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diff --git a/old/68369-0.txt b/old/68369-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ce82ae5..0000000 --- a/old/68369-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10328 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Illustrated history of the United -States mint, by George G. Evans - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Illustrated history of the United States mint - -Editor: George G. Evans - -Release Date: June 21, 2022 [eBook #68369] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading - Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from - images generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE -UNITED STATES MINT *** - - - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - - ILLUSTRATED HISTORY - - OF THE - - UNITED STATES MINT - - WITH A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF - - AMERICAN COINAGE, - - From the earliest period to the present time. The - Process of Melting, Refining, Assaying, and - Coining Gold and Silver fully described: - - WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF - - Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, - John Jay Knox, James P. Kimball, Daniel M. Fox, and the Mint - Officers from its foundation to the present time. - - TO WHICH ARE ADDED - - A GLOSSARY OF MINT TERMS - - AND THE - - LATEST OFFICIAL TABLES - - OF THE - - Annual Products of Gold and Silver in the different - States, and Foreign Countries, with Monetary - Statistics of all Nations. - - ILLUSTRATED with PHOTOTYPES, STEEL PLATE PORTRAITS and WOOD - ENGRAVINGS, with NUMEROUS PLATES of Photographic Reproductions - of RARE AMERICAN COINS, and Price List of their numismatic - value. - - _New Revised Edition, Edited by the Publisher._ - - PHILADELPHIA: - GEORGE G. EVANS, PUBLISHER. - 1888. - - Copyrighted by - GEORGE G. EVANS. - 1885. - - Recopyrighted, 1888. - - DUNLAP & CLARKE, - PRINTERS AND BOOK BINDERS. - 819-21 FILBERT STREET, - PHILADELPHIA. - - - - -INDEX. - - Adjusting room, 32 - - American coinage, history of from 1792 to 1888 - gold coins, 142 - silver coins, 142 - - Amount coined in fiscal year, 136, 141 - of coin in the United States, 142 - - Ancient coining, 2 - Greek coins, 44 - Persian coins, 45 - Roman coins, 46 - - Annealing furnaces, 29 - - Architecture indebted to coins, 5 - - Assay, process of, 23 - - Assayers of Mint, list of, 118 - - Assaying gold, 24 - silver, 25 - rooms, 24 - - - Barber, Charles E., Mint Engraver, 127 - William, ”, 126 - - Bars manufactured at Mints during fiscal year, 136, 141 - - Bland dollar, history of, 62 - - Bond of indemnity signed by employees of first Mint, 1799, 17 - - Booth, James C., Melter and Refiner, 123 - - Boudinot, Elias, 102 - - Bosbyshell, Col. O. C., Coiner, 116 - - Boyd, N. B., Assistant Melter and Refiner, 124 - - Brazilian coins, 58 - - Bullion deposit and purchase of, 132 - for the silver dollar coinage, 1887, 132 - on hand at the Mints, 142 - - Brief explanation of terms commonly used in treating of bullion, Mint - coinage and money (see glossary), 149 - - - Cabinet of coins and relics, 41 - - Cashiers of the Mint, 128, 129 - - Childs, George H., Coiner, 116 - - Chinese coins, 51 - - Circulation of gold and silver in the United States, 138, 142 - of silver dollars, 138 - - Cloud, Joseph, 123 - - Cobb, Mark H., Cashier, 128 - - Coinage Act of 1873, 99, 100 - and milling rooms, 35 - fiscal year 1887, 131 - of first silver dollar, 15 - - Coiners of Mint, 114-118 - - Coins, classification of, 48-68 - English, of the Commonwealth and Cromwell, 56, 57 - issued at the Philadelphia Mint from its establishment in 1792 to - 1888, 81-89 - of Athens, 47 - of China, 51 - of Egypt, 45 - of Ferdinand and Isabella, 67 - of Siam, 50 - prices current, 154-160 - of Switzerland, 55 - of Syria, 46 - - Colonial coins, 59 - paper money, 133 - pine tree money, 59 - - Comparison of expressing the fineness of Gold in thousandths and in - carats, 148 - - Confederate coins (C. S. A.), 63 - - Copy of paper laid in corner stone of the Mint, 18 - old pay roll, 12 - - Costumes on coins, 5 - - Cox, Albion, 128 - - Curator of the Mint, 129 - - Curiosities and minerals, 43 - - - Deposit melting room, 23 - weighing room, 21 - - DeSaussure, Henry William, Director, 101 - - Directors and Superintendents of Mints, 101-111 - - Dollar of 1804, history of, 64 - standard, history of, 62 - trade, history of, 61 - - Donations of old coins, 69 - - Double eagle of 1849, history of, 66 - - Du Bois, William E., Assayer, 121-123 - - - Earnings of Mint and Assay Offices, 144 - - Eckfeldt, Adam, Coiner, 115 - George N., M. D., Director, 103 - Jacob B., Assayer, 118-120 - - English coins, 55, 56 - silver tokens, 57 - - Engravers and die-sinkers at the Mint, 124-128 - - Engraving dies, 34 - - Egyptian coins, 54 - - Establishment of the Mint, 13 - - Estimated value of foreign coins (official table of), 146 - - Extract from Constitution of the United States relating to coining, - 131 - from expenditures of the Mint, fiscal year, 1887, 135 - from resolution of Congress relating to Mint, 19 - - - Family coins (Grecian), 47 - - First silver dollar coined, 14 - - First U. S. money coined, 15 - - Foreign coins, value of in United States money (table of), 146 - - Fox, Hon. Daniel M., Superintendent, 105-109 - - French coins, Marie Antoinette, etc., 54 - - - German coins, 55 - - Glossary of Mint terms, 149 - - Gobrecht, Christian, 126 - - Gold and silver productions of the world, 137 - coins of Oliver Cromwell, 57 - and silver coins manufactured at the Philadelphia Mint since its - establishment in 1792, 81-89 - - Gold Medallic ducat, head of Luther, 55 - - Golden daric, of Persia, 45 - - Grecian coins, 44 - - Greek Republic, 46 - - Gun money of James II, 57 - - - Horatio C. Burchard, second director, extracts from the director’s - last report, (Transcriber’s Note: No number was printed here, - and it’s not at all clear what this refers to. Possibly the - entry should have been edited out.) - - Hamilton, Alexander, 92 - - Head of Jupiter Ammon (a specimen of), 47 - of Minerva, with Greek helmet, 55 - - Heraldic emblems, 5 - - Historical sketch of first U. S. Mint, 7-10 - - History of coinage, ancient and modern, 1-6 - of present U. S. Mint, 17 - - Humor pictured in medals and coins, 5 - - - Incidents of history on coins, 4 - - Introduction, 1, 2 - - - Japanese coins, 53 - - Jefferson, Thomas, 90, 91 - - “Joe” and half “Joe”, 58 - - - Kimball, James Putnam, 93, 94 - - Key, William H., Assistant Engraver, 116 - - Kneass, William, Engraver, 114 - - Knox, John Jay, 95-98 - - - Language upon coins and medals, 6 - - Linderman, Henry Richard, M. D., 104-107 - - Longacre, James B., Engraver, 115 - - - McClure, R. A., Curator, 129 - - McCullough, Richard S., 123 - - Medals and Cabinet Coins, 153 - partial list of, for sale at the Mint, 150-152 - - Melter and refiner’s office, 23 - - Melters and refiners of the Mint, 123, 124 - - Melting rooms, 26 - - Metallic money in Colonial times, 60 - - Mexican coins, 58 - - Money of Great Britain, 55 - of the Chinese Empire, 51 - French ”, 54 - German ”, 55 - Grecian ”, 46 - past and present, 1 - Roman Empire, 46 - time of Moses, 46 - Turkish Empire, 54 - United States, 61 - - Moore, Samuel, M. D., Director, 102 - - Morgan, George T., Assistant Engraver, 127 - - Morris, Robert, diary of, 7 - - - National medals, 150-152 - - New York doubloon, 61 - - Note to visitors of the Philadelphia Mint, 161 - - Notes on the early history of the Mint, 7-10 - - - Oak tree money, 60 - - Oliver Cromwell, cast of, 42 - - Oriental coins, 50, 67 - - - Pacific coast coins, 62 - - Paper money, aggregate issue in war times, 148 - - Parting and refining, 26 - - Patterson, Robert, LL. D., Director, 102 - Robert M., Director, 102 - - Pay roll of first Mint, 12 - - Peale, Franklin, Coiner and Assayer, 115 - - Penny of William the Conqueror, 56 - - Persian coins, 45 - - “Peter,” the Eagle (Mint bird), 43 - - Pettit, Thomas M., Director, 103 - - Pine tree money, 59 - - Pollock, James, A. M., LL. D., Director, 103 - - Portraiture upon coins, 3 - - Portuguese and Spanish coins, 58 - - Pound sterling, Charles First, 56 - - Presidential medals, 151 - - Profits on silver coinage, 134 - - Progress in coining, 33 - - - Rare coins, price list (approximate value), 154-160 - - Refining by acids, fiscal year 1887, 148 - - Relics, 42 - - Resolution of Congress establishing the Mint, 11 - - Richardson, John, Assayer, 129 - Joseph, ”, 129 - - Rittenhouse, David, First Director, 101 - - Rolling gold and silver, 29 - - Rolling room, 28 - - Roman coins, imperial, 46 - - Rules and regulations of first Mint, 15-16 - - Rush, Benjamin, Treasurer, 116 - - Russian coins, 55 - double rouble, head of Peter the Great, 55 - - Ryal or royal, of Queen Elizabeth, 56 - - - Scot, Robert, Engraver, 125 - - Scotch groat, of Robert Bruce, 57 - pennies, 57 - - Selections of rare coins, 66, 67 - - Separating room, 26 - - Silver bullion purchased and coined (see table), 132 - - Siamese coins, 50 - - Silver coins of the United States (see table), 132 - - Silver, first American, 14 - - Snowden, Col. A. Loudon, Coiner, Superintendent, 104 - James Ross, LL.D., Superintendent, 103 - - Sovereign of Oliver Cromwell, 57 - - Specie and paper circulation of the United States (table of), 143 - of the World (see table), 142 - - Standard weights, 129-131 - - Steel, William S., Coiner, 18, 116 - - Subsidiary coinage, 134, 150 - - - Table of circulation of gold and silver, 142 - - Table showing where the precious metals in the U. S. come from, 139 - - “The temple sweepers,” Grecian coin, 49 - - Trade dollar, history of, 62 - - Trade dollars coined, exported, imported, melted and redeemed, Act of - March 3, 1887, 134 - - Twenty dollar gold piece of 1849, 63 - - Turkish coins, 54 - - - United States, coins, 61 - Mint first established, 7 - Mint test for gold and silver, 149 - - - Valuable and rare coins, price-list of, 154-160 - - Value, in United States money, of one ounce Troy of gold, at - different degrees of fineness, 160 - - Value of gold and silver received at the Mints and Assay Offices, 132 - - Value of foreign gold coins deposited at the New York Assay Office in - 1887, 135 - - Value of foreign gold and silver coins in United States money, 146 - - Visiting the Mint, 20 - - Voigt, Henry, Coiner, 114 - - - Washington coins and medals, 150 - - “Widow’s mite,” history of, 68 - - World’s coinage (table of), 143 - - Wright, Joseph, Engraver, 125 - - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - -MONEY OF THE PAST AND PRESENT. - - -The need of a circulating medium of exchange has been acknowledged -since the earliest ages of man. In the primeval days, bartering was the -foundation of commercial