44 mm x 99 mm x 19 mm. A tremendously exciting offering recovered from the wreck of the S.S. Central America . The San Francisco firm of Kellogg & Humbert was established in 1855 as the product of several mergers between prominent regional gold firms. Before long, their assayed bars gained acclaim and were popular in the metropolises of New York City and London, even being utilized by the United States Mint in Philadelphia. Monthly shipments delivered this gold to eastern destinations via steamers to Panama, where the newly constructed Panama Railroad would then transport cargo and passengers during the four-hour, 48-mile journey across the isthmus to the Atlantic coast for transit elsewhere. The present offering was accompanied by at least 342 other bars from this firm on one such journey in late August of 1857. While the first leg of the voyage from San Francisco to Panama aboard the S.S. Sonora was unremarkable, the same, unfortunately, cannot be said about the remainder of the trip. After departing the Panamanian port of Colon, then known as Aspinwall, and making a brief stop in Havana, Cuba, the S.S. Central America steamed towards New York City with an estimated 597 passengers and crew and a cargo of over $1.2 million in registered treasure, Kellogg & Humbert ingot No. 854 included. On Friday, September 11, 1857 an unrelenting hurricane induced flooding that became too much for the pair of coal-powered steam engines, rendering the vessel unable to pump out incoming water and left to be tossed at the mercy of the tumultuous Atlantic. After floundering and listing for more than a day off the coast of the Carolinas, the ship disappeared beneath the waves shortly after 8 pm on Friday the 12th, claiming the lives of over 400 individuals and plunging its glistening cargo nearly one and a half miles to the ocean floor.Lurking in the depths for more than 130 years, the wreckage of the S.S. Central America would remain elusive and undisturbed until its discovery on September 11, 1988, causing considerable excitement among the numismatic, maritime, and treasure-hunting communities around the world. Preserved by the frigid and tranquil environment of the sea floor, the sunken treasure remained largely untroubled and required little conservation to be brought back to the pristine and shimmering condition that is observed here.Fully bright and medium-gold in finish, the surface is free of any noteworthy imperfections that might suggest its involvement in such a chaotic tragedy. Close inspection reveals insignificant abrasions and a minor texturing that is more the result of the casting process than time spent at sea. The top of the ingot is stamped NO 854 with the name of the firm, KELLOGG / & / HUMBERT / ASSAYERS, within a rectangular box below. Midway down the bar is the weight, 45.19 OZ, followed by the fineness, 893 FINE, and the value in gold at the time of manufacture, $834.20. Considering that the current market price dictates a bullion value of nearly $54,000, much can be inferred about our economic change and growth over the past 150 years! Assuming medal-turn, the back side is also stamped 854 at the top, remaining otherwise blank. Housed in a clear acrylic case, the ingot is easily viewable from all sides and thoroughly protected from harm.Also included with this ingot is a deluxe gilt and leather-bound copy of the book A California Gold Rush History by Q. David Bowers, complete with dust cover. Measuring 14 in. x 11 in. x 2.75 in., this incredible wealth of knowledge provides an insightful and entertaining narrative outlining the context and events surrounding the California Gold Rush of the mid 19th Century. Using the fateful voyage of the S.S. Central America as a lens of discussion, the author guides you through why this era remains both an enchanting and developmentally important time in our nation s history. Numbered 340 of out 400 and containing a sample of gold dust recovered from the S.S. Central America integrated into the inside cover, this compilation perfectly enhances the already enchanting notions radiated by the accompanying ingot. Both items are sure to be enjoyed and appreciated by generations to come! (Total: 2 items)， Provenance: Ex S.S. Central America. Plated on page 435 of the book A California Gold Rush History by Q. David Bowers. Est. $90,000-$150,000
