THE BANK OF CALIFORNIA NUMISMATIC EXHIBIT

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V16 2013 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 16, Number 22, June 2, 2013, Article 17

There's a fascinating and revealing blog on the PCGS Message Boards entered today June 2nd- titled " Bank of California " - with numerous excellent and close-up color images taken at the San Francisco Bank of California numismatic exhibit by a European visitor.

I visited the US for the very first time (I live in Europe). To be precise, Northern California.

Every visit to California should include San Francisco, and like so many people before me I have fallen in love with the city, its people (most of them), the food and so much more. Certainly a city I will hopefully visit many more times in my still young life (I'm 20).

During my visit to SF I visited several historic places, including the old San Francisco Mint (post to follow), Golden Gate Bridge, Financial District and a lot more. In one of my postings shortly before my visit, one recommended the Bank of California with a small museum. Because I was in the Financial District anyway, I decided to try to find the place on California street to see if it was worth the visit. After walking into the wrong bank at first, I found the Bank of California's main office, a nice building of the bank founded in 1864.

I slowly started to walk around a bit, as it was quite hot outside and the air conditioning was certainly welcome. First parts of the exhibition were a short history of California, especially of the Gold Rush era and a small part about the history of the bank itself. I immediately noticed that Pioneer Gold was a large part of what was there, at least 90%. Having just bought my first territorial gold coin (an 1849 Moffat & Co. $5 gold piece) I was certainly interested in this, and I was certainly glad that I found this place.

California territorial gold pieces were in every case. Included were multiple examples of Moffat & Co, Kellogg & Co, Baldwin & Co, Norris, Gregg and Norris and Wass Moliter & Co pieces alongside lesser known firms. Many coins were in high condition although the overall mix between circulated and uncirculated was about 50/50.

The 1853 USAOG $20 "Proof" is one of the recently condemned "Transfer Die Forgeries". The 999 Fine Humbert "Proofing" ingot is also a forgery, along with the Eagle Mining gold bar.

Many of the items in the Bank of California display are pieces that either came from, or were owned, by John Ford.

Archives International Auctions, Part XV

Archives International Auctions, Part XV
June 4th, 2013
Worldwide Banknotes, Coins, Scripophily & Autographs
10:00 am Local Time (lots 1-903)
U.S. Coins, Banknotes & Security Printing Ephemera
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and Security Printing Ephemera Including Additional Selections from the Hamtramck Collection; The Somerset Collection as well as distinguished
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June 4th, 2013 at our offices in Fort Lee, New Jersey

Included will be over 1,000 lots of Rare Worldwide Banknotes,
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ARCHIVES INTERNATIONAL AUCTIONS, LLC
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Fort Lee, NJ 07024
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