intercourse between the various races; but this -gave way in time, as exchanges increased. In the different ages many -commodities have been made to serve as money,—tin was used in ancient -Syracuse and Britain; iron, in Sparta; cattle, in Rome and Germany; -platinum, in Russia; lead, in Burmah; nails, in Scotland; silk, in China; -cubes of pressed tea, in Tartary; salt, in Abyssinia; slaves, amongst -the Anglo Saxons; tobacco, in the earliest settlements of Virginia; -codfish, in New Foundland; bullets and wampum, in Massachusetts; -logwood, in Campeachy; sugar, in the West Indies; and soap, in Mexico. -Money of leather and wood was in circulation in the early days of Rome; -and the natives of Siam, Bengal, and some parts of Africa used the -brilliantly-colored cowry shell to represent value, and some travelers -allege that it is still in use in the remote portions of the last-named -country. But the moneys of all civilized nations have been, for the -greater part, made of gold, silver, copper, and bronze. Shekels of -silver are mentioned in the Bible as having existed in the days of -Abraham, but the metals are believed to have been in bars, from which -proportionate weights were chipped to suit convenience. The necessity -for some convenient medium having an intrinsic value of its own led to -coinage, but the exact date of its introduction is a question history has -not yet determined. It is supposed the Lydians stamped metal to be used -as money twelve hundred years before Christ, but the oldest coins extant -were made 800 B. C., though it is alleged that the Chinese circulated a -square bronze coin as early as 1120 B. C. All of these coins were rude -and shapeless, and generally engraved with representations of animals, -deities, nymphs, and the like; but the Greeks issued coins, about 300 -B. C., which were fine specimens of workmanship, and which are not even -surpassed in boldness and beauty of design by the products of the coiners -of these modern times. Even while these coins were in circulation spits -and skewers were accepted by the Greeks in exchange for products, just -as wooden and metal coins were circulated simultaneously in Rome, 700 -B. C., and leather and metal coins in France, as late as 1360 A. D. The -earliest coins bearing portraits are believed to have been issued about -480 B. C., and these were profiles. In the third century, coins stamped -with Gothic front faces were issued, and after that date a profusion of -coins were brought into the world, as every self-governing city issued -money of its own. The earliest money of America was coined of brass, in -1612, and the earliest colonial coins were stamped in Massachusetts, -forty years later. - -Ancient and extensive as the use of money has been in all its numerous -forms and varied materials, it merely represented a property value which -had been created by manual labor and preserved by the organic action of -society. In a primitive state, herds of cattle and crops of grain were -almost the only forms of wealth; the natural tendency and disposition of -men to accumulate riches led them to fix a special value upon the metals, -as a durable and always available kind of property. When their value in -this way was generally recognized, the taxes and other revenues, created -by kings and other potentates, was collected in part or wholly in that -form of money. The government, to facilitate public business, stamped -the various pieces of metal with their weight and quality, as they were -received at the Treasury; and according to these stamps and marks, the -same pieces were paid out of the Treasury, and circulated among the -people at an authorized and fixed value. The next step was to reduce -current prices of metal to a uniform size, shape, and quality, value and -denomination, and make them, by special enactment, a legal tender for the -payment of all taxes or public dues. - -Thus, a legalized currency of coined money was created, and the -exchangeable value of the various metals used for that purpose fully -established, to the great convenience of the world at large. - - -ANCIENT COINING. - -The die for the obverse of the piece to be struck having been engraved, -so as to properly present the religious or national symbol used for a -device and whatever else was to be impressed upon the coin, was fixed -immovably in an anvil or pedestal, face upwards. The lumps or balls -of metal to be coined, having been made of a fixed and uniform weight -and nearly of an oblate sphere in form, were grasped in a peculiarly -constructed pair of tongs and laid upon the upturned die. A second -operative then placed a punch squarely upon the ball of metal; heavy -blows from a large hammer forced the punch down until the metal beneath -it had been forced into every part of the die, and a good impress -secured. In the meantime the punch would be imbedded in the lump of -metal, and on being withdrawn the reverse of the coin would show a rough -depression corresponding to the shape given the end of the punch, thereby -making an uneven surface and disfiguring the piece; punch marks gradually -developed into forms, and these forms combined with figures wrought into -artistic design, until, by degrees, the punch itself became a die, making -the reverse of each piece upon which it was used equal in every respect -to the obverse of which it was the opposite. This perfection of the -reverse was, however, secured at the expense of the effectiveness of the -punch for its original purpose. - -The striking of coin between two dies, which were required to accurately -oppose each other, was an operation requiring great dexterity, and the -results were not at all certain. The artisans at this stage of the -work, hit upon the expedient of using both the obverse and reverse die -in a ring of such a size and depth, as to be a guide to each of them. -The balls or disks of metal being struck inside the ring, between the -dies, were forced to assume an even thickness, and a circular form -corresponding with the inside of the ring. After the ring had been used -in this way for some time, it was engraved upon the inside, and the -coins produced were not only circular in shape, but stamped upon their -edges. Thus was produced the perfect coin, and through the introduction -of machinery has secured uniformity in the result and saved an immense -amount of labor in striking vast sums of money; the artistic beauty of -some of the antique specimens has not been surpassed in modern times. - - -PORTRAITURE UPON COINS. - -It is said that no human head was ever stamped upon coins until after -the death of Alexander the Great; he being regarded as somewhat of a -divinity, his effigy was impressed upon money, like that of other gods. - -The knowledge of coins and medals, through the inscriptions and devices -thereon, is, to an extent, a history of the world from that date in which -metals were applied to such uses. Events engraven upon these, remain -hidden in tombs or buried in the bosom of the earth, deposited there in -ages long past, by careful and miserly hands, only awaiting the research -of the patient investigator to tell the story of their origin. Numismatic -treasures are scanned as evidence of facts to substantiate statements -upon papyrus or stone, and dates are often supplied to define the border -line between asserted tradition and positive history. Gibbon remarks: “If -there were no other record of Hadrian, his career would be found written -upon the coins of his reign.” - -The rudeness or perfection of coins and medals furnish testimony of the -character and culture of the periods of their production. This is equally -true of that rarest specimen of antiquity, the Syracusan silver medal—the -oldest known to collectors—and the latest triumph of the graver’s art in -gold, the Metis medal. - -It is not generally known that the rarest portraits of famous heroes -are found upon coins and medals. The historian, especially the historic -artist, is indebted to this source alone for the portraits of Alexander, -Ptolemy, Cleopatra, Mark Antony, Cæsar, and many other celebrities. -Perhaps the valuation of a rare coin or medal may be estimated by -reference to one piece in the Philadelphia Mint. It is an Egyptian coin -as large as a half-eagle, and has on the obverse the head of the wife of -Ptolemy—Arsinoe—the only portrait of her yet discovered. - - -INCIDENTS OF HISTORY - -Are not alone recorded; and as an example of a very different nature -may be cited the medals commemorating the destruction of Jerusalem, and -the whole series marking that episode, especially those classed “Judæa -capta.” They tell sadly of a people’s humiliation: the tied or chained -captive; the mocking goddess of victory, all made more real by reason -of the introduction, on the reverse of each piece, of a Jewess weeping -bitterly, and though she sits under a palm-tree, the national lament of -another captivity is forcibly recalled. - -An interesting specimen of the series above mentioned was recently found -in the south of France called, “Judæa Navillas,” valuable particularly -because it strengthens Josephus’s assertion which had provoked some -comment, viz.: the fact of the escape of a large number of Jews from the -Romans, by means of ships, at Joppa. - -Coins and medals mark the introduction of laws; for example, an old -Porcian coin gives the date of the “law of appeal,” under which, two -centuries and a half later, Paul appealed to Cæsar. Another relic dates -the introduction of the ballot-box; and a fact interesting to the -agriculturist is established by an old silver coin of Ptolemy, upon which -a man is represented cutting millet (a variety of Indian corn) with a -scythe. Religions have been promulgated by coins. Islamism says upon a -gold coin, “No God but God. Mohammed is the Prophet and God’s chosen -apostle.” - -Persian coins, in mystic characters, symbolize the dreadful sacrifices -of the Fire-Worshippers. Henry VIII, with characteristic egotism, upon -a medal announces in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin: “Henry Eighth, King of -England, France, and Ireland; Defender of the Faith, and in the land of -England and Ireland, under Christ, the Supreme Head of the Church.” - - -COSTUMES ON COINS. - -We also find stamped upon coins and medals the costumes of all ages, from -the golden net confining the soft tresses of the “sorceress of the Nile,” -and the gemmed robe of Queen Irene, to the broidered stomacher of Queen -Anne, and the stately ruff of Elizabeth of England. - -In this connection may be mentioned the “bonnet piece” of Scotland, -a coin of the reign of James VI., which is extremely rare, one of -them having been sold for £41. The coin received its name from a -representation of the king upon it, with a curiously plaited hat or -bonnet which this monarch wore, a fashion that gave occasion for the -ballad, “Blue Bonnets over the Border.” - - -HERALDIC EMBLEMS - -Are faithfully preserved through this medium; in truth, medalic honors -may be claimed as the very foundation of heraldic art. We discover -medals perpetuating revolutions, sieges, plots, and murders, etc. We -prefer directing attention to the fact that coins and medals are not -only the land-marks of history, but a favorite medium of the poetry of -all nations. Epics are thus preserved by the graver’s art in exceedingly -small space. Poets turn with confidence to old coins for symbol as well -as fact. - -One of the most graceful historical allusions is conveyed in the great -seal of Queen Anne, after the union of Scotland with England. A rose -and a thistle are growing on one stem, while, from above, the crown of -England sheds effulgence upon the tender young plant. - - -HUMOR PICTURED ON MEDALS. - -The medal of George I., on the reverse, boastfully presents “the horse -of Brunswick” flying over the northwest of Europe, symbolizing the -Hanoverian succession. The overthrow of the “Invincible Armada” was the -occasion of a Dutch medal, showing the Hollanders richer in faith than -in art culture, for the obverse of this medal presents the church upon -a rock, in mid-ocean, while the reverse suggests the thought that the -luckless Spanish mariner was driving against the walls of the actual -building. - - -ARCHITECTURE INDEBTED TO COINS. - -Architecture is largely indebted to coins, medals, and seals for accuracy -and data. We learn from the medal of Septimus Severus the faultless -beauty of the triumphal arch erected to celebrate his victory over -Arabs and Parthians. This medal was produced two centuries before the -Christian era, and is a marvel of art, for its perspective is wrought -in bas-relief—an achievement which was not again attained before the -execution of the celebrated Bronze Gates by Ghiberti, for the Baptistery -at Florence, A. D. 1425. This exhumed arch was excavated long after its -form and structure were familiar to men of letters through the medals. - - -LANGUAGE UPON COINS AND MEDALS. - -The effect of coin on language is direct, and many words may be found -whose origin was a coin, such as Daric, a pure gold coin; Talent, -mental ability; Sterling, genuine, pure; while Guinea represents the -aristocratic element, and, though out of circulation long ago, “no one -who pretends to gentility in England would think of subscribing to any -charity or fashionable object by contributing the vulgar _pound_. An -extra shilling added to the _pound_ makes the _guinea_, and lifts the -subscriber at once into the aristocratic world.” - -Copper is much preferred to gold for medals. Its firm, unchanging surface -accepts and retains finer lines than have yet been produced upon gold and -silver, and it offers no temptation to be thrown into the crucible.[1] - -In the preparation of this work, I am much indebted to several gentlemen -connected with the United States Mint; also, to Messrs. R. Coulton Davis, -Ph.G., and E. Locke Mason, who are acknowledged authority on the subject -of numismatics. - -If it shall be found useful to the public, and especially to visitors of -the Mint, it will be a source of satisfaction, and more than repay the -labor bestowed in its preparation. - - G. G. E. - -_Philadelphia, March 1, 1888._ - - - - -THE UNITED STATES MINT. - - -The subject of a National Mint for the United States was first introduced -by Robert Morris,[2] the patriot and financier of the revolution; as -head of the Finance Department, Mr. Morris was instructed by Congress -to prepare a report on the foreign coins, then in circulation in the -United States. On the 15th of January, 1782, he laid before Congress an -exposition of the whole subject. Accompanying this report was a plan for -American coinage. But it was mainly through his efforts, in connection -with Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, that a mint was established -in the early history of the Union of the States. On the 15th of April, -1790, Congress instructed the Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander -Hamilton, to prepare and report a proper plan for the establishment of a -National Mint, and Mr. Hamilton presented his report at the next session. -An act was framed establishing the mint, which finally passed both Houses -and received President Washington’s approval April 2, 1792.[3] - - -NOTES ON THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE MINT. - -FROM ROBERT MORRIS’S DIARY. - - 1781. July 16th. Wrote to Mr. Dudley at Boston inviting him - hither in consequence of the Continental Agent Mr. Bradford’s - Letter respecting him referred to me by Congress. - - July 17th. Wrote Mr. Bradford respecting Mr. Dudley. - - Nov. 10th. Ordered some money on application of Mr. Dudley to - pay his expences. - - Nov. 12th. Sent for Mr Dudley to consult him respecting the - quantity of Alloy Silver will bear without being discoloured, - he says he can put 6 drops into an ounce. Desired him to assay - some Spanish Dollars and French Crowns, in order to know the - quantity of pure Silver in each. - - Nov. 16th. Mr. Dudley assayed a number of Crowns and dollars - for our information respecting the Mint. - - 1782. Jan. 2d. Mr. Benjamin Dudley applied for money to pay - his Board which I directed to be paid by Mr. Swanwick, this - gentleman is detained at the public expence as a person - absolutely necessary in the Mint, which I hope soon to see - established. My propositions on that subject are to be - submitted to Congress so soon as I can get the proper assays - made on Silver coins &c. - - Jan. 7th. Mr. Dudley applies about getting his wife from - England. I promised him every assistance in my power.[4] - - Jan. 18th. I went to Mr. Gouvr. Morris’s Lodging to examine the - plan we had agreed on, and which we had drawn up respecting - the Establishment of a Mint, we made some alterations and - amendments to my satisfaction and from a belief that this is a - necessary and salutary measure. I have ordered it copied to be - sent into Congress. - - Jan. 26th. Mr. Dudley applied for money to pay his Lodgings - &c. I ordered Mr. Swanwick to supply him with fifty dollars, - informed him that the Plan of a Mint is before Congress, and - when passed, that he shall be directly employed, if not agreed - to by Congress, I shall compensate him for his time &c. - - Feb. 26th. Mr. Benjamin Dudley brought me the rough drafts or - plan for the rooms of a Mint &c. I desired him to go to Mr. - Whitehead Humphreys to consult him about Screws, Smithwork - &c. that will be wanted for the Mint, and to bring me a list - thereof with an estimate of the Cost. - - Feb 28th. Mr. Dudley informs me that a Mr. Wheeler, a Smith in - the Country, can make the Screws, Rollers &c. for the Mint. Mr. - Dudley proposes the Dutch Church, that which is now unoccupied, - as a place suitable for the Mint, I sent him to view it, & he - returns satisfied that it will answer, wherefore I must enquire - about it. - - March 22d. Mr. Dudley and Mr. Wheeler came and brought with - them some Models of the Screws and Rollers necessary for the - Mint. I found Mr. Wheeler entertained some doubts respecting - one of these Machines which Mr. Dudley insists will answer - the purposes and says he will be responsible for it. I agreed - with Mr. Wheeler that he should perform the work; and, as - neither he or I could judge of the value that ought to be paid - for it, he is to perform the same agreeable to Mr. Dudley’s - directions, and when finished, we are to have it valued by some - Honest Man, judges of such work, he mentioned Philip Syng, - Edwd. Duffield, William Rush and —— all of whom I believe are - good judges and very honest men, therefore I readily agreed - to this proposition. And I desired Mr. Dudley to consult Mr. - Rittenhouse and Francis Hopkinson Esquire, as to the Machine or - Wheel in dispute, and let me have their opinion. - - March 23d. Mr. Dudley called to inform me that Mr. Rittenhouse - & Mr. Hopkinson agree to his plan of the Machine &c. - - April 12th. Mr. Dudley wants a horse to go up to Mr. Wheelers - &c. - - May 20th. Mr. Dudley wrote me a Letter this day and wanted - money. I directed Mr. Swanwick to supply him, and then disired - him to view the Mason’s Lodge to see if it would Answer for a - Mint, which he thinks it will, I desired him to go up to Mr. - Wheelers to see how he goes on with the Rollers &c. - - June 17th. Mr. Dudley applied for money to pay his Bill. I - directed Mr. Swanwick to supply him. - - June 18th. Issued a warrant in favor of B. Dudley £7.11.6. - - July 15th. Mr. B. Dudley applied for money, he is very uneasy - for want of employment, and the Mint in which he is to be - employed and for which I have engaged him, goes on so slowly - that I am also uneasy at having this gentleman on pay and - no work for him. He offered to go and assist Mr. Byers to - establish the Brass Cannon Foundry at Springfield. I advised to - make that proposal to Genl. Lincoln and inform me the result - to-morrow.[5] - - July 16th. Mr. B. Dudley to whom I gave an order on Mr. - Swanwick for fifty dollars, and desired him to seek after Mr. - Wheeler to know whether the Rollers &c. are ready for him to go - to work on rolling the copper for the Mint. - - August 22d. Mr. Saml. Wheeler who made the Rollers for the - Mint, applies for money. I had a good deal of conversation with - this ingenious gentleman. - - August 26th. Mr. Dudley called and pressed very much to be set - at work. - - Sept 3d. Mr. B. Dudley applied for a passage for his Friend Mr. - Sprague, pr. the Washington to France & for Mrs. Dudley back. - Mr. Wheeler applied for money which I promised in a short time. - - Sept. 4th. Mr. Wheeler for money. I desired him to leave his - claim with Mr. McCall Secretary in this office, and I will - enable the discharge of his notes in the Bank when due. - - Novr. 8th. Mr. Dudley applies for the amount of his Bill for - Lodgings and Diet &c. and I directed Mr. Swanwick to pay him, - but am very uneasy that the Mint is not going on. - - Dec. 23d. Mr. Dudley and Mr. Wilcox brought the subsistance - paper, and I desired Mr. Dudley to deliver 4000 sheets to Hall - and Sellers.