RWB Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 PRIVATE Mint of the United States December 8, 1848 Hon. R. S. Walker, Secretary of the TreasuryDear Sir, We have received, this morning, the first deposit of gold from California. It weighed 1,804.59 ounces, of which 1,623.80 was from the lower surface mines, and 350.79 from this is Feather River. It seems to be of excellent quality, but its true fineness has not yet been ascertained. When it is assayed, I will let you know the result. It is composed entirely of grains and dust. It was deposited by Mr. David Carter, who brought it from San Francisco by the Isthmus route. Most truly and respectfully, Your friend and servant R. M. Patterson Quintus Arrius and GoldFinger1969 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldFinger1969 Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 December 8th, 1948 ? So the SanFran football team should be called The 48'ers ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldhoopster Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 Interesting, that they actually listed the mine location of some of it. Almost 124 lbs of gold dust. Think about carrying that back from CA by way of Panama. Any additional info on David Carter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted August 29, 2022 Author Share Posted August 29, 2022 (edited) Other early samples came through military command. [Allow me to make it clear that this was not the first gold from Californian to reach the US Mint - that was when Californian was part of Mexico. This is the first to come from California under U.S. sovereignty and show up at the mint. I've outlines a short segment in FMTM-2 to discuss these early samples.] Edited August 29, 2022 by RWB GoldFinger1969 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldFinger1969 Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 On 8/29/2022 at 5:49 PM, RWB said: I've outlines a short segment in FMTM-2 to discuss these early samples.] When is/was the 2nd Edition of FMTM put out ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted August 30, 2022 Author Share Posted August 30, 2022 (edited) FMTM-2 is in slow preparation --- it won't be out for a while...possibly late 2023. The goal remains machinery, mechanics, processes and operations - not specific coins. It's How and Why. Two of the segments are largely finished. One explains how coins were issued and distributed in the U.S. before there was a Federal Reserve Banking system. A second explains why the U.S. Mint did not move to Washington City in 1800 with the rest of the Federal government. (Also explains why the "pressure to close the mint" did not really happen to the extent many claim.) Others are going to answer questions raised by collectors including some members right here. Edited August 30, 2022 by RWB GoldFinger1969 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus Arrius Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 Something caught my ever-roving eye. I would appreciate it immensely if we all agree to agree where gold, a precious metal is concerned, Troy weight and not Avoirdupois weight is used. As a practical matter, that would mean those 1804.59 oz. weigh a bit over 150 pounds. [If it were copper, that would be an entirely different matter.] The last time I brought this up, I was put before a firing squad. I don't want to have to go through all that again, particularly when my Guardian Angel at NGC intervened and resurrected me. Where do the numismatists on the Forum, with a purported 150 years' of professional experience stand on this? Briefly, 12 oz vs. 16 oz. 🐓 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldhoopster Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 (edited) On 8/29/2022 at 8:33 PM, Quintus Arrius said: Something caught my ever-roving eye. I would appreciate it immensely if we all agree to agree where gold, a precious metal is concerned, Troy weight and not Avoirdupois weight is used. As a practical matter, that would mean those 1804.59 oz. weigh a bit over 150 pounds. [If it were copper, that would be an entirely different matter.] The last time I brought this up, I was put before a firing squad. I don't want to have to go through all that again, particularly when my Guardian Angel at NGC intervened and resurrected me. Where do the numismatists on the Forum, with a purported 150 years' of professional experience stand on this? Briefly, 12 oz vs. 16 oz. 🐓 Whenever I see weights of precious metals, I always assume troy ounces unless otherwise specified. I converted the 1804 troy ounces to standard pounds in my earlier post because nearly everybody (at least those of us born in the US) can relate to approx 124 standard pounds. Although standard pounds is the norm, I should have clarified it since it Was mixing units. Edited August 30, 2022 by Oldhoopster Quintus Arrius 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted August 30, 2022 Author Share Posted August 30, 2022 A better conversion is from Troy ounces into doughnuts. That, almost everyone will understand. GoldFinger1969 and Quintus Arrius 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingAl Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 On 8/29/2022 at 6:02 PM, RWB said: FMTM-2 is in slow preparation --- it won't be out for a while...possibly late 2023. The goal remains machinery, mechanics, processes and operations - not specific coins. It's How and Why. Two of the segments are largely finished. One explains how coins were issued and distributed in the U.S. before there was a Federal Reserve Banking system. A second explains why the U.S. Mint did not move to Washington City in 1800 with the rest of the Federal government. (Also explains why the "pressure to close the mint" did not really happen to the extent many claim.) Others are going to answer questions raised by collectors including some members right here. Any chance you are looking for proofreaders? I can hope, right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted August 30, 2022 Author Share Posted August 30, 2022 An extra set of eyes on this kind of thing is always helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus Arrius Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 On 8/30/2022 at 7:45 AM, RWB said: An extra set of eyes on this kind of thing is always helpful. Drat, cataracts. Curses! GoldFinger1969 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zadok Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 On 8/29/2022 at 8:33 PM, Quintus Arrius said: Something caught my ever-roving eye. I would appreciate it immensely if we all agree to agree where gold, a precious metal is concerned, Troy weight and not Avoirdupois weight is used. As a practical matter, that would mean those 1804.59 oz. weigh a bit over 150 pounds. [If it were copper, that would be an entirely different matter.] The last time I brought this up, I was put before a firing squad. I don't want to have to go through all that again, particularly when my Guardian Angel at NGC intervened and resurrected me. Where do the numismatists on the Forum, with a purported 150 years' of professional experience stand on this? Briefly, 12 oz vs. 16 oz. 🐓 ...briefly Troy.... Quintus Arrius 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VKurtB Posted September 2, 2022 Share Posted September 2, 2022 All this talk about different kinds of ounces is a, err, umm, Trojan Horse, … or sumpin like that. Quintus Arrius 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus Arrius Posted September 2, 2022 Share Posted September 2, 2022 On 9/2/2022 at 3:50 PM, VKurtB said: All this talk about different kinds of ounces is a, err, umm, Trojan Horse, … or sumpin like that. There is a part of me that cannot brook the use of terminological inexactitudes. Ag and Au vs. Cu. Hence Robert Ripley's claim that a pound of feathers weighs more than a pound of silver or gold. Believe it or Not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted September 2, 2022 Author Share Posted September 2, 2022 On 8/30/2022 at 7:49 AM, Quintus Arrius said: Drat, cataracts. Curses! Stop complaining about Charmy's cat ! When do you get surgery? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus Arrius Posted September 2, 2022 Share Posted September 2, 2022 On 9/2/2022 at 5:26 PM, RWB said: Stop complaining about Charmy's cat ! When do you get surgery? The standing appointment I had made with my PCP is Sept. 13th. I assume he will refer me to an orthopedist. I am in no particular rush. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted September 3, 2022 Author Share Posted September 3, 2022 I'd double check that orthopedist doin' cataract surgery...... rrantique and Quintus Arrius 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VKurtB Posted September 3, 2022 Share Posted September 3, 2022 Beware of proctologists doing cataract surgery. You could end up with a you-know-whaty outlook. Quintus Arrius 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
