1950 on an item like that is always good. image

    The punch style does tend to match that of the H. Harris $23.34 bar in Moulton, originally in the Sep. 1911 Numismatist, especially on the 2's and the dollar signs, so that's good too. Odd that it lacks the H. HARRIS logotype. Also, the bar in Moulton has periods after both the oz. and the "F".
  • 3keepSECRETif2rDEAD3keepSECRETif2rDEAD Posts: 4,285 ✭✭✭✭✭
    ...with "4.20 OZ" stamp I'll guess Cheech & Chong???
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,648 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What a cool old bar!

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • BoosibriBoosibri Posts: 12,217 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It would appear that this exact bar was the subject of a 2012 thread here:

    Treasure.net

    Latin American Collection

  • GrumpyEdGrumpyEd Posts: 4,749 ✭✭✭
    Well, does it really weigh 4.2 oz? That would be the first easy step to check.
    Ed
  • DrPeteDrPete Posts: 1,497 ✭✭✭
    This seems like a really cool item to me. Let's assume it is genuine. What is a ballpark figure for what this is worth? I really know nothing about these ingots.
    Dr. Pete
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,353 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>...with "4.20 OZ" stamp I'll guess Cheech & Chong??? >>



    Out in eastern Colorado on I-70 between mile markers 419 and 421, you will find mile marker 419.99 because idiots kept stealing the 420 sign!

    image
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • Wabbit2313Wabbit2313 Posts: 7,268 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That bar is cool!
  • RegulatedRegulated Posts: 2,992 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If I have time today, I'll go back and find the four or five bars that I punch-linked this one to back in 2012 when I first saw it.

    What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake

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