[6] - - Decr. 26th. Mr. Hall the printer brought 100 Sheets of the - subsistence notes this day, and desired that more paper might - be sent to his Printing Office, accordingly I sent for Mr. - Dudley and desired him to deliver the same from time to time, - until the whole shall amount to 4000 Sheets. - - 1783. April 2d. I sent for Mr. Dudley who delivered me a piece - of Silver Coin, being the first that has been struck as an - American Coin. - - April 16th. Sent for Mr. Dudley and urged him to produce the - Coins to lay before Congress to establish a Mint. - - April 17th. Sent for Mr. Dudley to urge the preparing of Coins - &c. for Establishing a Mint. - - April 22d. Mr. Dudley sent in several Pieces of Money as - patterns of the intended American Coins. - - May 6th. Sent for Mr. Dudley and desired him to go down to Mr. - Mark Wilcox’s, to see 15,000 Sheets of paper made fit to print - my Notes on. - - May 7th. This day delivered Mr. Dudley the paper Mold for - making paper, mark’d United States, and dispatched him to Mr. - Wilcok’s, but was obliged to advance him 20 dollars. - - May 27th. I sent for Mr. Dudley to know if he has compleated - the paper at Mr. Wilcock’s paper mill for the Certificates - intended for the pay of the Army. He says it is made, but not - yet sufficiently dry for the printers use. I desired him to - repair down to the Mill and bring it up as soon as possible. - - May 28th. Mr. Whitehead Humphreys to offer his lot and - buildings for erecting a Mint. - - July 5th. Mr. Benjn. Dudley gave notice that he has received - back from Messrs. Hall and Sellers the Printers, three thousand - sheets of the last paper made by Mr. Wilcocks. I desired him - to bring it to this office. He also informs of a Minting Press - being in New York for sale, and urges me to purchase it for the - use of the American Mint. - - July 7th. Mr. Dudley respecting the Minting Press, but I had - not time to see him. - - August 19th. I sent for Mr. Benjamin Dudley, and informed him - of my doubts about the establishment of a Mint, and desired him - to think of some employment in private service, in which I am - willing to assist him all in my power. I told him to make out - an account for the services he had performed for the public, - and submit at the Treasury office for inspection and settlement. - - August 30th. Mr. Dudley brought the dies for Coining in the - American Mint. - - Sept. 3d. Mr. Dudley applies for money for his expenses which I - agree to supply, but urge his going into private business. - - Sept. 4th. Mr. Dudley for money, which is granted. Directed him - to make three models for constructing Dry—— - - Nov. 21st. Mr. Dudley applies for money. He says he was at half - a guinea a week and his expenses borne when he left Boston to - come about the Mint, and he thinks the public ought to make - that good to him. I desired him to write me and I will state - his claims to Congress. - - Nov. 26th. Mr. Dudley for money, which was granted. - - Dec. 17th. Mr. Dudley with his account for final settlement. I - referred him to Mr. Milligan. - - 1784. Jan. 5th. Mr. Dudley applies for a Certificate of the - Time which he was detained in the public service. I granted him - one accordingly. - - Jan. 7th. Mr. Dudley after the settlement of his account, which - I compleated by signing a warrant. - -[Illustration: [Fac simile of original, photo-engraved by Levytype -Company.] - - Congress of the United States: - - AT THE THIRD SESSION, - - Begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, on - Monday the sixth of December, one thousand - seven hundred and ninety. - -_RESOLVED by the SENATE and HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES of the United States -of America in Congress assembled_, That a mint shall be established under -such regulations as shall be directed by law. - -_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby -authorized to cause to be engaged, such principal artists as shall -be necessary to carry the preceeding resolution into effect, and to -stipulate the terms and conditions of their service, and also to cause to -be procured such apparatus as shall be requisite for the same purpose. - - FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG, - _Speaker of the House of Representatives_. - - JOHN ADAMS, _Vice-President of the United States, - and President of the Senate_. - -APPROVED, March the third, 1791. - - GEORGE WASHINGTON, _President of the United States_. - -DEPOSITED among the ROLLS in the OFFICE of the SECRETARY of STATE. - - _Th. Jefferson Secretary of State._] - - -_The following is a copy of an old pay roll, framed and hanging upon the -wall of the Cabinet._ - -NAMES AND SALARIES OF THE OFFICERS, CLERKS, AND WORKMEN EMPLOYED AT THE -MINT THE 10TH OCTOBER, 1795. - - Henry Wm. DeSaussure, Director @ 2,000 Drs. per Ann. - Nicholas Way, Treasurer 1,200 ” ” - Henry Voigt, Chief Coiner 1,500 ” ” - Albion Cox, Assayer 1,500 ” ” - Robert Scott, Engraver 1,200 ” ” - David Ott, Melter and Refiner pro tem. 1,200 ” ” - Nathaniel Thomas, Clerk to the Treasurer 700 ” ” - Isaac Hough, ditto to Director and Assayer 500 ” ” - Lodewyk Sharp, ditto to Chief Coiner 500 ” ” - John S. Gardiner, Assistant Engraver 936 ” ” - Adam Eckfeldt, Die Forger and Turner 500 ” ” - - _Workmen Employed in Chief Coiner’s Department._ - - Wages per day. Doll. Cts. - John Schreiner, Chief Pressman 1 80 - John Cope, Chief Adjuster 1 60 - William Hayley, Roller 1 40 - Nicholas Sinderling, Annealer 1 40 - John Ward, Miller 1 20 - Joseph Germon, Drawer 1 20 - Lewis Laurenger, Brusher 1 20 - Henry Voigt, Junr, Adjuster 88 - Sarah Waldrake, ditto 50 - Rachael Summers, ditto 50 - Lewis Bitting, ditto 1 20 - Lawrence Ford, ditto 1 20 - Christopher Baum, Pressman 1 - John Keyser, ditto 1 - Frederick Bauck, ditto 1 - Barney Miers, Cleaner 1 - Martin Summers, Doorkeeper 1 - Adam Seyfert, Hostler 1 - John Bay, Boy. 66 - - _Workmen Employed at the Furnace of the Mint._ - - Peter LaChase, Melter 1 60 - George Myers, ditto 1 50 - Eberhart Klumback, ditto 1 40 - Patrick Ryan, Filer 1 25 - Valentine Flegler, Labourer 1 25 - Andrew Brunet, ditto 1 - William Ryan, ditto 1 - -Endorsed in two places, “Names and Salaries of the Officers, Clerks and -Workmen employed in the Mint the 10th Oct. 1795.” - - - - -THE PHILADELPHIA MINT. - - -[Illustration: THE FIRST MINT IN THE UNITED STATES, ERECTED IN 1792.] - -The popular estimation in which the Mint is held in the United States, -is, for obvious reasons, more distinctively marked than that entertained -for other public institutions. Its position, in a financial point -of view, is so important, its use so apparent, and its integrity of -management so generally conceded, that it enjoys a pre-eminence and -dignity beyond that accorded to general governmental departments. Party -mutations usually effect changes in its directorship, with but slight -interference, however, with the other officials, as those of attainments, -skill, and long experience in the professional branches, required to -intelligently perform the various duties assigned, are few in all -countries. Those occupying positions are chosen for their proficiency in -the various departments, their characters being always above question. -The confidence reposed in the officials of the United States Mint has -never been violated, as, for nearly a century of its operations, no -shadow of suspicion has marred the fair name of any identified with its -history. - -The need of a mint in the Colonies was keenly felt to be a serious -grievance against England for years before the Revolution, and as soon as -practicable after the establishment of Independence, the _United States -Mint_ was authorized by an Act of Congress—April 2, 1792. - -A lot of ground was purchased on Seventh Street near Arch, and -appropriations were made for erecting the requisite buildings. An old -still-house, which stood on the lot, had first to be removed. In an -account book of that time we find an entry on the 31st of July, 1792, of -the sale of some old materials of the still-house for seven shillings and -sixpence, which “Mr. Rittenhouse directed _should be laid out for punch_ -in laying the foundation stone.”[7] - -The first building erected in the United States for public use, under -the authority of the Federal Government, was a structure for the United -States Mint. This was a plain brick edifice, on the east side of -Seventh street, near Arch, the corner-stone of which was laid by David -Rittenhouse, Director of the Mint, on July 31, 1792. In the following -October operations of coining commenced. It was occupied for about forty -years. On the 19th of May, 1829, an Act was passed by Congress locating -the United States Mint on its present site. - -The first coinage of the United States, was silver half-dimes in October, -1792, of which Washington makes mention in his address to Congress, on -November 6, 1792, as follows; “There has been a small beginning in the -coinage of half-dimes; the want of small coins in circulation, calling -the first attention to them.” The first metal purchased for coinage was -six pounds of old copper at one shilling and three pence per pound, which -was coined and delivered to the Treasurer, in 1793. The first deposit -of silver bullion was made on July 18, 1794, by the Bank of Maryland. -It consisted of “coins of France,” amounting to $80,715.73½. The first -returns of silver coins to the Treasurer, was made on October 15, 1794. -The first deposit of gold bullion for coinage, was made by Moses Brown, -merchant, of Boston, on February 12, 1795; it was of gold ingots, worth -$2,276.72, which was paid for in silver coins. - -The first return of gold coinage, was on July 31, 1795, and consisted of -744 half eagles. The first delivery of eagles was in September 22, same -year, and consisted of four hundred pieces. - -Previous to the coinage of silver dollars, at the Philadelphia Mint, in -1794, the following amusing incidents occurred in Congress, while the -emblems and devices proposed for the reverse field of that coin were -being discussed. - -A member of the House from the South bitterly opposed the choice of -the eagle, on the ground of its being the “king of birds,” and hence -neither proper nor suitable to represent a nation whose institutions and -interests were wholly inimical to monarchical forms of government. Judge -Thatcher playfully, in reply, suggested that perhaps a goose might suit -the gentleman, as it was a rather humble and republican bird, and would -also be serviceable in other respects, as the goslings would answer to -place upon the dimes. This answer created considerable merriment, and the -irate Southerner, conceiving the humorous rejoinder as an insult, sent -a challenge to the Judge, who promptly declined it. The bearer, rather -astonished, asked, “Will you be branded as a coward?” “Certainly, if he -pleases,” replied Thatcher; “I always was one and he knew it, or he would -never have risked a challenge.” The affair occasioned much mirth, and, -in due time, former existing cordial relations were restored between the -parties; the irritable Southerner