Sterling Mining Announces Surface Exploration Program at the Sunshine Mine.

Business Editors

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 27, 2003

Sterling Mining Company (OTC:SRLM) is pleased to announce plans for a surface exploration program at the legendary Sunshine Mine. In June 2003, Sterling Mining signed a lease, with option to purchase, on the Sunshine, the richest silver mine in American history with more than 350 million ounces of production over the past century. At the time of its closure in early 2001, the Sunshine was producing silver at a rate of over three million ounces per year at an average grade of roughly twenty ounces per ton.

Geochemical and geophysical surveys are planned for areas between the Sunshine Mine and the Silver Summit Shaft (on what was formerly the Con-Sil property) with the intention of identifying surface drill targets and, ultimately, of expanding mineralized tonnage and reserve estimates. Surface exploration was originally proposed by Sunshine geologists in 2000 to improve understanding of the property, particularly the Silver Summit area. In spite of over a century of operation, surface exploration at the Sunshine Mine has been limited because of its historical success at consistently delivering mineable reserves at the lower mine levels.

Sterling will be consulting with former Sunshine geologists as well as Chartered Geologist Jim Williams for assistance with program implementation, results assessment, and follow-up action planning. The program is scheduled to take place later this year.

Please visit the Sterling website at www.sterlingmining.com for more information.

Sterling Mining Company is an aggressive silver exploration company, focused upon the Coeur d'Alene Mining District, the richest primary silver-producing region on Earth. Sterling offers superior leverage to silver price increases through control of extensive and strategic "Silver Valley" landholdings, including the legendary Sunshine Mine, as well as through significant projects in other historic mining districts of the Western United States. Sterling was founded in 1903 and proudly celebrates a century of mining exploration this year.

Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results.