NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER)
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2014 Sep 14 @ 09:00UTC-7 : PDT/MST
If you want to see an enlarged image, click on the thumbnail image in the lower left of the main image.
You can download a higher resolution image by clicking on the title below the enlarged image.
You can request extra images to be added by contacting HWAC at uwe@fhwac.com or by calling 775-851-1859
Gould & Curry Silver Mining Co. Silver Ingot, c1904
by Fred Holabird
Description
"14.85 ozs, .0285 fine gold, value $8.74; 963 fine silver, value$18.58, $27.82" "No. 2" Measures 3 3/8" x 1 9/16" x 1/2". The reverse and sides are all unmarked. The G & C bullion punch matches the style of the punch held by the Keck (Mackay) Museum in Reno, given them by the descendents of the Con Virginia MC, probably prior to 1940 (Fulton collected much material from key Comstockers before 1929). No assay chip, but there is a drill hole in the upper right corner of the reverse where an assay was taken.
The rounded corners of this ingot, and its general style of manufacture have always led me to believe the ingot is a product of post-bonanza production, certainly post-1890, and may possibly date to the 1900-1910 period, which was a period of massive rebirth of the western mining industry, and was during a new age of transportation and availability of the general public to western mines.
After much research, it is believed that the ingot was produced in 1904, in conjunction with a major new mining effort and a reincorporation of the company in San Francisco, California, where its head office was located. The ratio of gold to silver was typical of Comstock mines.
Provenance
This Gould & Curry Silver Mining Co. silver ingot is x-Ford, Part XXI, lot 3514 ($27,600). The original documentation of Ford, complete with letters, comes with the ingot.
Ford purchased the ingot from the family of William L. Warren, Curator, Old Sturbridge Village Museum, Sturbridge, Massachusetts in 1966. The letter states that Warren's father was given the ingots from his cousin Edwin Tomlinson of Quaker Farms, Connecticut. Tomlinson was an active mining investor, prospector, and traveler. His biography states "he (made) a fortune in the mining and oil business between 1874 and 1897." The letter mentions another ingot and gold nuggets, the whereabouts of which are unknown today.
Background - 1860's History
The Gould & Curry is unarguably one of the most important mines on the Comstock, and also unarguably is solely responsible for the huge gains in Comstock mine stock prices in 1863 that made millionaires overnight of many mining men (stock quoted in July, 1863 at $6,300 per foot). George Hearst was one of the men who helped consolidate the Alva Gould and Abe Curry (First Superintendent of the Carson City Mint) claims into the Gould & Curry. He and partners John Earl and William Lent and others went on to incorporate the G&C, ultimately making them millions. Those huge stock prices in 1863 later caused a massive market crash, because investors couldn't tell the legitimate mines from the promotions and development efforts from the outright frauds (ex: Fly By Night Gold and Silver MC). G&C stock fell to $900 per foot by July, 1864. The Gould & Curry built the largest mill in America in 1863, only to nearly run out of ore within a year. The superintendent, Charles Strong, ultimately committed suicide after all of his mining investments failed.
The mine produced just under $16 million before 1889. It is entirely possible that half of this came before 1864, though records are poor. As a visual reference, a significant portion of the men listed in Kelly's 1863 Territorial Directory were employed by the G&C MC.
Post-1885 History
Much is written on the Comstock from the discovery through the Hale & Norcross Bonanza of the mid-1880's. But little summary work has ever been published on the post-1885 period, particularly post-1890. With production during that period at nearly nine million ounces of gold and 220 million ounces of silver, it is no wonder it has been generally left out of the modern historical record. However, a careful search of the Mining and Scientific Press and Engineering and Mining Journal, accompanied by the Mines Handbook, gives us a much better picture of the "new era" of mining on the Comstock.
In summary, the mines of the middle and north end of the Comstock were generally flooded below the Sutro Tunnel Level since about 1880-1885. Mining on the Comstock was basically dead during the depression of the 1890's, a great part of the reason was the flooding of the deep levels. Thus annual production during that decade was at an all time low of under $1,000,000 per year (1895-1910).
In 1897, the G&C had begun to experiment with low grade ore, averaging about $12 per ton. By November of that year, reports had confirmed the grade. The experiment was for 1000 tons. But it was unsuccessful, and by the end of 1899, the company only had $468 in the bank and owed another $4,000. Many of the mines were in a similar position. The group of northern and middle mines got together in about 1902 and put together a plan to pump the lower levels to access what they thought would be more ore. The plan included revamping the Ward Shaft and accessing all of the mines of these groups through the Ward Shaft. The shaft, which was caved, a mess and inoperative in 1902, was completely revamped by 1904. By April, it was pumping full force. Additionally, with renewed interest and access to ores not accessible in 25 years, the Butters Mill was reopened as were several other mills.