concluding there was nothing to be -gained in fighting with one who fired nothing but jokes. - - -EXTRACT FROM THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED FOR THE MINT, JANUARY 1, -1825. - - The operations of the Mint throughout the year, are to commence - at 5 o’clock in the morning, under the superintendence of - an officer, and continue until 4 o’clock in the afternoon, - except on Saturdays, when the business of the day will close - at 2 o’clock, unless on special occasions it may be otherwise - directed by an officer. Extra work will be paid for in - proportion, on a statement being made of it through the proper - officer, at the end of each month. A strict account is to be - kept by one of the officers, as they may agree of the absentees - from duty, if the absence be voluntary, the full wages for the - time will be deducted, if it arise from sickness a deduction - will be made at the discretion of the proper officer. A - statement of these deductions will be rendered at the end of - the month, and the several accounts made out accordingly. - - The allowance under the name of _drink money_ is hereafter - to be discontinued, and in place of it _three dollars extra - wages_ per month will be allowed for the three summer months - to those workmen who continue in the Mint through that season. - No workman can be permitted to bring spirituous liquors into - the Mint. Any workman who shall be found intoxicated within the - Mint must be reported to the Director, in order that he may be - discharged. No profane or indecent language can be tolerated - in the Mint. Smoking within the Mint is inadmissible. The - practice is of dangerous tendency; experience proves that this - indulgence in public institutions, ends at last in disaster. - Visitors may be admitted by permission of an officer, to - see the various operations of the Mint on all working days - except Saturdays and rainy days; they are to be attended by an - officer, or some person designated by him. The new coins must - not be given in exchange for others to accommodate visitors, - without the consent of the Chief Coiner. Christmas day and the - Fourth of July, and no other days, are established holidays at - the Mint. The pressmen will carefully lock the several coining - presses when the work for the day is finished, and leave the - keys in such places as the Chief Coiner shall designate. When - light is necessary to be carried from one part of the Mint - to the other, the watchman will use a dark lanthorn but not - an open candle. He will keep in a proper arm chest securely - locked, a musket and bayonet, two pistols and a sword. The - arms are to be kept in perfect order and to be inspected by an - officer once a month, when the arms are to be discharged and - charged anew. - - The watchman of the Mint must attend from 6 o’clock in the - evening to 5 o’clock in the morning, and until relieved by - the permission of an officer, or until the arrival of the - door-keeper. He will ring the yard bell precisely every hour - by the Mint clock, from 10 o’clock until relieved by the - door-keeper, or an officer, or the workmen on working days, - and will send the watch dog through the yard immediately after - ringing the bell. He will particularly examine the departments - of the engine and all the rooms where fire has been on the - preceding day, conformably to his secret instructions. For this - purpose he will have keys of access to such rooms as he cannot - examine without entering them. - - If an attempt be made on the Mint he will act conformably - to his secret instructions on that subject. In case of fire - occurring in or near the Mint, he will ring the Alarm Bell if - one has been provided, or sound the alarm with his rattle, - and thus as soon as possible bring some one to him who can be - dispatched to call an officer, and in other particulars will - follow his secret instructions. The secret instructions given - him from time to time he must be careful not to disclose. The - delicate trust reposed in all persons employed in the Mint, - presupposes that their character is free from all suspicion, - but the director feels it his duty nevertheless, in order - that none may plead ignorance on the subject, to warn them - of the danger of violating so high a trust. Such a crime as - the embezzlement of any of the coins struck at the Mint, or - of any of the metals brought to the Mint for coinage, would - be punished under the laws of Pennsylvania, by a fine and - penitentiary imprisonment at hard labor. The punishment annexed - to this crime by the laws of the United States, enacted for the - special protection of deposits made at the Mint, is DEATH. The - 19th Section of the Act of Congress, establishing the Mint, - passed April 12, 1792, is in the following words: Section 19, - _and_ be it further enacted, That if any of the gold or silver - coins, which shall be struck or coined at the said Mint, shall - be debased or made worse as to the proportion of fine gold or - fine silver, therein contained, or shall be of less weight or - value than the same ought to be, pursuant to the directions of - this act, through the default or with the connivance of any of - the officers or persons who shall be employed at said Mint, for - the purpose of profit or gain, or otherwise, with a fraudulent - intent, and if any of the said officers or persons shall - embezzle any of the metal which shall at any time be committed - to their charge, for the purpose of being coined, or any of - the coins which shall be struck or coined at the said Mint, - every such officer or person who shall commit any or either of - the said offences, shall be deemed guilty of Felony, and shall - suffer death. Printed copies of the Rules here recited are to - be kept in convenient places for the inspection of the workmen, - but as all may not be capable of reading them, it shall be the - duty of the proper officer of the several departments, or such - person as he may appoint, to read them in the hearing of the - workmen, at least once a year, and especially to read them to - every person newly employed in the Mint. - - SAMUEL MOORE, - _Director_. - -Up to 1836 the work at the Mint was done entirely by hand or horse power. -In that year steam was introduced. At different periods during the -years 1797, 1798, 1799, 1802, and 1803, the operations of the Mint were -suspended on account of the prevalence of yellow fever. - - “BOND OF INDEMNITY OR AGREEMENT of Operatives to return to the - service of the Mint.” Dated August, 1799. - - “We, the subscribers, do hereby promise and engage to return - to the service of the Mint as soon as the same shall be again - opened, after the prevailing fever is over, on the penalty of - twenty pounds.” - - “As witness our hands this 31st day of August, 1799. - - “GEORGE WATT’N, - JOHN COPE, - LEWIS BITTING, - GEO. BOEMING, - JAMES ANDERSON, - JOHN SCHREINER, - JOHN BIRNBAUM, - GEORGE MYERS, - CHARLES BENJ. K——, - GEORGE BAILY, - JOHN MANN, - (In German) JOHANNES ——, - SAML. THOMPSON, - MARTIN SUMMERS.” - -The above are the signatures of the parties agreeing, written on old -hand-made unruled foolscap paper. - -This is part of the Mint records, which has been framed for convenience -and protection. It hangs in the Cabinet. - - -THE MINT ESTABLISHED. - -The Mint was established by Act of Congress the second of April, 1792, -and a few half-dimes were issued towards the close of that year. The -general operations of the institution commenced in 1793. The coinage -effected from the commencement of the establishment to the end of the -year 1800 may be stated in round numbers at $2,534,000; the coinage -of the decade ending 1810 amounted to $6,971,000, and within the ten -years ending with 1820—$9,328,000. The amount within the ten years -ending with 1830 is stated at $18,000,000, and the whole coinage from -the commencement of the institution at $37,000,000. On the second of -March, 1829, provisions were made by Congress for extending the Mint -establishment, the supply of bullion for coinage having increased beyond -the capacity of the existing accommodations. The Mint edifice, erected -under this provision, stands on a lot purchased for the object at the -northwest corner of Chestnut and Juniper streets, fronting 150 feet on -Chestnut street and extending 204 feet to Penn Square, (the central -and formerly the largest public square in the city). The corner-stone -of the new edifice was laid on the fourth of July, 1829; the building -is of marble and of the Grecian style of architecture, the roof being -covered with copper. It presents on Chestnut street and Penn Square -a front of 123 feet, each front being ornamented with a portico of -60 feet, containing six Ionic columns. In the centre of the structure -there was formerly a court-yard (now built up) extending 85 by 84 feet, -surrounded by a piazza to each story, affording an easy access to all -parts of the edifice. Present officers of the Mint: Hon. Daniel M. Fox, -Superintendent; William S. Steel, Coiner; Jacob B. Eckfeldt, Assayer; -Patterson Du Bois, Assistant Assayer, James C. Booth, Melter and Refiner; -N. B. Boyd, Assistant Melter and Refiner; Charles E. Barber, Engraver; -George T. Morgan and William H. Key, Assistant Engravers; M. H. Cobb, -Cashier; George W. Brown, Doorkeeper. - -On July 4, 1829, Samuel Moore, then Director, laid the corner stone -of the present building, located at the northwest corner of Chestnut -and Juniper streets. It is of white marble, and of the Grecian style -of architecture, and was finished, and commenced operations, in 1833. -Subsequent to that date necessary changes in the interior arrangements, -to accommodate the increase in business, have been introduced at various -times, and it was made more secure as a depository for the great -amount of bullion contained within its vaults, by having been rendered -fire-proof in 1856. - - -COPY OF THE PAPER LAID IN THE CORNER STONE OF THE MINT, JULY 4, 1829. - -This corner stone of the Mint of the United States of America, laid -on the 4th day of July, 1829, being the fifty-third anniversary of -our independence, in the presence of the Officers thereof, Members of -Congress of the adjacent districts, architect, and artificers employed -in the building, and a number of citizens of Philadelphia, in the which -with this instrument are deposited specimens of the Coins of our Country -struck in the present year. The Mint of the United States commenced -operations in the year A. D., 1793, increasing constantly in utility, -until its locality and convenience required extension and enlargement, -which was ordered by the passage of a bill appropriating $120,000 for the -erection of new and convenient buildings, to