Gold Rush Auction

Auction Details

Welcome to our Gold Rush sale of 2018!!

The sale features the Al Adams Gold Rush Memorabilia Collection
and a number of other prominent collections.

Mr. Adams has been collecting for over 40 years, and along the way assembled perhaps the best collection in private hands, making this sale a “Once in a Lifetime Event.” His specialty is an area few Americans ever knew about- the Georgia - North Carolina gold rush, c1799-1840’s, literally decades before the California Gold Rush. Just think about some of the great pieces in this collection:

*The first Gold Company stock certificate (1807)

*1830 Letter from Georgia Bank to US Mint asking what to do with the gold coming in

*Gold Lottery Tickets for Georgia land

*Gold Lot Deeds with Medals rarely seen by collectors

*Pigeon Roost Mining Co. scrip collection (1835-1838), possibly the finest assembled

*Belfast Mining Co. scrip collection (1830’s), finest assembled

*Dahlonega, Charlotte, San Francisco, Carson City, Denver, New Orleans, Philadelphia Mint gold bullion receipts

*Gold Rush era private assayer bullion receipts from California, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Arizona

*1840’s, 1850’s and 1860’s mining company stock certificates from both the east (Appalachian gold belt) and the West (California, Nevada, Colorado) – the best offering to date.

*Over two dozen different Nevada territorial stock certificates.

These tidbits are part of this unique sale, which makes it the best offering of its kind in history.

The Gold Rush sale is nothing short of phenomenal.

The Gold Rush Setting

Here is the setting under which the gold discoveries in Georgia and North Carolina were made:

…Imagine a world before the civil war, before the gold rush, right after the United States was formed. We had just created our first coinage in the early to mid 1790’s. As a country, we had just 16 states by 1800, which crept up to 24 states by 1821 and remained there for 15 years! Development of the areas south and west of and in the original 13 states was slow. It was called the “western frontier”. The “America” then consisted of Native Americans and expats from western Europe looking for a better life. Most were farmers or merchants. The “scientists” of the western world remained in western Europe. Mankind dint know much about geology- indeed, the first geologic map was printed in Europe in 1799, and it would take another 25-30 years before we had anything similar in America. The science of ore deposits was not well understood, and was only just recently out from under the mystique of Alchemy.

Enter the discovery of a gold nugget in North Carolina in 1799. It took fully 29 years before substantive gold discoveries were made in Georgia and North Carolina. Here is the amazing part- these discoveries were made from good-old American ingenuity. Not one single miner had an education in mining in Europe. As far as is known, not a single man in the Georgia, North Carolina gold rush had been a miner. These men developed the ability to look for gold and mining systems on their own in the American wilderness, a marvelous feat of accomplishment – a true iconic part of American ingenuity at its best.

More on the Auction

To add to this remarkable collection are hundreds of mining artifacts, including many collected from Georgia mines, as well as a fantastic Numismatic library inclusive of many rarities.

*Other collections featured include the collection of Robert Bennett, a well known mining geologist who spent a good part of his career working the Goldfield district. During his 45-plus year career, he collected high grade ore specimens from many major mines he was lucky enough to work on, and these are dutifully included in this sale, as are gold and fabulous turquoise specimens from longtime collector Jerry Gray of Carson City.

*Our friend Vern Potter, a national ephemera dealer known to all, retired from the business and gave us his massive collection, some of which is here, including gold rush era exchanges, important maps, and special documents you haven’t seen in decades (more in coming sales!). Added to this are pieces from the Ken Prag Collection, which keeps on coming with great rarities!

*Gold rush era coins, such as a complete Hart gold token set, -all graded and holdered; a number of Carson City coins; a fabulous 999 fine golden egg custom made for an Arizona collector in 1982; gold rush era soda bottles in hues of cobalt blue, teal, green from San Francisco, Sacramento and Savannah; Nevada mining camp bottles; Pawnee Bill full color posters – an integral part of Western history all supplement an otherwise terrific sale; and choice western mining photographs.

*Rare books with a mining theme are also present, from several collections, including the Robert Fulton collection (former head of Univ. Nevada, reno in the 1920’s). A key piece from one of the collections is an inscribed Sutro Tunnel book to Melville Atwood from the “Father of Arizona” Charles D. Poston.

