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, Nevada Mint–including bullion from the legendary Comstock Lode–is being offered in an auction in Reno and online by Holabird Western Americana Collections on November 24, 2024. In addition to its important function at the Mint, the historic scale was later a featured attraction for decades at a casino in Sparks, Nevada.
“This is the original Carson City Mint bullion scale built for the United States Treasury Department in 1869 by the scale and balance manufacturer Henry Troemner and Company of Philadelphia. It was in operation the day the Mint opened in 1870,” said Fred Holabird, president of Holabird Western Americana Collections.
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.
When the assay office closed, most of the contents of the old Mint were considered useless junk by the Treasury Department and subsequently discarded, according to Holabird.
“It is believed the five-foot tall scale that was built into a waist-high table for ease in use at the Mint was acquired by a local resident and later became an attraction at the Nugget Casino that opened in Sparks, Nevada in 1955. The casino’s General Manager, John Ascuaga, purchased the casino from his boss in 1959 and continued to display the scale there. The Ascuaga family sold the Nugget Casino in 2013 but privately kept the historic scale intact, in perfect condition, and in full working order,” said Holabird.
“When it was publicly displayed for decades, the Carson City Mint’s scale was one of those great, special things that you didn’t have to be a coin collector to appreciate. This is the most important numismatic artifact to surface in many decades and is truly a treasure found,” stated Holabird.
For additional information, contact Holabird Western Americana Collections by phone at 775-851-1859 or visit online at www.HolabirdAmericana.com. In the auction that closes on November 24, 2025, the Carson City Mint balance scale is lot number 4001.
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