ARIZONA ASSAY OFFICE INGOTS

Arizona Assay Office ingots were reportedly produced for Paul Franklin by Jack Stone in 1969 out of his North First Street location in Phoenix, Arizona. These examples were reportedly produced in total mintage of 80 and in varying fineness of .720, .925 and .999 purity. The .725 and .925 examples are similar to each other in casting size but are distinctly different than the .995 and .999 examples. Additionally, the .995 and .999 examples were produced using two different casting moulds, with ingots S454 and S456 being of a larger and more shallow casting mould than the other examples. A few unique copper examples were also produced and are presented within this page among their silver counterparts.

There are currently fewer than 50 known Arizona Assay Office examples, at least 12 of which demonstrate a single border ring hallmark stamp.

To read the complete article, see:
ARIZONA ASSAY OFFICE (https://allengelhard.com/arizona-assay-office/)

The Arizona Assay Office bars were never considered part of the "Franklin Hoard", even though they first appeared at the same time as the Star Mining and F.G. Hoard gold bars, in late 1969.

Franklin, recently returned from an extended trip outside the U.S., was the distributor for the Jack Stone AAO bars with his new company, Arizona Silver Company. Stone wrote an introductory letter on AAO letterhead certifying his manufacturing of these bars. There was no cover up story associated with these, and were in the genre of the numerous private silver bars before the "Art Bar" craze of the early 1970's.

Stone's letter reads,

To clarify a small editing omission in my "John J. Ford, Jr. and the "Franklin Hoard" book, p.625, what is written is "The Arizona Assay Office bars were modern issues made primarily for Franklin by Jack Stone...".

It should have read, "The Arizona Assay Office bars were modern issues made primarily for distribution by Franklin by Jack Stone...". A copy of Stone's letter can be seen earlier on p.588 in the John Ford/Franklin Hoard book.

Hopefully, the proper wording will get changed on the ALL ENGLEHARD web site page.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
AN UPDATE ON MOULTON'S FRANKLIN HOARD BOOK (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n21a09.html)
BOOK REVIEW: JOHN J. FORD AND THE FRANKLIN HOARD (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n24a05.html)
BOOK REVIEW: JOHN J. FORD AND THE FRANKLIN HOARD (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n26a07.html)

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