Long-forgotten silver provides windfall to city, county

OXFORD — The discovery of long-forgotten silver bars is providing a windfall two local governments in north Mississippi.

While preparing to sell a local hospital building, officials found 4,200 ounces of silver nitrate bars stored in a safety deposit box at First National Bank on the downtown square in Oxford.

Officials say that’s about $200,000 worth of silver in the current market.

The Oxford Eagle reports the bars had been put away for safekeeping years ago by the original administrator of Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi.

City Attorney Pope Mallette says the silver nitrate had been recovered from X-ray photographs.

Hospital officials have agreed to donate the treasure to two local governments — the City of Oxford and Lafayette County.