19世纪哈里斯公司沉船金锭 极美
Harris, Marchand & Company Rectangular Gold Ingot. Serial 6542, 25.18 ounces, .893 fine, stamped value $470.02. From the S.S. Central America Treasure.53 mm x 43 mm x 21 mm. This is a significant gold ingot found during the 2014 recovery of treasure from the S.S. Central America. Dave Bowers was given first choice of the ingots and selected this one as being especially attractive and memorable. It is predominantly deep gold with all sides revealing reddish-russet and/or charcoal patina, a result of the decades that this ingot spent on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, 7,200 feet below the surface. All stamps are boldly and neatly impressed on the face, and the Harris, Marchand & Company stamp is particularly noteworthy for its crispness and evenness. There are no post-production flaws apart from the aforementioned toning. Several prominent fissures in the surfaces are present from the casting process. This is a particularly delightful ingot and a highly significant relic from the California Gold Rush.Of the gold ingots found in the S.S. Central America treasure, those of Harris, Marchand & Co. are the only ones with a pictorial hallmark and are considered among the most desirable. Not only does the hallmark make them visually interesting but of the over 500 assay bars recovered during both expeditions, only 40 were from this maker. Private sales of items from the S.S. Central America began early in the year 2000. All of the coins and ingots recovered by the Columbus-America Discovery Group were marketed, with 92% of the treasure being handled by the California Gold Marketing Group (CGMG). The distribution was showcased by the spectacular Ship of Gold display set up across the front of the bourse at the 2000 American Numismatic Association Convention in Philadelphia. In a separate room as part of the week-long Numismatic Theatre program, Bob Evans gave a presentation, assisted by Dave Bowers. The gallery was filled wall-to-wall with over 400 people -- the greatest audience ever for an ANA convention program.Beth Deisher, at the time editor of Coin World, called the treasure the story of the year. In retrospect today in 2019 it ranks in the opinion of Dave Bowers as one of the two greatest numismatic stories of all time -- the other being the Treasury release of long-stored silver dollars that began in November 1962.Years after the first recovery of the treasure, a second exploration of the wreck of the S.S. Central America was made, this time under the aegis of the original investors in the late 20th century search. Under the direction of Ira Kane for the Recovery Limited Partnership, Odyssey Marine Exploration set out for the treasure ship site off the coast of North Carolina, with Bob Evans, scientist with the first discovery, on board managing the new explorations about 150 miles out at sea.Forty five additional coins and ingots were found. These included only three Harris & Marchand bars, including the ingot we now offer. The 2014 exploration was quite extensive and likely recovered any remaining ingots, although the future is unknown.The present Harris & Marchant ingot, personally selected by Dave Bowers as the finest of the fine, is likely to be a centerpiece in a great collection.About Harris, Marchand & CompanyHarvey Harris, a scientist and metallurgist, came to America from Denmark. He was employed as a melter and refiner at the New Orleans Mint, and then went to San Francisco where he worked at the Mint there (which opened for business in March 1854) and also for Kellogg & Company (Kellogg & Humbert) and Justh & Hunter, assayers in San Francisco.On October 3, 1855, having gained considerable experience, he formed Harris, Marchand & Company, assayers, in partnership with Desiré Marchand, and with Charles L. Farrington as the & Co. Aimé D. Marchand and James D. Marchand were on the staff as assayers. Offices were secured at 107 J Street, Sacramento.Desiré Marchand, born in Belgium, had studied at the Paris Mint while a teenager, earning the right to use his own registered assayers stamp (featuring an all-seeing eye with rays emanating from it). Farrington, born in Maine, had been a treasurer for Wells, Fargo & Co. in California.During its existence Harris & Marchand, as the partnership was generally known, produced very attractive gold bars highly esteemed in their time. The existence of even a single ingot was unknown to numismatists and historians until the discovery of the S.S. Central America gold treasure.Harris, Marchand & Co. soon expanded, and in December 1855 it was announced that an office would be opened in Marysville. This happened, and the branch produced a small number of ingots.By December 31, 1856, Harris, Marchand & Co. had assayed $72,105.6 value of gold at the current value of $20.67 per ounce. Much of the gold was of exceptionally high fineness. By mutual consent the firm was dissolved on June 1, 1857, when Farrington resigned. The other two partners continued the business.The Sacramento office of Harris & Marchand was moved on May 1, 1858, from 107 J Street to 73 J Street. In June 1858 the firm was listed at 27 E Street. In September of the same year, another branch office (in addition to the one at Marysville) was opened at 105 Sacramento Street in San Francisco. The firm also supplied scales and assay equipment to the trade. The firm lasted until 1859.From the Q. David Bowers Collection. Earlier ex S.S. Central America.
