Holabird Hosts Lecture at Nevada State Museum

On Thursday, August 22, mining geologist, author, and scholar Fred Holabird is hosting the Nevada State Museum, Carson City's Frances Humphrey Lecture Series with his presentation, “Gold at the Silver Mint: How the 20th Century Gold Mining Boom Affected the Carson City Mint.” The talk will take place from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m and features book signings by Holabird and an in-depth look at the unique history of the Carson City Mint.

Holabird, an expert in the history of American mining, coins, the Comstock, and the West, was a mining geologist for two decades and managed two open pit gold mines before switching to mining history. He runs one of the largest auction houses for Western Americana in the country. Author of more than 100 catalogs, he has written 150 professional articles and a dozen books.

While the Carson City Mint stopped making coins in 1893, it remained open as a U.S. Assay Office until 1933. As such, it was an official arm of the U.S. Mint, and received gold and silver from producing mines. A secondary mining boom came with the discoveries of Tonopah in 1900 and goldfield in 1903. The finds fueled more exploration and discovery at other Nevada sites, and many of them submitted their gold to Carson City. Others sent their gold and silver to the San Francisco Mint. Holabird’s talk will center on the Carson City Mint activity based on surviving Carson City Mint records held in private hands.

The museum is located at 600 N. Carson St. and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults. Visitors 17 and younger and members get in free. For more information call contact Deborah Stevenson at 775-687-4810 ext. 237 or email dstevenson@nevadaculture.org.