accommodate its operations, -vesting the disbursement in the judgment and taste of the Director and -President of the United States. In pursuance of the above bill, passed -during the Presidency of John Quincy Adams, arrangements were made and -designs adopted; William Strickland appointed architect; John Struthers, -marble mason; Daniel Groves, bricklayer; Robert O’Neil, master carpenter, -and in the first year of the Presidency of Andrew Jackson, this corner -stone was placed in southeast corner of the edifice. - -The names of the officers of the Mint of the United States at this time, -are as follows: - - DOCTOR SAMUEL MOORE, Director, - ADAM ECKFELDT, Coiner, - JOSEPH CLOUD, Melter and Refiner, - JOSEPH RICHARDSON, Assayer, - DOCTOR JAMES RUSH, Treasurer, - WM. KNEASS, Engraver, - GEORGE EHRENZELDER, Clerk. - - MINT OF THE UNITED STATES, - _Philadelphia, March 20, 1838_. - - TO HON. LEVI WOODBURY, Secretary of the Treasury. - - Sir:—I had the honor to receive your letter asking my attention - to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the United - States, passed March 5, 1838, as follows: - - EXTRACT FROM RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS RELATING TO MINT. - - “_Resolved_, That the Secretary of the Treasury report to this - House the cost of erecting the principal Mint and its branches, - including buildings, fixtures, and apparatus; the salaries and - expenses of the different officers; the amount expended in the - purchase of bullion; the loss arising from wastage, and all - other expenses; and the average length of time it requires to - coin at the principal Mint all the bullion with which it can be - furnished; and further, what amount of coin has been struck at - the several branch mints, since their organization.” - - MINT OF THE UNITED STATES, PHILADELPHIA. - - The cost of the edifice, machinery, and fixtures, was $173,390 - Ground, enclosure, paving, etc. 35,840 - --------- - Total cost of buildings, etc. $209,230 - ========= - - This amount does not include expenditures made under special - appropriations for the years 1836 and 1837, for milling and - coining by steam power; and for extensive improvements in - the assaying, melting, and parting rooms, and machine shops, - amounting to $28,270. - - It may be proper to mention that the Mint building is on the - best street in the city, is of large dimensions, with the - whole exterior of marble, and two Ionic porticos; and that the - machinery and apparatus are of the best construction. The cost - must therefore be considered as very moderate. The new Mint - lately erected by the British India Government at Calcutta, - cost 24 lacs of rupees, or about $1,138,000. - - The Director receives per annum $3,500 - Treasurer 2,000 - Chief Coiner 2,000 - Assayer 2,000 - Melter and Refiner 2,000 - Engraver 2,000 - Second Engraver 1,500 - Assistant Assayer 1,300 - Treasurer’s Clerk 1,200 - Bookkeeper 1,000 - Clerk of the weighing room 1,200 - Director’s Clerk 700 - ------- - Total for salaries $20,400 - ======= - - No expenses are allowed, beyond the above sums, to any officer, - assistant, or clerk, for the performance of his duties. - - As all the gold and silver brought to the Mint is purchased at - the nett Mint price, there is no expense, properly so called, - incurred on this account. - - R. M. PATTERSON, - _Director of the Mint_. - -Previous to the passage of the law by the Federal government for -regulating the coins of the United States, much perplexity arose from -the use of no less than four different currencies or rates, at which -one species of coin was recoined, in the different parts of the Union. -Thus, in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, -Vermont, Virginia and Kentucky, the dollar was recoined at six shillings; -in New York and North Carolina at eight shillings; in New Jersey, -Pennsylvania and Maryland at seven shillings and six pence; in Georgia -and South Carolina at four shillings and eight pence. The subject had -engaged the attention of the Congress of the old confederation, and the -present system of the coins is formed upon the principles laid down -in their resolution of 1786, by which the denominations of money of -account were required to be dollars (the dollar being the unit), dismes -or tenths, cents or hundredths, and mills or thousandths of a dollar. -Nothing can be more simple or convenient than this decimal subdivision. -The terms are proper because they express the proportions which they are -intended to designate. The dollar was wisely chosen, as it corresponded -with the Spanish coin, with which we had been long familiar. - - -VISITING THE MINT. - -The Mint, on Chestnut street near Broad, is open to the public daily, -excepting Sundays and holidays, from 9 to 12 A. M. Visitors are met by -the courteous ushers, who attend them through the various departments. -It is estimated that over forty thousand persons have visited the -institution in the course of a single year. Owing to the immense amount -of the precious metals which is always in course of transition, and -the watchful care necessary to a correct transaction of business, the -public are necessarily excluded from some of the departments. These, -however, are of but little interest to the many and are described under -their proper heads. The system adopted in the Mint is so precise and the -weighing so accurate, that the abstraction of the smallest particle of -metal would lead to almost immediate detection. - -On entering the rotunda, the offices of the Treasurer and Cashier are to -the right and left. Farther in, in the hall, to the rear, on the right, -is the room of the Treasurer’s clerks; a part of this was formerly used -by the Adams Express Company, who transport to and from the Mint millions -of dollars worth of metal, coin, etc. - - -THE DEPOSIT OR WEIGHING-ROOM. - -[Illustration: SCALES.] - -On the left is the Deposit or Weighing-room, where all the gold and -silver for coining is received and first weighed. The largest weight used -in this room is five hundred ounces, the smallest, is the thousandth -part of an ounce. The scales are wonderfully delicate, and are examined -and adjusted on alternate days. On the right of this room is one of the -twelve vaults in the building. Of solid masonry, several of them are -iron-lined, with double doors of the same metal and most complicated and -burglar-proof locks. - -[Illustration: AUTOMATIC WEIGHING SCALES.] - -It is estimated that about fifteen hundred million dollars worth of -gold has been received and weighed in this room; probably nine-tenths -of this amount was from California, since its discovery there in the -year 1848. Previous to that time the supplies of gold came principally -from Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. During the past ten years -considerable quantities have been received from Nova Scotia, but most -of the gold that reaches the Mint, at the present time, comes from -California, Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Dakota, -Virginia, South Carolina, and New Mexico. - -Formerly the silver used by the Mint came principally from Mexico and -South America, but since the discovery of the immense veins of that metal -in the territories of the United States the supply is furnished from the -great West. - -The copper used comes principally from the mines of Lake Superior, the -finest from Minnesota. The nickel is chiefly from Lancaster County, Pa. - - -THE DEPOSIT MELTING ROOM. - -After the metal has been carefully weighed in the presence of the -depositor and the proper officials, it is locked in iron boxes and taken -to the melting room, where it is opened by two men, each provided with -a key to one of the separate locks. There are four furnaces in this -room, and the first process of melting takes place here. The gold and -silver, being mixed with borax and other fluxing material, is placed in -pots, melted and placed in iron moulds, and when cooled is again taken -to the deposit room in bars, where it is reweighed, and a small piece -cut from each lot by the Assayer. From this the fineness of the whole is -ascertained, the value calculated, and the depositor paid. The metal in -its rough state is then transferred to the Melter and Refiner. - - -OFFICE OF THE MELTER AND REFINER. - -Adjoining the Deposit Melting Room are the Melter and Refiner and -assistants. This is the general business office of the head of this -department, and is also used for weighing the necessary quantities of the -metals used in alloying coin. - - -THE PROCESS OF ASSAY. - -The two essential things regarding every piece of metal offered in -payment of any dues were, first, the weight or quantity, next, the -fineness or purity of the same. The process of weighing even the baser -metals used in coining must be conducted by the careful use of accurate -scales, with precise notes of the results. In precious metals, gold, -silver, and their high grade alloys, a very small variation in the -fineness makes a great difference in the value. Nothing is more essential -than the accurate determination of the weight of the sample and of -the metal obtained from it. It requires keen sight and most delicate -adjustment in the hand which manipulates the Lilliputian scales of -an Assayer’s table. The smallest weight used in the Mint is found in -the Assay Room; it is the thirteen-hundredth part of a grain, and can -scarcely be seen with the naked eye, unless on a white ground. The Assay -Department is strictly a technical and scientific branch of the service. -It has been practically under one regime, for the last fifty years. There -have been but three Chief Assayers in that time, the only removals being -by death, the only appointments by promotion. Its workmen are all picked -men, selected from other parts of the Mint for special fitness and good -character. - - -THE ASSAYING ROOMS. - -These are on the second floor, in the southwest corner of the building. -In one of these are fires, stills, and other appliances used in the -delicate and complicated process of assay, by which the specific standard -of the fineness and purity of the various metals are established and -declared. - - -ASSAYING GOLD. - -The gold is melted down and stirred, by which a complete mixture is -effected, so that an assay piece may be taken from any part of the bar -after it is cast. The piece taken for this purpose is rolled out for the -convenience of cutting. It is then taken to an assay balance (sensible -to the ten-thousandth of a half gramme or less), and from it is weighed -a half gramme, which is the normal assay weight for gold, being about -7.7 grains troy. This weight is stamped 1000; and all the lesser weights -(afterwards brought into requisition) are decimal