In 1881, Leadville was well into is biggest boom period. Placer gold had been discovered in California Gulch in about 1859, and by 1860 placer mining was booming. Lead-silver ores were later discovered, and the newly created United States Geologic Survey sent Samuel Emmons to Leadville in 1881-1882 to unravel the geology, which was subsequently published. It was one of the first in their new monograph series, along with Becker’s Geology of the Comstock Lode, underscoring the importance of the district.
7.02 oz Abadie & Arnolds Silver Ingot, ca. 1880-1881; Leadville, CO
This 7.02 ounce silver ingot has an assay chip at lower left sealed with an “AA”. A third “A” appears at the very top of the chip, but it appears unrelated to the dual A punch. Rather was used to seal the ingot chip further. If the “AA” punch refers to an assayer, it can only be from the firm Abadie and Arnolds, the only assayer or assay firm with the dual “A” initials found in a privately prepared index of western assayers spanning 1852-1900, with more than 6000 entries. Further metals fingerprinting would confirm or deny the Leadville source.
The years of operation for Abadie & Arnolds represented a boom, not only because of the success of the mines, but because of the development of an intricate, competing railroad system that allowed shipment of ores to smelters throughout the region. When this ingot was made about 1881, a reported $40 million had been produced from more than 2.5 million ounces of silver and 20,000 ounces of gold from 15 principal producing mines and many smaller mines and prospects. Today, Leadville has seen production well over $400 million, one of the richest ore deposits in America.
[ref: Smith, J. Alden, Report on the Development of the Mineral, Metallurgical, Agricultural, Pastoral, and other Resources of Colorado for the Years 1881-1882; 1882. “Leadville Mining District, Lake Co.” by G. F. Loughlin and C. H. Behre Jr, in Vanderwilt; Mineral Resources of Colorado; p. 351. Emmons, Irving, Loughlin; Leadville Mining District; USGS Professional Paper 148, 1927.]
From The Kagin Reference Collection of Frontier Ingots.
[08/2006] https://coins.ha.com/itm/ingots/aa-silver-ingot-abadie-and-arnolds-leadville-ca-1880-1881-this-702-ounce-silver-ingot-has-an-assay-chip-at-lower-left-se/a/414-2567.s ($9,200)