Silver Ingot Info

Company Name: Boston and Montana Consolidated Copper and Silver Mining Company

Company Headquarters: Butte, Montana

Company Information: Boston & Montana was in operation from 1887-1901, before merging with another Montana mine. In its time one of the world's greatest copper and silver companies, it quickly became the second largest company in Montana, the first being Anaconda. For more in-depth info, Wikipedia has a great entry here. The small ingots (or “casters”), made in the typical shape of a copper ingot for transport, were used both as presentation pieces (“advertisers”), and in the production of alloys which required small amounts of silver. They are said to have been on display at the 1893 Columbian Exposition (World's Fair) in Chicago, to exhibit Montana's industry and wealth.

The interesting shape was part of an interlocking system commonly used for copper ingots, using dowels or pipes that fit in the saddles so that large loads could be stacked together, and would not shift during rail or sea shipment. This design was eliminated by about 1900 in favor of thin tab plate ingots with “ears” that allowed for better pick points and more efficient use of space.

Below is a picture of Montana's exhibit at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair (Columbian Exposition). This famous photo shows the solid silver casting of the Lady of Justice in the foreground, with large copper “saddle” ingots stacked in a column behind her. Boston & Montana had a silver display there, as well as the Parrot Silver and Copper Company, and other producers.

From the Butte Weekly Miner (Butte, MT) Nov. 20, 1889: The above article goes on to describe the Harris-Lloyd tunnel, one of the mines owned by the Boston & Montana. At the 400 foot level the vein “proved to be solid copper ore carrying considerable silver”, and after cross-cutting it was even richer and wider at a shallower depth:

Known sizes: Roughly 4 troy oz odd weight, .960 fine

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