HK-642 GOLD DISCOVERY CALIFORNIA

#1 · June 7, 2012, 10:16 pm

I bid on that piece and then got busy and forgot about it. I'm glad it wound up in your collection. I too thought it might be a Schwaab piece, but I see now that the shape is different from the Schwaab format. Great piece and a good addition to the Moise catalog.

#2 · June 8, 2012, 4:43 pm

It's certainly interesting that there are "fakes" of facsimilies. I spoke with a dealer at a recent show who showed me some. I guess i'm glad there aren't more "fakes" of so called dollars... In agreement to your point, it must just be lack of awareness. Like with everything, buy a book or read websites to get educated before opening the wallet. ...and I guess buy from someone you trust.

#3 · June 9, 2012, 12:00 am

Quote from billycgribble on June 9, 2012, 12:00 am
In 1963 Hibler and Kappen wrote concerning this piece "Research fails to establish either origin of this medal or nature and extent of 'jubilee' celebration which latter obviously must have been limited." The mystery surrounding this piece is now solved. In 1966 Norma B Ricketts who was a noted Mormon scholar, historian, rearcher and writer published the book "MORMONS and the DISCOVERY OF GOLD". She used diaries of men who participated in the Mormon Battalion march to California in 1846 relying most extensively on Henry Bigler's Journals in 1846 and his last Journal chronicaling his trip to the GOLD DISCOVERY JUBILEE SEMI-CENTENNIAL in January of 1898 in San Francisco, California. This Gold Discovery Semi-Centennial was conceived, arranged, funded and hosted by "THE CALIFORNIA PIONEERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY- San Francisco Chapter". Very little was known about this one day Semi-Centennial in San Francisco, California until a journal written by Mormon Henry William Bigler became known. The Mormons were having their problems with the local authorities and government in the 1844-1846 period in Nauvoo, Illinois. Their High Prohet Joseph Smith was murdered in Carthage, Illinois June 27, 1844 by a frenzied mob. They were being persecuted on all sides with assistance of the Governor of Illinois and militia troops. On February 4, 1846 the Mormons were driven out of Nauvoo with the choice of either fleeing their homes and the community or being massacred. Prohet Brigham Young issued the call to arms forming the famed Mormon Battalion in 1846 for their march to California. Henry Bigler answered this call and left Nauvoo in 1846 arriving in California with the Mormon Battalion in 1847. Following their discharge from the Mormon Battalion Henry Bigler, Alexander Stephens, James S. Brown, James Barger, William Johnson and Azariah Smith were employed in late 1847 by Johann A. Sutter at his Sutter's Fort in Sacramento, California. They were visited one night by James S. Marshall whom Sutter had struck a deal with to build a sawmill. They and Marshall left Sacramento and arrived at the chosen Sutter sawmill site on September 29, 1847. From the day he left Utah in 1846 Henry Bigler had kept a daily journal. When James Marshall discovered gold in the sawmill water ditch on January 24, 1848 Bigler recorded it. In 1870 upon reading a San Francisco newspaper article about the uncertainty about the date of gold discovery at Sutter's Mill Bigler wrote a letter to the editor of the San Francisco Daily Bulletin with copies of his journal giving the exact date and time and existence of his journals became known. Upon learning of these journals chronicaling the daily early gold rush days in California professional historian Charles S. Hittell became acquainted with Henry Bigler. Hittell extensively chronicaled the early history of California as well as the gold rush days using Bigler's journals. Charles S. Hittell was also a member of the California Pioneers Historical Society. The Society owns the Bigler gold rush journal. In 1896-1897 the California Pioneers Historical Society in San Francisco decided that something had to be done to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the discovery of gold in California by James Marshall at Sutter's Mill. They decided that what was needed was to bring Henry Bigler and the three surviving Mormon Battalion veterans who were at Sutter's Mill from Utah to San Francisco and have them participate in a day long Golden Jubilee Celebration on Jan 24, 1898. Henry Bigler and the three survivors James S. Brown, William Johnston and Azariah Smith accepted and were brought to San Francisco for 10 days of celebrating culminating in a day long parade which they led through San Francisco's business district along with the other California Pioneers and local dignataries. Even at his advanced age he still kept a daily journal and on January 24, 1898 wrote in his journal "that it was a cold a disagrjeeable day". Perhaps ironically for lack of information HK-642 is not the official medal. The official medal selected was an artistic 1848 view of Sutter's Mill with the river and logs on the reverse where the gold was discovered and a bust of James Marshall on the obverse who discovered the gold.

