| Description |
Early Illustrated Account of the San Francisco MintVol. I, No. IV (San Francisco: October 1856). 8vo, original printed paper covers. (145)-192 pages; 2 leaves of advertisements; woodcut text illustrations, including 10 illustrations depicting scenes at the San Francisco Mint in its early days. The article, "Coining Money at the San Francisco Branch Mint," appears on the first nine pages, accompanied by illustrations of the building and many minting operations. A bit worn and with some spotting; coming unstitched but not previously bound. Very good. Very rare. It may be the earliest illustrated account of this western mint. It covers virtually the entire minting process, from when a visitor has been cleared to enter and "has just placed a bag of gold at the Treasurer's counter, for the purpose of having it coined," to processing the bullion and fabricating it into planchets, thence to be "carried to the Coining Room, to be 'stamped.'" Estimate $750. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Heritage Auctions 11/2018 (Newman XI), lot15320 (realized $660).
Heritage link: http://www.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1283&lotIdNo=11411 |
