This 155-year-old, five-foot-tall balance scale at the Carson City Mint sold for $60,250 in an auction conducted by Holabird Western Americana Collections of Reno on Nov. 24. The winning bidder was the Nevada State Museum.
Holabird Western Americana Collections
A large, 155-year-old balance scale that weighed hundreds of millions of dollars in gold and silver in the 19th century at the Carson City Mint, including bullion from the legendary Comstock Lode, was sold for $60,250 in an auction in Reno conducted by Holabird Western Americana Collections on Nov. 24.
The winning bid was placed by the Nevada State Museum with the backing of donors, who pledged funds for the museum to outbid collectors from across the country during 30 minutes of bidding that opened at $12,500.
The Carson City Mint stopped making coins in 1893 and the Mint’s building that is now home to the Nevada State Museum was used as an assay office between 1900 and 1933. Pre-auction stories about the scale attracted future auction items related to the Carson City Mint.
For information, call 775-851-1859 or visit www.HolabirdAmericana.com.