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The E-Sylum: Volume 22, Number 8, February 24, 2019, Article 40

ARIZONA ASSAY OFFICE INGOTS

The ALL ENGELHARD web site also covers certain non-Engelhard bars and ingots. There's a new page on the Arizona Assay Office illustrating a couple dozen examples. Here's an excerpt. -Editor

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/)

Paul Franklin played a starring role in the famous "Franklin Hoard" affair of the last century. Karl Moulton wrote a book about it, so I passed this along to him for comment. Here are his thoughts. -Editor

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,

"20 Nov. 1969,
To Whom it may Concern !
I here by certify that the silver bars and Ingots stamped with the Arizona Assay Office stamp + Register #5479 were made under my supervision for distribution by Arizona Silver Co; represented by Paul Franklin.

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.

Ford Franklin Hoard book cover Hopefully, the proper wording will get changed on the ALL ENGLEHARD web site page.

Some copies of Karl's John Ford/Franklin Hoard book are still available for sale. Contact him at numiscats@aol.com . -Editor

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)



Wayne Homren, Editor

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The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com

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