Call NumberXL-6199Alternate TitleClark, Gruber & Co.Date1860-1863SummaryView of the Clark, Gruber & Co. building, ca. 1860-1863. On January 18, 1860, the Denver Town Company deeded three lots in Denver City to Clark, Gruber & Company for $600. The company built a two-story brick bank and mint on the corner of McGaa and G Streets (present day 16th and Market Streets). The structure has a simple brick cornice and includes a basement accessible from the street. The Federal style front entry is characterized by its simple squared columns and cornice. Minting of coinage began quickly and between July and October 1860 totaled approximately $120,00. The surrounding area in Denver City was known as the Pike's Peak District, leading to the legend "PIKES PEAK GOLD DENVER" seen on the company's 1860 $10 and $20 gold pieces. In 1863, the federal government bought out the firm for the purpose of setting up a branch mint, but no coinage was ever produced at the site. The mint building was more than double the size of the original with a three-story center tower and flagpole. It was torn down in 1909.Physical Description1 photographic print : 20 x 25 cm (8 x 10 in.)Born-Digital or AnalogAnalogSubjectClark, Gruber & Co. (Denver, Colo.)--19th centuryDenver (Colo.)--19th centuryMints--Colorado--Denver--19th centuryBanks--Colorado--Denver--19th centuryFinancial facilities--Colorado--Denver--19th centuryClark, Gruber & Co. (Denver, Colo.)--Pictorial worksGeographic AreaDenver (Colo.)CollectionPhotographs - Western HistoryType of MaterialPhotographic printsBlack & white photographsNotesTitle supplied by cataloger. Print derived from a 4 x 5 in. glass copy negative. Copy negative has remnants of transparent red tape used for masking image for printing. Original image may have been either an ambrotype or tintype. Most likely a 1/2 plate (4 1/4 x 5 1/2 in.), cased image as evidence of a dark "ghost" of the inner, brass mat is visible at the top and left side of the image.DonorLoan from an anonymous private collector, 2012Languageeng