*The mining stock certificate collections offered here are among the best ever offered by us. They include four major collections. including the Laguna Collection of rare Arizona stocks, part of a major Bodie collection, antique firearms, and rare Tahoe gaming chips.

*Western revenue checks with a focus on the Comstock Lode

Auction Schedule

Day One (Lots 1000-1755)
Numismatics (1000-1577)
U.S. Mint (1000-1068)
Coins & Coins Collectibles (1069-1208)
Ingots (1209-1215)
Currency, Scrip, & Currency Collectibles (1216-1357)
Checks & Exchanges (1358-1424)
Tokens (1425-1489)
Medals (1490-1553)
Scales (1554-1581)

Wells Fargo & Other Express (1582-1693)
Adams & Co. (1582-1606)
Wells Fargo (1607-1676)
Other Express (1677-1693)

World’s Fair & Expositions (1694-1707)

Gaming (1708-1728)

Jewelry & Watches (1729-1755)


Day Two (Lots 1756-1770) & (Lots 2000-2731)
Gold Nuggets & Specimens (1756-1770)
Minerals (2000-2149)
Mining Part I (2150-2731)
Assay (2150-2278)
Explosives (2279-2291)
Mining Lighting (2292-2298)
Mining Artifacts & Tools (2299-2231)
Mining Art (2232-2354)
Geographic (Alabama-California) (2355-2731)

Day Three (Lots 3000-3727)
Mining Part II
Geographic (Colorado-Foreign) (3000-3691)
Books (3692-3727)

Day Four (Lots 4000-4717)
Bottles (4000-4094)
Railroadiana (4095-4222)
Passes (4095-4176)
Ephemera (4177-4222)
Civil War (4223-4259)
Pawnee Bill Broadsides (4260 & 4261)
Firearms & Weaponry (4262-4315)
General Americana feat. California & Georgia Gold Rush Ephemera
Geographic Sort (4316-4637)
Miscellaneous incl. Art, General Store, Maps, & Books (4638-4717)





SHIPPING & HANDLING: Shipping and Handling cannot be estimated prior to invoicing, based on the size and weight of your purchase. All shipping is subject to a minimum charge of $19.00. If additional shipping and handling costs are required, the buyer will be reinvoiced for the balance due. Items are not shipped until the invoice is completely paid. Many buyers purchase a number of lots. Every effort will be made to include all lots in a single shipping charge calculated to cover the weight and size of the package(s). NOTE: Some shipments (of unusual size, dimension, or weight) may require sp...
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Stone Mountain Founders Medals1498 - Stone Mountain Founders Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of five Stone Mountain Founders Medals with original gold wash. Two brilliant uncirculated, three with toning. (Al Adams Gold Rush Memorabilia Co
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 300.00
Sold to T*****1 for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Silver Stone Mountain Medals1499 - Silver Stone Mountain Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of two medals: one 7.96 ounces, 2 3/4 inches diameter; the other 8.67 ounces, 3 inches diameter. (Al Adams Gold Rush Memorabilia Collection) Da
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 900.00
Sold to D**********n for (425.00 + 106.25BP) = 531.25
 
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Stone Mountain Medals1500 - Stone Mountain Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Seventeen pieces: 1 VF Stone Mountain Half Dollar 1925; 2 silver medals, 5 bronze medals, 9 Founders Medals. (Al Adams Gold Rush Memorabilia Collecti
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (275.00 + 68.75BP) = 343.75
 
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Stone Mountain Collection1501 - Stone Mountain Collection
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Rare 1923 pamphlet, 31 pages 'The Greatest of Monuments". Four medalic arts medals; two silver, two bronze. One ounce silver round. AG 1925...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to D*****1 for (200.00 + 50.00BP) = 250.00
 
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Stone Mountain Memorial Medals1502 - Stone Mountain Memorial Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of ten medals in original boxes, designed by Medallic Art Co. of New York. Obv.: Stone Mountain / three Confederate generals in high relief / Con
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 60.00 - 200.00
Sold to D*****1 for (120.00 + 30.00BP) = 150.00
 
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Stone Mountain Medals1503 - Stone Mountain Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 12: 5 Metallic Arts medals; 5 Founders Medals; 1 silver round commemorative; one 1925 Stone Mountain 50 Commemorative AG condition. (Al Adams
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold to D*****1 for (130.00 + 32.50BP) = 162.50
 
