3227

Silver Ingot on Presentation Badge for J.M. Page, 1901 [158516]

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Ingots Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 2,000.00 USD
Silver Ingot on Presentation Badge for J.M. Page, 1901 [158516]
SOLD
325.00USDto J***********y+ buyer's premium (81.25)
This item SOLD at 2022 Oct 15 @ 11:20UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Very rare and quite probably unique presentation breast badge of the GAR in Montana. "Montana" on a broad copper colored hanger, under which lies a red, white and blue ribbon. Immediately hanging from the top hanger is a round, apparent 14k gold medallion with the Montana state seal (Oro/Plata), and engraved on the reverse "J.M. Page/ April 18/ 1901." Beneath the ribbon is a small silver ingot engraved "GAR/ Montana". The silver ingot is 6 x 6 x 22mm, very similar to other small presentation ingots we have handled over the past few decades. The ingot weight is about ten grams.
J.M. Page came to Montana and possibly Virginia City about 1867, where he met a future long time friend, banker Henry Elling. In the 1890s he became the Surveyor General of Montana, though he resigned in 1897 during a particular dirty political battle among State politicians.
Page was born about 1840 in Conneant, Pennsylvania. His father died when he was one year old, leaving four other brothers and sisters with a widowed mother and no money. The five kids were orphaned out but all kept touch over the years. About 1880, the five siblings reunited and all settled in a beautiful valley just south of Twin Bridges, just up the road from Virginia City. The family named the new community "Pageville", after their youngest sibling who brought them all together. The Pageville Post office was open 1892-1913.
J.M. Page continued a very active career. He relocated to Helena in the mid 1890s while Surveyor General, then to Virginia City where he continued his surveying career, also investing in real estate and mining ventures. The entire family were republicans who remained active in regional politics and events. There are hundreds of newspaper citations of Page over the years.

Date:
Country (if not USA):
State: Montana
City: Virginia City
Provenance: