An Extremely Early California Gold Mining Stock Certificate

1851, California. Stock certificate of the Enterprise Quartz Company. Issued at Nevada, California. November 21, 1851. Printed by Nevada Journal Print. The company was located on Kentucky Ridge, Nevada County. Gold was discovered around 1850 - 1851 on Kentucky Ridge by one of the early 49ers, George Roberts. It is possible that the signature on this stock, E. W. Roberts is a relative. The Kentucky Ridge saw the first Black slaves brought in for mining purposes. "These Afro-Americans came to Nevada County from Georgia as the slaves of Colonel William F. English. English reportedly was a Georgia planter who sold his plantation in 1850, then journeyed to Philadelphia, where he purchased a ship to transport machinery and workers to California to establish a mining enterprise." While we've been unable to connect the Enterprize quartz specifically with English's slaves, it is possible that they worked the company mine. Stock certificates dated 1851 from a California gold mine are quite rare and this offers a fine opportunity to acquire a piece of the gold rush. Folds. Fine.