3240

Swiss American Bank, S.F., Deposit Slip RARE, c1873 [191413]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Mining Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,000.00 USD
Swiss American Bank, S.F., Deposit Slip RARE, c1873 [191413]
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Branch of the Swiss American Bank, successor to Hentsch & Berton, assay office deposit slip for two gold ingots, deposited by "Messrs. Cross & Co. (Black Bear)," dated September 22, 1873. This San Francisco bank and assay firm had ties to the S.S. Central America. The S.S. Central America, a 280-foot sidewheel steamer that operated between Central America and the East Coast of the U.S. during the 1850s, sank in 1857 during a hurricane while carrying a large amount of gold from the California gold rush - 30,000 pounds in fact - which earned it the nickname, "Ship of Gold." The ship's cargo was primarily associated with the assay office of Henry Hentsch and Francis Berton, where the gold was assayed and stamped before being loaded onto the ship. It is unclear whether Black Bear referred to the Black Bear Mine in Siskiyou County, Calif., or Black Bear mines in Colorado or Washington. The deposit slip is not listed in "Rush for Gold," and never before seen by Fred Holabird. It lists 2 almost identical ingots, at 171.45 and 171.23 troy ounces after melting. Penned, "Duplicate." RARE. Approx. 10.5" x 6".
"Henry Hentsch, a Swiss born into a prominent banking family on July 23, 1818, became important in San Francisco banking, real estate, and other endeavors, including assaying. In January 1854 he sailed for New York, then from New York to Panama. After connecting at Panama, he continued by steamer in the Pacific, arriving in San Francisco. Soon, he established a small banking office. His assay office was annexed to the banking facilities.
"Hentsch's banking and assaying business was successful. By June 1859 he was also the official consul for Switzerland. In January 1863 advertisements noted that Hentsch and Francis Berton had established Hentsch & Berton, bankers and assayers, now located at 432 Montgomery Street. On January 20, 1873, the partnership became the San Francisco branch of the Swiss-American Bank. By that time Henry Hentsch had moved back to Switzerland, where he was in charge of the bank's Geneva office, while Berton managed the San Francisco facility." (stacksbowers.com)
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Date: 1873
Country (if not USA):
State: California
City: San Francisco
Provenance: