A big, 155-year-old stability scale that weighed a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in gold and silver within the nineteenth century on the Carson Metropolis, Nevada Mint, together with bullion from the legendary Comstock Lode, was bought for $60,250 in an public sale in Reno carried out by Holabird Western Americana Collections on November 24, 2024. The profitable bid was positioned by the Nevada State Museum with the backing of donors who pledged funds for the museum to outbid collectors from throughout the nation throughout half-hour of intense bidding that opened at $12,500.
“This is a vital and thrilling acquisition for the Nevada State Museum in Carson Metropolis. Employees, notably Dr. Christine Johnson and Dr. Josh Bonde, labored tirelessly to make sure this scale was returned to the Mint. This merchandise will enable a extra full expertise for our guests. We’re so delighted,” acknowledged Dan Thiele, Nevada Division of Museums and Historical past.
“Not solely is that this historic scale staying in Nevada, it’s returning to its former dwelling as a result of the Nevada State Museum is housed in the identical constructing that was used for the Carson Metropolis Mint,” mentioned Fred Holabird, President of Holabird Western Americana Collections. “That is the unique Carson Metropolis Mint bullion scale constructed for the United States Treasury Division in 1869 by the dimensions and stability producer Henry Troemner and Firm of Philadelphia. It was in operation the day the Mint opened in 1870. Along with its necessary perform on the Mint, the historic scale was later a featured attraction for many years at a on line casino in Sparks, Nevada.”
The Carson Metropolis Mint stopped making cash in 1893 and the Mint’s constructing that’s now dwelling to the Nevada State Museum was used as an assay workplace between 1900 and 1933. When the assay workplace closed, a lot of the contents of the previous Mint had been thought-about ineffective junk by the Treasury Division and subsequently discarded, based on Holabird.
“It’s believed the five-foot-tall scale that was constructed right into a waist-high desk for ease in use on the Mint was acquired by a neighborhood resident and later grew to become an attraction on the Nugget On line casino that opened in Sparks, Nevada in 1955. The on line casino’s Normal Supervisor, John Ascuaga, bought the on line casino from his boss in 1959 and continued to show the dimensions there. The Ascuaga household bought the Nugget On line casino in 2013 however privately stored the historic scale intact, in good situation, and in full working order,” mentioned Holabird.
“That is a very powerful numismatic artifact to floor in lots of many years and is actually a treasure discovered,” he acknowledged.
Pre-auction tales concerning the massive, vintage scale attracted future public sale gadgets associated to the Carson Metropolis Mint.
“A household contacted me and consigned numerous gadgets that had been handed down as heirlooms by way of generations: two letters of appointments signed by President Ulysses S. Grant for a melter and a refiner on the Carson Metropolis Mint, and two uncommon, practically pristine silver {dollars} struck on the Carson Metropolis Mint. The invention of extra treasures awaits,” acknowledged Holabird.
For extra info, contact Holabird Western Americana Collections by cellphone at (775) 851-1859 or go to on-line at www.HolabirdAmericana.com.
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