4.92 oz 1876 Silver Presentation Ingot. Amador City, California. Maxon Mine. .987 silver. $5.28.
55.4 mm x 17.9 mm x 13.7 mm. Choice Near Mint State.
A beautifully accomplished anonymous presentation ingot from the Sierra Nevadas, less than 50 miles from the famed Sutter’s Mill. Top face is neatly engraved “Maxon / June 28th 1876” inside a punched and engraved border. The opposite side is punched OZ 4.92 / SILVER / 987 / FINE / $5.28 in individual punches. All other faces are finely polished, linear casting flaw in side face, no corner cut.
A neat, small ingot, undoubtedly marking the discovery of a new vein or some other momentous event. The Maxon mine begins appearing in documents about 1873 and was still being worked as late as 1915, yielding gold, silver, copper and lead. Herbert Hoover started his mining and assaying career in this area, known as the center of the Mother Lode. An exciting piece that will undoubtedly reward further research.
An interesting combination to see punches on one side and engraving on the opposite!