Blake & Co. MS Gold Ingot. 19.30 Ounces....

"Although less common in the consumer marketplace than the coins, the ingots are as revealing of the era and are also more unusual in that they are all private issues. Many began as dust and nuggets in the pockets of miners, who brought the raw gold to private assayers for weighing and valuation. The assayers melted down gold, molded it into ingots, then shaved off a corner for their commission and to measure purity. Finally they would stamp the gold with unique identifying marks, indicating the weight, purity, and value, as well as their own maker's marks, and return the ingots to the owners. Gold in this form was the preferred type shipped to banks and other businesses, as well as to the U.S. government. Commercial shippers also brought their gold to private assayers, but did so in larger allotments."