The G&C SMC, taking advantage of the new operations, reincorporated in 1904 to sell more stock to pay for their portion of the Ward, and for exploration activity. It represented a new day for the G&C. It was at this time, I believe, that the ingot was issued and used as a marketing tool in San Francisco, or at a shareholder meeting in December, 1904. The serial number of #2 is very indicative of a new beginning, and very typical of ingot numbering.
It ultimately took years for the mines of the north and middle ends to get going. The pumping was slow, as was mine cleanup, sampling and drilling. After 1915, production on the Comstock again rose to over $1 million per year.
This ingot is a choice example of a Comstock mine ingot.
City: Virginia CityCounty: Storey CountyState: NVDate:
Auction Location:
3555 Airway Drive Suite 309, Reno, Nevada, 89511, United States
Nevada Satte Sales Tax
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| NSST |
7.75% |
Nevada Sales Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
19.5% |
Additional Fees:
| Fee | Amount | Applicable Locations | Applied To |
| Handling Fee |
5.00
|
Not Applicable
|
This fee applies to the total of the invoice
|
Shipping Details:
No Info Available
Payment Details:
Due on receipt of invoice.
Accepted Payment Methods:
- VISA
- Master Card
- Discover
- Money Order/Bank Draft
- Check/Cheque
- COD (cash on delivery)
- PayPal
- Wire Transfer
Great American Treasure Hunt
Absentee Bidding will end
Friday, September 12, 2014 at 5pm PDT,
Internet bids accepted any time
Terms and Conditions
1. This is a Live Auction conducted by Holabird’s Western Americana Collections (HWAC).
2. Live (Floor) Bidding: Please arrive a few minutes early to check in and receive your bidding paddle. We will open lots with more than one bid at the current high absentee bid or 50% of the low estimate at the auctioneer’s discretion. Please be sure to bid on the correct lots during the live auction. Our auction progress is at a rate of between 100 and 200 lots per hour. When the auctioneer says “sold”, he will identify the successful bidder by number and announce the winning bid amount. If you are not sure whether you won the lot or not, it is your responsibility to ask for clarification immediately. Auctioneer reserves the right to reopen the lot in the case of an immediate dispute at the actual time of the sale.
3. Telephone Bidding: Telephone bidding requests MUST be scheduled prior to this auction. If you do not schedule in advance, and choose instead to call on the day of the auction to request a line for bidding, you may find that we are unable to accommodate your request. Please limit your telephone bids to items of value greater than $500, or to a string of items with a similar total.
4. Agent Bidding: There are numerous professional agents available to assist you should you require this service. Please contact the office for a list or to arrange for representation on the floor during the live auction. HWAC is not responsible for any acts or omissions by agents acting on behalf of bidders at our auctions.
5a. Live Auction Absentee Bidding: Absentee bids for the live auction MUST be received by 5pm pacific time the day before
the auction. Bids accepted after the cutoff time will be represented live only if an agent is available and will not be considered absentee or given first priority as such. It is your responsibility to submit all lot numbers and bid amounts accurately. Absentee bids should be equal to at least 50% of the low estimate if an estimate is provided. Bids on “No Lots” or “Withdrawn” Lots are considered no-bids. Bids made in amounts that do not conform to the bid increment table in item 8 below will be automatically rounded up or down by the computer, or rounded to the nearest proper bid increment at the discretion of the auctioneer. Absentee bids are entered into a computer which will bid live on your behalf at the auction. Absentee bids will compete live against other absentee bids, live internet bidders, floor bidders and phone bidders.
5b. NEW BIDDERS: Bidders unknown to us must provide commercial references or a deposit of 25% of the amount to be bid in order for the auction staff to execute bids. Deposits will be credited towards lots won and any balance will be refunded within 10 business days after the auction has concluded. New online users will be given a spending limit at their initial request. In order to increase this limit, you may be required to provide a letter of authorization from your bank in addition to providing references. Please contact our office at any time if you have questions regarding spending limits or references required to bid.
6. Internet Bidding: Absentee and Live internet bidding are both available through our live auction network. If you wish to bid LIVE via the internet, you MUST pre-register. A live video and sound feed will be accessible during the auction for those bidding via the internet. Online bidding remains open through the live auction and online absentee bids may be placed anytime. Live bidding will open when the auction starts. Internet bidding is offered as a convenience for those who cannot attend the live sale. Please note that there may be delays or interruptions in internet connectivity that are beyond our control. Attending the live auction or arranging for an agent is the most reliable way to secure your bids.
