2.56 oz Eureka Consolidated Silver Ingot
Eureka, Nevada, ca. 1873-1885. The top side reads 2.56 OZ / GOLD 004 FINE / (S)ILVER 978 FIN(E) / GOLD $0.21 / SILVER $3.23. The top, long side has a EUREKA stamp and the adjacent short side to the right has the abbreviation CON.
This is an exhibition ingot, used to illustrate the silver from this important silver mine in central Nevada. Eureka Consolidated was one of the most important mining companies in Nevada. It produced about $20 million from 1873 to 1906, and is in production again today as a major open pit gold mine. The Eureka Consolidated competed with the neighboring Richmond Consolidated. Both had mills and smelters in lower Eureka, and regularly cast large 1000 ounce-plus ingots. Many of the original bullion molds still exist today. These large ingots had the initials and/or name of the company cast into the mould, so the resultant ingot was identified as soon as it was popped out of the mould, leaving only the serial number, weight and fineness to be stamped on the face.
This ingot carries a classic assayer’s chip off of opposing corners, an industry standard. The surfaces are medium gray with underlying brightness from the silver. This may be the only historic precious metal ingot known today from this important Nevada mining district.
From The Kagin Reference Collection of Frontier Ingots.
[08/2006] https://coins.ha.com/itm/ingots/eureka-consolidated-silver-ingot-eureka-nevada-ca-1873-1885-the-top-side-reads-256-oz-gold-004-fine-s-ilver-978-f/a/414-2573.s ($17,250)