Colorado Gold Ingot

[kanga]

My son found a rectangular gold (?) coin in his great-aunts estate. It has
on it:
(front) (back)

PARSONS&Co CARAT DWT
ASSAYERS 18 1/2 25 6/10
COL.
1860
TWENTY DOLS

It is in excellent condition. Any help would be appreciated.

[PFDJR]

"kanga" <ka...@shore.intercom.net> wrote:

During the gold rush days in the old west there were quite a few private or
territorial gold coins and ingots minted. Yours sounds like an ingot.

The 1998 Redbook (A Gude Book of United States Coins by R.S. Yeoman) has a
short section on these issues.

The section on Parsons & Co. reads as follows:

"John J. Parsons & Company....Tarryall Mines...Colorado 1861
Very little is known regarding the mint of John Parsons and Co., although it is
reasonably certain that it operated in the South Park section of Park County
Colorado near the original town of Tarryall, in the summer of 1861."

They don't list any of the items from Parsons & Co. but do show a couple of
similar items from other minters. Judging from the values shown for these items
I think you should seek out an expert in the field and get an appraisal.

Perhaps someone else in this group can give you better information. If you
don't get any other responses to your post in a few days perhaps you should
post again under the subject line: "Territorial Gold Expert Needed"

***************************
Phil DeMayo
Coinmasters 1188
ANA R-182606
e-mail: pf...@aol.com
***************************

[Mike Locke]

This is one of several pieces that Don Kagin lists under
"modern counterfeits". Of course, real pieces exist by
this description also. If real:
The ingot should weigh 25.6penny weights = 39.8 grams
One corner should be filed away.

kanga wrote:
>
> My son found a rectangular gold (?) coin in his great-aunts estate. It has
> on it:
> (front) (back)
>
> PARSONS&Co CARAT DWT
> ASSAYERS 18 1/2 25 6/10
> COL.
> 1860
> TWENTY DOLS
>
> It is in excellent condition. Any help would be appreciated.

--
S'later, Mike Locke kar...@rahul.net or loc...@scrserv.com
Mike is EAC #4357, LSCC #1636, JRCS #841, ANA #R-170301, CCS #F11
SPPN life member, Australian N.S. #1747, CNS #19309

Visit http://www.rahul.net/karenml for Calgold info and other stuff

[TomDeLorey]

That particular piece has been heavily duplicated in the form of cast copies.
The pieces do not look or feel like gold. A local
coin shop could easily confirm this for you.
Tom DeLorey
.
>Subject: Colorado Gold Ingot
>From: "kanga" <ka...@shore.intercom.net>
>Date: 4/24/99 8:43 PM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: <37227...@phisteria.delmarva.net>

[Ed Hendricks]

During the mid 19th century, circulating coinage was very scarce in much of
the country. Primarily in the West. Many private assay companies began
making various coins and ingots for use in local commerce(none of which were
officially sanctioned by the government as "money"). Included in those was
a company called John Parsons & Co. making gold coins (and presumably
ingots) from gold from the Tarryall Mines in Colorado. Quoting from the
1999 Redbook, "Very little is known regarding the mint of John Parsons and

Co., although it is reasonably certain that it operated in the South Park

section of Park county Colorado near the original town of Tarryall, in the
summer of 1861". Although the Redbook does not list that particular issue,
it is very possible that you have an ingot minted by that company for
circulation. Most of the authentic private and "territorial" gold pieces
that are known to exist are very valuable. But beware, because of that,
counterfeits abound. Recommend you get an opinion from a dealer who
specializes in private and territorial gold. Hope this helps.

--
Ed Hendricks
ANA# R178621
CM# 775

kanga wrote in message <37227...@phisteria.delmarva.net>...

[BandPReed]

>Very little is known regarding the mint of John Parsons and
>Co., although it is reasonably certain that it operated in the South Park
>section of Park county Colorado near the original town of Tarryall, in the
>summer of 1861

This reminds me of a trip that I took about 8 years ago, when I lived in the
Denver area.
Our wholesale supplies agent was an avid fortune hunter. His goal was to find
the exact location of Tarryall and Parson's operation. He metal detected, dug,
used sonar and a number of other means.

I went up to the site for a day. The trip was beautiful, but the missed turn
that took me the wrong way on about 15 miles of logging roads and mere paths
was unpleasant in my little car.
The most impressive thing was the reamains of the gold dredging operations from
about the turn of the century. Portions of the dregdes still remain. They
inched up the streams, burrying everthing in their paths with tailings. This
made me understand why no remains of the mining camp had ever been found. They
had been chewed up and spat out.

BLReed

[Daddio]

There is a coin collector in Colorado Springs named Ken Hallenbeck Jr. who has a
collection of early Colorado minted coins. He had given a talk to our
prospecting group concerning these coins. He has a shop at 711 N. Nevada Ave.
Phone is (719)634-3313. He might have some info on Parson's gold.
:)> Daddio

Ed Hendricks wrote:

> During the mid 19th century, circulating coinage was very scarce in much of
> the country. Primarily in the West. Many private assay companies began
> making various coins and ingots for use in local commerce(none of which were
> officially sanctioned by the government as "money"). Included in those was
> a company called John Parsons & Co. making gold coins (and presumably
> ingots) from gold from the Tarryall Mines in Colorado. Quoting from the

> 1999 Redbook, "Very little is known regarding the mint of John Parsons and

> Co., although it is reasonably certain that it operated in the South Park
> section of Park county Colorado near the original town of Tarryall, in the

[marssp...@gmail.com]

Contact me in regard to the piece and the mini mini Penny's that were with the piece when I bought them. I also have duel American and euro plus I think I have a quarter with a mistake or double print on it 1980 or 1981.