WARNING: Auction participation through the live internet bidding site is not 100% foolproof. The technology for this process is still under development, and the operation of it and the corresponding internet connectivity issues are far beyond our control. Some folks have attempted to use the live internet bidding process as their primary method of bidding, and have been quite successful. Others have failed completely. Depending upon your computer, server, host, and other factors, internet signals may be delayed, such that bids may not be received in time. We cannot be held responsible for these delays, or for the lack of placed bids in a timely manner, or any other factors leading to unaccepted bids that are far beyond our control. Bidders should always have a backup plan for lots they highly desire. Live participation is best, followed by phone participation. We will not reopen lots for missed bids.
7. Reserves: Most of the lots in this auction are unreserved. Gold is generally reserved at or near spot, though it could be slightly below spot.
8. Bidding Increments: All bids must be submitted in U.S. dollars and in whole dollar amounts only in the appropriate increments as outlined below. If you choose to submit bids in an increment not listed below, your bid will be rounded to the nearest increment and you will be expected to pay the amount to which the bid was rounded should your bid be the winning bid. If you have any questions about an appropriate bid amount, please call us.
From: To: Increment:
$1 $24 $1
$25 $95 $5
$100 $190 $10
$200 $475 $25
$500 $1,450 $50
$1,500 $3,400 $100
$3,500 $9,750 $250
$10,000 $max $500
9. Bid Reduction: All winning absentee bids will be reduced, if necessary, to the next bidding increment up from the last competing bid, as long as the minimum bid requirement has been met. For example, if you submit an absentee bid of $1000 and the next highest competing bid is $250, then you will win the lot for $275.
10. Bid Information: Collectors often ask in advance the price level of a particular lot. We will give out the current high absentee bid until we close the day before the live auction. You may also view absentee bids online at www.holabirdamericana.com. While we try to update the absentee bids as often as necessary, bids received close to the bidding deadline might not be reflected online, and we disclaim any responsibility for any bids made in reliance upon inaccuracies on our website.
11. Bid Cancellation: If you wish to cancel or change a bid after you have submitted your bids to us due to an error, you MUST PHONE us to advise us of this. Bid cancellations through mail, email, or fax are not advisable. Errors are easy to make and we are happy to assist all callers.
12. All stock certificates, checks, warrants, and other financial documents sold herein are sold as antiquities, and have no financial, securities, or public trading value whatsoever.
13. We reserve the right to reject any bid we feel is not made in good faith.
14. The placing of a bid shall constitute the bidder’s acceptance of these terms of sale.
15. Buyer’s Premium: There will be a 19.5% Buyer’s Premium added to each lot. US coins, nuggets, and bullion are calculated at a 15% buyer’s premium. These premiums include a 3% discount for transactions paid with cash, checks, money orders or wire transfers. All other forms of payment are not subject to the 3% discount and the Buyer’s Premium will be calculated at 22.5% (18% on US coins, gold, & currency.)
16. Sales Tax: Sales tax will apply, according to state law, for any items that ship to or is picked up in Nevada (7.725%) unless a current, valid resale certificate is faxed to us at 775-851-1834 before bids are placed.
17. Invoicing: Shipping charges will be added to all invoices. Invoices are mailed or emailed within two business days after the close of all portions of the sale. Within 15 calendar days of receipt of invoice, payment is due in full to Holabird’s Western Americana Collections, 3555 Airway Dr., #308, Reno, NV 89511. Sales tax will be added to all sales picked-up after the auction or shipped to Nevada addresses, according to state law, unless a resale certificate is provided.
18. Payment: We accept Visa, Master Card, Money Order/Cashier’s Check, Personal Check or PayPal. A 3% cash discount is automatically calculated to the Buyer’s Premium on all sales. That discount will be reversed if payment is made with a credit card or through PayPal. All returned checks are subject to a $25 fee. Cash received in amounts greater than $10,000 is subject to the filing of IRS form 8300, as required by law.
