Lost Lake Gold And Silver Mining Company Stock Certificate

I was offered this stock certificate at COMPEX last weekend. It's a bit beat up, but I found it quite interesting.

It's a stock certificate for 1 share of the Lost Lake Gold and Silver Mining Co. issued in 1867 and subsequently transferred in 1868. What is interesting to me is the spelling of "Montania" throughout as opposed to "Montana".

I cannot find any references online as to the existence of this mining company, let alone another example of this stock certificate. I realize that mining companies appeared and disappeared rampantly throughout the mid-19th century, and many never actually came into existence following the initial funding. Just browsing various Holobird Americana auction brings up a myriad of small-format stock certificates similar to this one.

I also cannot find references to the use of the spelling "Montania" or "Montania Territory".

From the NY Times of 1864:

Mr. ASHLEY, Chairman of the Committee on Territories, will soon report enabling acts for the admission of the Territories of Colorado and Nebraska. The new constitution of the Territory of Nevada has been received, and will be adopted by Congress. The Committee are also perfecting a bill for the erection of the Territory of Montania, composed of a portion of Idaho and Utah Territories. Three new States will enter the Union in 1864, viz: Colorado, Nevada and Nebraska.

https://www.nytimes.com/1864/01/17/...l-negro.html

I contacted Mike Mahler for any information he might be able to provide. His initial reply:




I then replied with the information that Bart provided above, to which he responded: