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Trio of Gold Cupellations. 2.38 Ounces total.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Gold Nuggets Start Price:660.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Trio of Gold Cupellations. 2.38 Ounces total.
SOLD
3,400.00USDto j*******3+ buyer's premium (595.00)
This item SOLD at 2017 Sep 16 @ 00:14UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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1.15, 1.0, and 0.23 Ounces. A trio of gold cupellations from the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s that were inherited by a descendent of a Yukon prospector – we seldomly get to handle these rare artifacts of the gold rush, as most cupellations are melted down and recast into ingots or other items.

Cupellation is the separation of impurities from precious metals in a cupel. The cupel is a small cup made of porous, heat resistant material in which metal is subjected to high temperatures, causing base metals such as lead to oxidize and vaporize, leaving a button-shaped piece of (somewhat) refined silver, gold, or a mixture of the two.

The present pieces offer a unique glimpse into the life of a prospector (and his gold) in the late 19th century, reminding us that the precious metal didn’t just take the form of nuggets, ingots, or coins.