Wells Fargo & Co Express San Francisco Division.  Wells Fargo & Co. never authorized or commissioned the brass plaque or shield that you see on so many fantasy fake Wells Fargo & Co. Express items on eBay.  I have been researching and collecting Wells Fargo & Co Express items for over 20 years.  If the item has this shield or plaque on it, it is a fantasy fake and manufactured in China or India.  The marketers did not bother to do their research into what items Wells Fargo & Co. used in the Express business. So they dreamed up, and made up fantasy items.  Locks, telescopes, shotguns, lamps, lanterns, spitoon, map or match cases and strong boxes. All fantasy fake items with this shield.  Wells Fargo & Co. Express had very few things made just for them.  When they did, they stamped, branded, burned, or painted their "W.F.&Co.Ex." on items.  Other fantasy fake items are the Wells Fargo Express mail or bowie knife.  Wells Fargo & Co. never had knives made up, ever.  If an agent or driver needed a knife, he would have had to have bought his own, with his own money.  The phony pony express sign is another total fantasy fake.  The sign is a blown up copy of their Pony Express stamp.  Has the fake name of Thomas Bell, New York, on the bottom left. No such person worked for Wells Fargo making signs. 1800s Silver or Bullion bars, all fantasy fake. Wells Fargo & Co. Express never had silver or bullion bars made up, or had anyone make silver or bullion bars for them. They were an Express Co. They expressed items, letters, newspapers, packages, silver, gold dust, silver minted coin, gold minted coin, etc. That would be like FedEx or UPS having silver bars or coin made up. Most all the fantasy fake bars will read "Wells Fargo Express Co". It was "Wells Fargo & Co. Express". Sure sign of a fake or fantasy item.  Human body casket tags, brass. Never had them. Fantasy fake.  Any belt buckles marked Tiffany. Fantasy fake. Never issued by Wells Fargo & Co.  Wells Fargo & Co. Express agent badges. Fantasy fakes. Google "Fake Badges". San Francisco Water Front Pass, with hat badge (hat badge is always a smaller size than the real ones) or watch case stamp pad. Fake. The pass with photo is real, the hat badge and watch case stamp pad are fake.  Stagecoach Routes, a brass shield, showing routes and towns. Fantasy.  Wells Fargo Express sign, "San Francisco Railroad Division", brown and white. Fake.  While some of these items were made in the 1960s,  most of these items are still coming out of China and India today. Do some research and make sure it is from the 1852-1918 era.  Nothing vintage or antique when it comes to fakes.       .