A monumental piece of Nevada’s rich history has been returned to its rightful home. A 155-year-old balance scale, once used to weigh hundreds of millions of dollars in gold and silver bullion from the legendary Comstock Lode, has been acquired by the Nevada State Museum in Carson City. The scale, originally installed at the Carson City Mint in 1869, was purchased for $60,250 during an auction hosted by Holabird Western Americana Collections on November 24, 2024.
The winning bid was made possible through generous donor support, ensuring the scale remained in Nevada despite fierce competition from collectors nationwide. Bidding for the artifact opened at $12,500 and concluded after 30 intense minutes.
“This is an important and exciting acquisition for the Nevada State Museum in Carson City,” said Dan Thiele of the Nevada Division of Museums and History. “Staff, particularly Dr. Christine Johnson and Dr. Josh Bonde, worked tirelessly to ensure this scale was returned to the Mint. This item will allow a more complete experience for our visitors. We are so delighted.”
A Historic Homecoming
The Nevada State Museum is located in the original Carson City Mint building, where the scale was first installed by Henry Troemner and Company of Philadelphia. It was operational on the Mint’s opening day in 1870 and remained in use until the Mint ceased coin production in 1893. After being used as an assay office until 1933, much of the Mint’s equipment was discarded—considered “useless junk” at the time.
Fred Holabird, president of Holabird Western Americana Collections, emphasized the significance of the artifact. “This is the original Carson City Mint bullion scale built for the United States Treasury Department in 1869. Not only is this historic scale staying in Nevada, it is returning to its former home,” he said.
The five-foot-tall scale was later featured as a popular attraction at the Nugget Casino in Sparks, Nevada, under the ownership of John Ascuaga. The Ascuaga family kept the scale in pristine condition for decades before it surfaced at the auction.
The Most Important Numismatic Artifact in Decades
“This is the most important numismatic artifact to surface in many decades and is truly a treasure found,” Holabird remarked.
The scale’s return has sparked additional interest in Carson City Mint artifacts. Families with ties to the Mint have already come forward with heirlooms, including letters signed by President Ulysses S. Grant appointing Mint officials and rare Carson City silver dollars.
For more information on this historic acquisition and upcoming auctions, visit Holabird Western Americana Collections or contact them at 775-851-1859.
This acquisition represents not just a return of a physical artifact but a reunion with Nevada’s vibrant history, offering museum visitors an enriched perspective on the state’s gold and silver legacy.