divisions of this -weight, down to one ten-thousandth part. - -Silver is next weighed out for the quartation (alloying), and as the -assay piece, if standard, should contain 900-thousandths of gold, there -must be three times this weight, or 2700-thousandths of silver; and this -is the quantity used. The lead used for the cupellation is kept prepared -in thin sheets, cut in square pieces, which should each weigh about ten -times as much as the gold under assay. The lead is now rolled into the -form of a hollow cone; and into this are introduced the assay gold and -the quartation silver, when the lead is closed around them and pressed -into a ball. The furnace having been properly heated, and the cupels -placed in it and brought to the same temperature, the leaden ball, with -its contents, is put into a cupel (a small cup made of burned bones, -capable of absorbing base metals), the furnace closed, and the operation -allowed to proceed, until all agitation is ceased to be observed in the -melted metal, and its surface has become bright. This is an indication -that the whole of the base metals have been converted into oxides, and -absorbed by the cupel. - -The cupellation being thus finished, the metal is allowed to cool slowly, -and the disc or button which it forms is taken from the cupel. The button -is then flattened by a hammer; is annealed by bringing it to a red heat; -is laminated by passing it between the rollers; is again annealed; and -is rolled loosely into a spiral or coil called a _cornet_. It is now -ready for the process of quartation. This was formerly effected in a -glass matrass, and that mode is still used occasionally, when there -are few assays. But a great improvement, first introduced into this -country by the Assayer in 1867, was the—“platinum apparatus,” invented -in England. It consists of a platinum vessel in which to boil the nitric -acid, which is to dissolve out the silver, and a small tray containing -a set of platinum thimbles with fine slits in the bottom. In these the -silver is taken out, by successive supplies of nitric acid, without any -decanting as in the case of glass vessels. The cornets are also annealed -in the thimbles; in fact there is no shifting from the coiling to the -final weighing, which determines the fineness of the original sample by -proportionate weights in thousandths. In this process extra care has to -be taken in adding the proportions of silver, as the “shaking” of any one -cornet, might damage the others. - - -ASSAYING SILVER. - -The process of assaying silver differs from that of gold. To obtain the -assay sample, a little of the metals is dipped from the pot and poured -quickly into water, producing a granulation, from portions of which that -needed for assay is taken. In the case of silver alloyed with copper -there is separation, to a greater or less degree, between the two metals -in the act of solidification. Thus an ingot or bar, cooled in a mould, -or any single piece cut from either, though really 900-thousandths fine -on the average, will show such variations, according to the place of -cutting, as might exceed the limits allowed by law. But the sudden chill -produced by throwing the liquid metal into water, yields a granulation of -entirely homogeneous mixture that the same fineness results, whether by -assaying a single granule, or part of one, or a number. - -From this sample the weight of 1115 thousandths is taken; this is -dissolved in a glass bottle with nitric acid. The standard solution of -salt is introduced and chloride of silver is the result, which contains -of the metallic silver 1000 parts; this is repeated until the addition -of the salt water shows but a faint trace of chloride below the upper -surface of the liquid. For instance: if three measures of the decimal -solution have been used with effect, the result will show that the 1115 -parts of the piece contained 1003 of pure silver; and thus the proportion -of pure silver in the whole alloyed metal is ascertained. Extensive -knowledge and experience are required in such matters as making the -bone-ash cupels, fine proof gold and silver, testing acids, and other -special examinations and operations. The Assayer must, himself, be -familiar with all the operations of minting, as critical questions are -naturally carried to him. The rendering of decisions upon counterfeit -or suspicious coins has long been a specialty in this department. Once a -year the President appoints a scientific commission to examine the coins -of the preceding year. There has never yet been a Philadelphia coin found -outside of the tolerance of fineness. - - -THE SEPARATING ROOM. - -This department occupies the largest part of the west side of the -building, on the second floor. Here the gold and silver used by the Mint -in the manufacture of coin and fine bars are separated from each other, -or whatever other metals may be mixed with them, and purified. It goes to -this room after having been once melted and assayed. In separating and -purifying gold, it is always necessary to add to it a certain quantity of -pure silver. The whole is then immersed in nitric acid, which dissolves -the silver into a liquid which looks like pure water. The acid does not -dissolve the gold, but leaves it pure. The silver solution is then drawn -off, leaving the gold at the bottom of the tub. It is then gathered up -into pans and washed. - -The silver in the condition in which it is received from the hands of -the depositor, and generally filled with foreign impurities, is melted -and then granulated, after which the whole mass is dissolved with nitric -acid. The acid dissolves the base metals as well as the silver. The -liquid metals are then run into tubs prepared for it, and precipitated, -or rendered into a partially hard state, by being mixed with common -salt water. After being precipitated it is called “chloride,” and -resembles very closely new slacked lime. By putting spelter or zinc on -the precipitated chloride, it becomes metallic silver, and only needs -washing and melting to make the purest virgin metal. The base metals -remain in a liquid state, and being of little value are generally thrown -away. The process of refining silver is of two kinds; that of melting it -with saltpetre, etc., which was known some thousands of years since, and -the modern process of dissolving it in nitric acid, like the method of -extracting it from gold in the above described operation. - -After the separating process has been completed, the gold or silver is -conveyed to the Drying Cellar, where it is put under pressure of some -eighty tons, and all the water pressed out. It is then dried with heat, -and afterwards conveyed in large cakes to the furnaces. - - -THE MELTING ROOMS - -are on the first floor, in the west side of the building. Here all the -metal used in coining is alloyed, melted and poured into narrow moulds. -These castings are called ingots; they are about twelve inches long, -a half-inch thick, and vary from one to two a half-inches in breadth, -according to the coin for which they are used, one end being wedge-shaped -to allow its being passed through the rollers. The value of gold ingots -is from $600 to $1,400; those of silver, about $60. The fine gold and -silver bars used in the arts and for commercial purposes, are also cast -in this department. - -[Illustration: CASTING INGOTS.] - -[Illustration: INGOTS.] - -These are stamped with their weight and value in the deposit room. The -floors that cover the melting rooms are made of iron in honey-comb -pattern, divided into small sections, so that they can be readily taken -up to save the dust; their roughness acting as a scraper, preventing any -metallic particles from clinging to the soles of the shoes of those who -pass through the department, the sweepings of which, and including the -entire building, averages $23,000 per annum, for the last five years. - -The copper and nickel melting rooms, wherein all the base metals used -are melted and mixed, is on the same side and adjoining to the gold and -silver department. Up to the year 1856, the base coin of the United -States was exclusively copper. In this year the coinage of what was -called the nickel cents was commenced. These pieces, although called -nickel, were composed of one-eighth nickel; the balance was copper. - -The composition of the five and three cent pieces is one-fourth nickel; -the balance copper. The bronze pieces were changed in 1859, and are a -mixture of copper, zinc and tin, about equal parts of each of the two -last; the former contributing about 95 per cent. There are seven furnaces -in this room, each capable of melting five hundred pounds of metal per -day. When the metal is heated and sufficiently mixed, it is poured into -iron moulds, and when cool, and the rough ends clipped off, is ready to -be conveyed to the rolling room. - - -THE ROLLING ROOM. - -From the melting rooms through the corridor we reach the rolling room. -The upright engine, on the right, of one hundred and sixty horse power, -supplies the motive force to the rolling machines, four in number. Those -on the left, are massive and substantial in their frame-work, with -rollers of steel, polished by service in reducing the ingots to planchets -for coining. The first process or rolling is termed breaking down; after -that it requires to be passed through the machine until it is reduced to -the required thinness—ten times if gold, eight if silver, being annealed -in the intervals to prevent breaking. The rollers are adjustable and the -space between them can be increased or diminished at pleasure, by the -operator. About two hundred ingots are run through per hour on each pair -of rollers. - -The pressure applied is so intense that half a day’s rolling heats, not -only the strips and rollers, but even the huge iron stanchions, weighing -several tons, so hot that you can hardly hold your hand on them. - -When the rolling is completed the strip is about six feet long, or six -times as long as the ingot. - -It is impossible to roll perfectly true. At times there will be a lump of -hard gold, which will not be quite so much compressed as the rest. If the -planchets were cut from this place, it would be heavier and more valuable -than one cut from a thinner portion of the strip. It is, therefore, -necessary to “draw” the strips, after being softened by annealing. - -[Illustration: ROLLING MACHINE.] - - -ANNEALING FURNACES. - -These are in the same room, to the right facing the rollers. The gold -and strips are placed in copper canisters, and then placed in the -furnaces and heated to a red heat; silver strips being laid loosely in -the furnace. When they become soft and pliable, they are taken out and -allowed to cool