Description: 1852 U.S. Assay Office Gold 50 Dollar Imitation Antique Souvenir Spoon, Circa 1915 Probably issued ca. 1915. Length 120 mm, bowl diameter 46 mm. 21.8 grams. Excellent condition. Floral pattern handle is topped by the standing figure of a California Gold Rush miner with pick and raised hand, STERLING is impressed at the back of the stem. The bowl bears a precise impression of an 1852 United States Assay Office of Gold $50 obverse style die bearing Charles Cushing Wright's eagle and shield, scroll inscribed 900 THOUs and the name KUNER F. This identifies Bavarian-born Georg Albrecht Ferdinand (Albert) Kuner, who prepared the dies for a number of well-known Pioneer Gold issues. His name appeared only on the later British Columbia issues of 1862. According to Donald H. Kagin, dies for the USAOG $50 "Slugs" survived until the great San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906. One obverse was salvaged from the ruins and used to produce a very limited number of spoons at the time of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915. Identical to the example offered in Stack's Americana Sale of January 2009, lot 8808, (which sold for $4,025) It seems likely that these spoons were offered for sale as souvenirs at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Although the details of the manufacture and distribution are unknown to us, it's not unlikely that Farran Zerbe was involved, as he operated the numismatic concession at the Panama-Pacific Exposition. Examples of these spoons are of great historical importance and the few known are ardently sought by collectors of pioneer gold coins and associated items. (Info from Stack & Bowers)
Price: 2749 USD
Location: Spring Valley, New York
End Time: 2024-05-18T19:42:08.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Composition: Sterling Silver (.925)
Age: 1900-1940