In 1963 Hibler and Kappen wrote concerning this piece "Research fails to establish either origin of this medal or nature and extent of 'jubilee' celebration which latter obviously must have been limited." The mystery surrounding this piece is now solved. In 1966 Norma B Ricketts who was a noted Mormon scholar, historian, rearcher and writer published the book "MORMONS and the DISCOVERY OF GOLD". She used diaries of men who participated in the Mormon Battalion march to California in 1846 relying most extensively on Henry Bigler's Journals in 1846 and his last Journal chronicaling his trip to the GOLD DISCOVERY JUBILEE SEMI-CENTENNIAL in January of 1898 in San Francisco, California. This Gold Discovery Semi-Centennial was conceived, arranged, funded and hosted by "THE CALIFORNIA PIONEERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY- San Francisco Chapter". Very little was known about this one day Semi-Centennial in San Francisco, California until a journal written by Mormon Henry William Bigler became known. The Mormons were having their problems with the local authorities and government in the 1844-1846 period in Nauvoo, Illinois. Their High Prohet Joseph Smith was murdered in Carthage, Illinois June 27, 1844 by a frenzied mob. They were being persecuted on all sides with assistance of the Governor of Illinois and militia troops. On February 4, 1846 the Mormons were driven out of Nauvoo with the choice of either fleeing their homes and the community or being massacred. Prohet Brigham Young issued the call to arms forming the famed Mormon Battalion in 1846 for their march to California. Henry Bigler answered this call and left Nauvoo in 1846 arriving in California with the Mormon Battalion in 1847. Following their discharge from the Mormon Battalion Henry Bigler, Alexander Stephens, James S. Brown, James Barger, William Johnson and Azariah Smith were employed in late 1847 by Johann A. Sutter at his Sutter's Fort in Sacramento, California. They were visited one night by James S. Marshall whom Sutter had struck a deal with to build a sawmill. They and Marshall left Sacramento and arrived at the chosen Sutter sawmill site on September 29, 1847. From the day he left Utah in 1846 Henry Bigler had kept a daily journal. When James Marshall discovered gold in the sawmill water ditch on January 24, 1848 Bigler recorded it. In 1870 upon reading a San Francisco newspaper article about the uncertainty about the date of gold discovery at Sutter's Mill Bigler wrote a letter to the editor of the San Francisco Daily Bulletin with copies of his journal giving the exact date and time and existence of his journals became known. Upon learning of these journals chronicaling the daily early gold rush days in California professional historian Charles S. Hittell became acquainted with Henry Bigler. Hittell extensively chronicaled the early history of California as well as the gold rush days using Bigler's journals. Charles S. Hittell was also a member of the California Pioneers Historical Society. The Society owns the Bigler gold rush journal. In 1896-1897 the California Pioneers Historical Society in San Francisco decided that something had to be done to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the discovery of gold in California by James Marshall at Sutter's Mill. They decided that what was needed was to bring Henry Bigler and the three surviving Mormon Battalion veterans who were at Sutter's Mill from Utah to San Francisco and have them participate in a day long Golden Jubilee Celebration on Jan 24, 1898. Henry Bigler and the three survivors James S. Brown, William Johnston and Azariah Smith accepted and were brought to San Francisco for 10 days of celebrating culminating in a day long parade which they led through San Francisco's business district along with the other California Pioneers and local dignataries. Even at his advanced age he still kept a daily journal and on January 24, 1898 wrote in his journal "that it was a cold a disagrjeeable day". Perhaps ironically for lack of information HK-642 is not the official medal. The official medal selected was an artistic 1848 view of Sutter's Mill with the river and logs on the reverse where the gold was discovered and a bust of James Marshall on the obverse who discovered the gold.

#4 · June 9, 2012, 1:32 pm

Both medals (Sutter Fort and HK 642) were made by Schwaab S & S along with many others. I wrote an article about the badges and medals that was published in TAMS Journal in 2010. I'd be happy to send a copy to anyone interested. Drop me a request (bsktmkr@pacbell.net) with your email address. The official badge selected for the event was: I managed to acquire one of the Sutter Fort medals in badge form recently. edited by bill on 6/8/2012

#5 · June 10, 2012, 12:29 am

Both medals (Sutter Fort and HK 642) were made by Schwaab S & S along with many others. I wrote an article about the badges and medals that was published in TAMS Journal in 2010. I'd be happy to send a copy to anyone interested. Drop me a request (bsktmkr@pacbell.net) with your email address. The official badge selected for the event was: I managed to acquire one of the Sutter Fort medals in badge form recently. edited by bill on 6/8/2012

Bill, Beautiful badge I have never seen it! I had figured the 50 yr Centennial Admission Day hanger last week to probably be a Schwaab piece and was pleasantly surprised that it was a MOISE S.F. piece.

#6 · June 10, 2012, 12:26 pm

Bill, Beautiful badge I have never seen it! I had figured the 50 yr Centennial Admission Day hanger last week to probably be a Schwaab piece and was pleasantly surprised that it was a MOISE S.F. piece.

Looking forward to pictures. I had seen a reference to a Moise piece for the Admission Day, but I've never seen one. I did get a press badge by Buhlinger of San Francisco. I suspect the badge as a whole might be a fabrication from two badges, but the press badge part is original (as could be the entire badge).

So-Called Dollar Discussions

HK-642 GOLD DISCOVERY CALIFORNIA