The final touches and edits on my book "John J. Ford, Jr., and the Franklin Hoard" are being applied at this time and publication is not far in the future.

This is a rather large tome of over 900 pages that took over four years of writing, editing, and design (not to mention decades of research). Images of over 150 gold and silver bars, along with gold coins, that make up the "Franklin Hoard" and were marketed by John J. Ford from the early 1950's to the 1970's, are illustrated on 54 plates (most in color) and have seldom been seen or publicized before.

Color Illustrations include items such as Blake & Agnell, B. Baxter, Parsons & Co., Knight & Co., E. Posen, the so-called SS Brother Jonathan and the high fineness so-called "proofing" gold bars. Dozens of United States Assay Office of Gold (U.S.A.O.G.) pieces were marketed as original 19th century creations by Ford, and it turns out that many of these, including the P.N.G. arbitrated, 1853 U.S.A.O.G $20 proof gold coins, were modern 20th century fabrications (the 1853 U.S.A.O.G $20's were made from transfer dies).

This work presents pedigrees and background on the buyers and sellers of gold bars prior to 1974, when gold ownership was again legalized for American citizens. Buyers, such as Keefer, Lilly, Murrell, and the Norwebs are examined. Sellers, such as Ford, Stack's, Franklin, and Painter are seen through invoices, letters, and historical documents. Then, there's the story of two assayers in Phoenix who worked directly with Gerow Paul Franklin...really!

Chapters include a year-by-year accounting of Ford's numismatic activities, with hundreds of personal letters and invoices relating to the "Franklin Hoard" pieces. The 1999 "Great Debate" is also chronicled and follow-up articles by other researchers are included. This book, with a great deal of previously unseen documentation, describes a fascinating and complex story; and will become the standard reference about a controversy that has shaken the numismatic world for decades.

Copies of the "John J. Ford, Jr., and the Franklin Hoard" book can be ordered at the pre-publication price of $250.00, by sending payment to:

Karl Moulton
PO Box 1073
Congress, AZ, 85332

After publication the price will be $295.00. Plans are to ship early next year. Questions can be directed to: numiscats@aol.com

Happy Holidays,Karl Moulton