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Stone Mountain Medals1504 - Stone Mountain Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of commemorative medals: silver (8.67 ounces) and bronze, 3 inches in diameter; bronze with display stand, 2.75 inches in diameter. All in origin
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 800.00
Sold to W********y.. for (275.00 + 68.75BP) = 343.75
 
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100th Anniversary of the Andrews Raid Medals1505 - 100th Anniversary of the Andrews Raid Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Three medals issued by Medalic Art Co. of New York to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1862 Union raid that seized the locomotive known as &...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 120.00 - 300.00
Sold to D**********n for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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Bicentennial Georgia Silver Medal1506 - Bicentennial Georgia Silver Medal
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Created by Medallic Arts Company. Obv.: Two Hundred Years of / Days to Remember / pictorial of three citizens; Rev.: Constitution of the state of Geor
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to c******o for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Georgia Bicentennial Medals1507 - Georgia Bicentennial Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of nine medals issued by the State of Georgia to commemorate the nation's Bicentennial in 1976. One large medal, .999 silver, 63mm, 2 1/2 in...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to D**********n for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Atlanta Braves Silver Medals1508 - Atlanta Braves Silver Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Six one ounce silver medals issued by Major League Baseball. Four Western Division Champs, two National League Champs. (Al Adams Gold Rush Memorabili
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 120.00 - 200.00
Sold to D*****1 for (95.00 + 23.75BP) = 118.75
 
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Four Georgia Silver Medals1509 - Four Georgia Silver Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1) "Let Us Have Peace" large silver medal of Grant and Lee. 4.14 ounces, 63mm, in original box. 2) Robert E. Lee, 2.48 ounces, 44 mm. Meda...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 240.00 - 400.00
Sold to D**********n for (110.00 + 27.50BP) = 137.50
 
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Three Georgia Silver Medals1510 - Three Georgia Silver Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1) Grant and Lee, 4.14 ounces, 63 mm, Civil War Centennial Commemorative. 2) Andrew Jackson, Medallic Art, 25.4 grams.3) U.S. Grant, 1.925 ounces, Med
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 120.00 - 240.00
Sold to c******o for (80.00 + 20.00BP) = 100.00
 
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Half Dozen Georgia Medals1511 - Half Dozen Georgia Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Three Bicentennial Commemoratives: bronze, silver and 24kt gold on silver vermeil. Set of three Richard B. Russell, Jr. medals: silver, polished bronz
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
 
 
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Ten Hawaiian Medals1512 - Ten Hawaiian Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Hawaii dollars, Aloha dollars, Pearl Harbor Commemoratives. Beautiful one ounce silver "Remember Pearl Harbor" in blue velvet case from th...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
 
 
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Nevada Numismatic Collectibles1513 - Nevada Numismatic Collectibles
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of four: clay $1 chip from Harold's Club; metal tokens from Caesar's Palace, and Golden Nugget Las Vegas. Member medallion in copper fro...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 40.00 - 80.00
Sold to G********a.. for (20.00 + 5.00BP) = 25.00
 
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350th Anniversary of the Founding of Santa Fe Medals1514 - 350th Anniversary of the Founding of Santa Fe Medals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Beautiful plastic encased set of two medals commemorating the founding of Santa Fe: The silver one featuring St. Francis Cathedral and the bronze The
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 300.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (110.00 + 27.50BP) = 137.50
 
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N. W. Ayer and Sons Presentation Medal1515 - N. W. Ayer and Sons Presentation Medal
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Obverse: Keeping / Everlastingly At It / Brings Success; Reverse: N. W. Ayer & Sons Inc. / Philadelphia/Bais 1869 /Benjamin Potts / Bais 1930. A...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold to r*****5 for (25.00 + 6.25BP) = 31.25
 
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City of Sudbury Gold Plated Medal1516 - City of Sudbury Gold Plated Medal
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Obv.: "The Big Nickel" with smoke stacked factory / City of Sudbury; Rev.: Laurentan University / (pictorial library tower). 51 mm, 88 gra...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
 
 
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Koenig Von Preussen Military Medal1517 - Koenig Von Preussen Military Medal
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Obv.: Wilhelm / Von / Grosse / Deucher / Kaiser / (portrait) / Koenig / Von / Preussen; Rev.: Zum Andenken / an den / hundersten geburtstag / Des Gros
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold to m******0 for (20.00 + 5.00BP) = 25.00
 
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