2016-10-01 Sat

On 21st September, an 1850 numismatic book which shares information about the California Gold Rush was sold for $10,625 at Bonhams’ Fine Books and Manuscripts auction in New York City.

Jacob Reese Eckfeldt and William E. Du Bois from Philadelphia released the book named New Varieties of Gold and Silver Coins, Counterfeit Coins, and Bullion in Philadelphia and through the agencies of Adams & Co. in Panama and San Francisco. The book is supposed to be the best reference book which speaks about the start of gold mining in California and the Gold Rush. It also helped in completing an earlier 1842 book by the same authors.

Gold-tone coins are embossed on the cover replicating the U.S. gold coins including the new 1850 Coronet double eagle. The book also has a page of “California and Mormon Coins” embossed in gold.

Henry E. Huntington, the American railroad businessman and collector of rare books offered the book for auctions. He is known for the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens.

Apart from official U.S. Mint issues and first gold issues the book also sheds light on world coins including Chinese coins.

Samples of California grain and bar gold are also included in the book which helps readers differentiate between alloyed and unalloyed gold.

The first edition of the book is rare with the gold samples.