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Indian Springs,CA - Nevada County - 1863 - North Star Gold, Silver, and Copper Mining Comp'y Stock C

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 900.00 USD
Indian Springs,CA - Nevada County - 1863 - North Star Gold, Silver, and Copper Mining Comp'y Stock C
Incorporated October 5, 1863. Certificate No. 36 issued to H.M. Phillips for 5 shares on October 26, 1863. Signed by C.A. Leaman as President and M. Hatch as Secretary. No vignette, black border and print with three assessment stamps on left edge. Uncancelled. Printer: H.S. Crocker & Co's print, Sacramento. The North Star vein, originally known as the Lafayette or French Lead, was discovered in 1851, but sat idle until 1854. The name was changed to the North Star after the Coleman brother's, Edward and John, purchased a large interest in the mine for $15,000 in 1860. The mine was one of the richest in the state, with a total production of $33,267,734. Related to the mine was the North Star Mine Power House, which was originally designed and built to power the mine's hoists, drills, pumps, and other machinery. Using a giant thirty foot diameter Pelton Wheel weighing ten tons and turning at 60 RPMs, it generated approximately 1,000 horsepower. The stone building is now home to the Nevada County Historical Museum, where the 30 ft. Pelton Wheel (largest in existence) is on display (Ref: California Gold Country, by Koeppel, Elliot, 1996, 183).