The Lost Twins of Kongsberg

A Silver Story Resurfaced

- BY DR. STUART MILLS & PAM FREEMAN

In 2022, the mineral world lit up when a spectacular Kongsberg silver came to auction in Norway. Collectors battled fiercely, but it was Marcus Budil of Monaco who claimed the prize, flying in to bid in person. The piece was one of the famed lost twin specimens, massive, intricate and gleaming. It is now a showpiece at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and is hailed as one of the finest Kongsberg silvers, but where was the other?

SILVER AT KONGSBERG

Kongsberg was the leader when it came to producing silver. At one time, around 200 mines were operating in large veins as far down as 3,000 feet. The mines were closed in 1958; more than 300 years after being in operation. While the silver was readily melted for use, collectors also found appeal in the variety of silver specimens recovered, including perfect cubes and long curling wires. While some of the silver was native, there were also a variety of silver compounds with much of it being in calcite.

According to Bob Jones, mineral expert, “The neat thing about this deposit is it was not discovered by a person, but an ox! In 1632, two youngsters were tending their herd, and an ox decided to scrape the coating off his horns and rubbed them against a rock, exposing a shiny metal. The children brought some of the metal home to their dad, who realized what it was. He collected some of the silver and sold it, only to be later arrested for stealing the King’s property!”