19. Shipping: Shipping will be estimated prior to invoicing, based on the size and weight of your purchase. Additional shipping fees may be invoiced separately. The buyer is responsible for arranging and paying for shipment of large or special items. A $5 handling fee will be included in the shipping charge. The customer is responsible for all shipping charges. We do not ship any purchases until the auction invoice is paid in full. Purchases will be shipped via our approved, insured carriers: Federal Express or the US Postal Service. All items shipped Federal Express or USPS will be insured for the full value determined at auction by HWAC at no extra cost to the buyer. Federal Express shipments will be sent the Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday following receipt of payment. Pick up is available from our Reno office the next business day after the auction. NOTE: Some shipments (of unusual size, dimension, or weight) may require special handling for which individual costs will be calculated and applied to the shipping charge on the invoice.
20. Non-Payment: HWAC reserves the right to cancel any invoice not paid in full within 15 days. A cancelled invoice does not relieve the bidder from their obligation to pay seller fees and buyer’s premiums compensating HWAC for its services in conducting the auction. Interest shall run on all outstanding balances at the highest rate permitted by law. HWAC shall have a lien against the merchandise purchased by the bidder, and any other of bidder’s property then held by HWAC or its affiliates, to secure payment of the invoice, and with respect thereto HWAC shall have all the rights of a secured creditor under the Nevada Commercial Code, including but not limited to the right of sale. HWAC may sell the lot(s) securing the invoice to any underbidders in the auction that the lot(s) appeared, or at subsequent private or public sale, or relist the lot(s) in a future auction conducted by HWAC. A defaulting bidder agrees to pay for the reasonable costs of resale (including a 10% seller’s commission, if consigned to an auction conducted by HWAC). The defaulting bidder is liable to pay any difference between his or her total original invoice for the lot(s), plus any applicable interest, and the net proceeds for the lot(s) if sold at private sale or the subsequent hammer price of the lot(s) less the 10% seller’s commissions, if sold at an HWAC auction. If HWAC refers any invoice to an attorney for collection, the bidder agrees to pay attorney’s fees, court costs, and other collection costs incurred by HWAC. Any bidder who fails to follow the terms of payment will be reported to icollector and may be barred from participating in future Holabird’s Western Americana auctions.
21. Condition: We strongly recommend that you attend the live preview to see lots in their entirety. Conditions are not always noted, and large lots may not be itemized due to catalog restraints. For questions, detailed information, or additional images of any lot please contact our office at 775-851-1859. Bidders are responsible for understanding the condition of items. Conditions noted are subjective, and may differ in the opinion of different people or collectors.
22. Return Policy: All items are guaranteed to be authentic unless otherwise noted. If authenticity is challenged, please call our office for assistance. You may return any piece that was significantly inaccurately described by calling our office within 15 days of receipt of item(s) and notifying us of the error and reason for return. We do not refund postage or insurance. We have attempted to describe the items and their condition accurately. If no condition is given, assume average. Please call us if you require a more specific condition report. Any items that are returned must be returned in the exact, unaltered condition. NGC certified tokens that are returned must be original, unaltered NGC holders. Any tokens removed from the original NGC/NCS certification holders or items returned in an altered condition are deemed not returnable under any circumstances. When we receive your bids we will assume you have read the description in the catalog, viewed the image of the item, have contacted us regarding any questions you may have on any lot and/or have previewed the lot in person. Therefore, returns are only accepted if prior approval is given by Holabird’s Western Americana Collections.
23. This sale is being held under the laws of the state of Nevada, without reference to choice of law rules.
24. HWAC shall not be held responsible for any problem due to the bidders failure to follow the rules, terms and conditions of this sale, or any failure to bid due to the loss of the online auction process provided by any of the online auction networks; or missed bids, changed bids or cancelled due the bidders failure to follow the proper bidding procedure outlined herein.
25. By placing a bid or otherwise participating in the auction, Bidder accepts these Terms and Conditions, and specifically agrees to the dispute resolution provided herein.
26. HWAC shall not be responsible for consequential damages, incidental damages, compensatory damages, or any other damages arising or claimed to be arising from the auction of
any lot. Bidder’s sole remedy for any proven act or omission shall be rescission of sale and refund of the amount paid by Bidder.
27. Any claim, dispute, or controversy in connection with, relating to and/or arising out of the Auction, participation in the Auction, award of lots, damages of claims to lots, descriptions, condition reports, provenance, estimates, return and warranty rights, any interpretation of these Terms and Conditions, any alleged verbal modification of these Terms and Conditions and/or any purported settlement shall be exclusively heard by, and the parties consent to exclusive in personam jurisdiction of, the Superior Court of Washoe County, Nevada. THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. Any claim must be brought within one (1) year of the auction from which the claim arose or the claim is waived. In every case, the prevailing party shall be entitled to an award of its attorney’s fees and costs.