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Nevada Silver Centennial - 1959 - Virginia City, NV
Purpose: To commemorate 100th anniversary of Comstock Lode, first significant discovery of silver in United States which "directly created State of Navado" in 1864.
Organization: Silver Centennial Committee created by 1955 Legislature. Financed by modest state grant, private contributions and sale of Centennial "buttons" for $1. Committee sponsored and staged principal festivities at Virginia City, "Queen City" of Lode; also coordinated "all segments of society" and local events elsewhere in State.
Site, Dates, Participants: Principally Virginia City and Storey County, June 12 to 14, 1959, but since "silver was discovered in every county" in state, celebration actually was state-wide affair.
Comment: Producing $300,000,000 in silver during first 20 years, and over billion in all, including gold, it is claimed that United States owes its "solvency...during Civil War to the...Lode." Yield ran high as $3,500 per ton but early as 1880, ore was disappearing. Today, all mining work has ceased due to "grade of ore remaining, low price of silver and...unsuitable economic climate..." From peak of 35,000 people, Virginia City now has only few hundred but as artist’s colony and tourist attraction still draws thousands each season. Its pioneer newspaper, Territorial Enterprise, survives and is largest weekly paper in entire West. In its columns, Samuel Clemens first signed story "Mark Twain."
Virginia City ceremonies opened by Vice President Nixon and Mrs. Nixon; latter especially lauded as native Nevadan. Program included "pioneer events," dedication of commemorative monument and professionally staged "historical spectacle."
Medals: Official Medal authorized by 86th Congress, designed by Committee and struck at Philadelphia Mint from "silver furnished by Nevada Issue limited to 1000 pieces"; sold out for $5 "by midsummer 1959." Congressional designation as "national medal" permitted striking of additional number "upon approval of issuing Commission" but Centennial Committee officially advised on June 7, 1960 that no more would be struck.
Obverse: State Seal within circle; outside, around The Great Seal of the State of; below * Nevada *
Reverse: Across Virginia City / Nevada / June 1959; above, around Nevada Silver Centennial; below, crossed pick and shovel each side of 1859—1959
HK-552 - Silver. Size 21.
HK-552a - Nickel.
 
Image provided by John Dean
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