slowly. - - -THE DRAWING BENCHES. - -These machines resemble long tables, with a bench on either side, at one -end of which is an iron box secured to the table. In this are fastened -two perpendicular steel cylinders, firmly supported in a bed, to prevent -their bending or turning around, and presenting but a small portion of -their circumference to the strip. These are exactly at the same distance -apart that the thickness of the strip is required to be. One end of the -strip is somewhat thinner than the rest, to allow it to pass easily -between the cylinders. When through, this end is put between the jaws -of a powerful pair of tongs, or pincers, fastened to a little carriage -running on the table. The carriage to the further bench is up close to -the cylinders, ready to receive a strip, which is inserted edgewise. -When the end is between the pincers, the operator touches a foot pedal -which closes the pincers firmly on the strip, and pressing another -pedal, forces down a strong hook at the left end of the carriage, which -catches in a link of the moving chain. This draws the carriage away from -the cylinders, and the strip being connected with it has to follow. -It is drawn between the cylinders, which operating on the thick part -of the strip with greater power than upon the thin, reduces the whole -to an equal thickness. When the strip is through, the strain on the -tongs instantly ceases, which allows a spring to open them and drop the -strip. At the same time another spring raises the hook and disengages -the carriage from the chain. A cord fastened to the carriage runs back -over the wheel near the head of the table, and then up to a couple of -combination weights on the wall beyond, which draw the carriage back to -the starting place, ready for another strip. - -[Illustration: DRAWING BENCH.] - - -THE CUTTING MACHINES. - -After being thoroughly washed, the strips are consigned to the cutting -machines. These are in the rear of the rolling mills, and are several in -number, each when in active operation cutting two hundred and twenty-five -planchets per minute. The press now used, consists of a vertical steel -punch, which works in a round hole or matrix, cut in a solid steel plate. -The action of the punch is obtained by an eccentric wheel. For instance, -in an ordinary carriage wheel, the axis is in the centre, and the wheel -revolves evenly around it. But if the axis is placed, say four inches -from the centre, then it would revolve with a kind of hobble. From this -peculiar motion its name is derived. Suppose the tire of the wheel is -arranged, not to revolve with, but to slip easily around the wheel, and a -rod is fastened to one side of the tire which prevents its turning. Now -as the wheel revolves and brings the _long side nearest the rod_, it will -push forward the rod, and when the long side of the wheel is _away from -the rod_, it draws the rod with it. - -[Illustration: CUTTING MACHINE.] - -[Illustration: STRIP FROM WHICH PLANCHETS ARE CUT.] - -The upper shaft, on which are seen the three large wheels, has also -fastened to it, over each press, an eccentric wheel. In the first -illustration will be seen three upright rods running from near the table -to the top. The middle one is connected with a tire around the eccentric -wheel, and rises and falls with each revolution. The eccentric power -gives great rapidity of motion with but little jerking. - -The operator places one end of a strip of metal in the immense jaws of -the press, and cuts out a couple of planchets, which are a fraction -larger than the coin to be struck. As the strips are of uniform -thickness, if these two are of the right weight, all cut from that strip -will be the same. They are therefore weighed accurately. If right, or a -little heavy, they are allowed to pass, as the extra weight can be filed -off. If too light, the whole strip has to be re-melted. As fast as cut -the planchets fall into a box below, and the perforated strips are folded -into convenient lengths to be re-melted. From a strip worth say eleven -hundred dollars, eight hundred dollars of planchets will be cut. - - -ADJUSTING ROOM. - -[Illustration: DELICATE SCALES.] - -The planchets are then removed to the adjusting room, where they are -adjusted. This work is performed by ladies. After inspection they are -weighed on very accurate scales. If a planchet is too heavy, but near -the weight, it is filed off at the edges; if too heavy for filing, it is -thrown aside with the light ones, to be re-melted. To adjust coin so -accurately requires great delicacy and skill, as a too free use of the -file would make it too light. Yet by long practice, so accustomed do the -operators become, that they work with apparent unconcern, scarce glancing -at either planchets or scales, and guided as it were by unerring touch. - -The exceedingly delicate scales were made under the direction of Mr. -Peale, who greatly improved on the old ones in use. So precise and -sensitive are they that the slightest breath of air affects their -accuracy, rendering it necessary to exclude every draft from the room. - - -PROGRESS IN COINING. - -The methods of coining money have varied with the progress in mechanic -arts, and are but indefinitely traced from the beginning; the primitive -mode, being by the casting of the piece in sand, the impression being -made with a hammer and punch. In the middle ages the metal was hammered -into sheets of the required thickness, cut with shears into shape, and -then stamped by hand with the design. The mill and screw, by which -greater increase in power, with finer finish was gained, dates back to -the Sixteenth Century. This process, with various modifications and -improvements, continued in use in the Philadelphia Mint until 1836. - -[Illustration: ANCIENT COINING PRESS.] - -The first steam coining press was invented by M. Thonnelier, of France, -in 1833, and was first used in the United States Mint in 1836. It was -remodeled and rebuilt in 1858, but in 1874 was superseded by the one now -in operation, the very perfection of mechanism, in which the vibration -and unsteady bearing of the former press were entirely obviated, and -precision attained by the solid stroke with a saving of over seventy-five -per cent. in the wearing and breaking of the dies. - -[Illustration: STEAM COINING PRESS.] - - -DIES. - -[Illustration: DIES.] - -The dies for coining are prepared by engravers, especially employed -at the Mint for that purpose. The process of engraving them consists -in cutting the devices and legends in soft steel, those parts being -depressed which, in the coin, appear in relief. This, having been -finished and hardened, constitutes an “_original die_,” which, being -the result of a tedious and difficult task, is deemed too precious to -be directly employed in striking coins; but it is used for multiplying -dies. It is first used to impress another piece of soft steel, which -then presents the appearance of a coin, and is called a _hub_. This hub, -being hardened, is used to impress other pieces of steel in like manner -which, being like the original die, are hardened and used for striking -the coins. A pair of these will, on an average, perform two weeks’ work. - - -TRANSFER LATHE. - -[Illustration] - -The transfer lathe, a very complicated piece of machinery, is used in -making dies, for coins and medals. By it, from a large cast, the design -can be transferred and engraved in smaller size, in perfect proportion to -the original. - - -THE COINING AND MILLING ROOMS. - -This department, the most interesting to the general visitor, occupies -the larger portion of the first floor on the east side of the building. -The rooms are divided by an iron railing, which separates the visitors, -on either side, from the machinery, etc., but allows everything to be -seen. - -[Illustration: MILLING MACHINE.] - -The planchets, after being adjusted, are received here, and, in order to -protect the surface of the coin, are passed through the milling-machine. -The planchets are fed to this machine through an upright tube, and, as -they descend from the lower aperture, they are caught upon the edge of -a revolving wheel and carried about a quarter of a revolution, during -which the edge is compressed and forced up—the space between the wheel -and the rim being a little less than the diameter of the planchet. -This apparatus moves so nimbly that five hundred and sixty half-dimes -can be milled in a minute; but, for large pieces, the average is about -one hundred and twenty. In this room are the milling machines, and the -massive, but delicate, coining presses, ten in number. Each of these is -capable of coining from eighty to one hundred pieces a minute. Only the -largest are used in making coins of large denominations. - -[Illustration: PERFECTED COINING PRESS.] - -[Illustration: COINING PRESS.] - -The arch is a solid piece of cast iron, weighing several tons, and unites -with its beauty great strength. The table is also of iron, brightly -polished and very heavy. In the interior of the arch is a nearly round -plate of brass, called a triangle. It is fastened to a lever above by -two steel bands, termed stirrups, one of which can be seen to the right -of the arch. The stout arm above it, looking so dark in the picture, is -also connected with the triangle by a ball-and-socket joint, and it is -this arm which forces down the triangle. The arm is connected with the -end of the lever above by a joint somewhat like that of the knee. One end -of the lever can be seen reaching behind the arch to a crank near the -large fly-wheel. When the triangle is _raised_, the arm and near end of -the lever extends outward. When the crank lifts the further end of the -lever it draws in the knee and forces down the arm until it is perfectly -straight. By that time the crank has revolved and is lowering the lever, -which forces out the knee again and raises the arm. As the triangle is -fastened to the arm it has to follow all its movements. - -Under the triangle, buried in the lower part of the arch, is a steel -cup, or, technically, a “die stake.” Into this is fastened the reverse -die. The die stake is arranged to rise one-eighth of an inch; when down -it rests firmly on the solid foundation of the arch. Over the die stake -is a steel collar or plate, in which is a hole large enough to allow a -planchet to drop upon the die. In the triangle above, the obverse die is -fastened, which moves with the triangle; when the knee is straightened -the die fits into the collar and presses down upon the reverse die. - -Just in front of the triangle will be seen an upright tube made of brass, -and of the size to hold the planchets to be coined. These are placed in -this tube. As they reach the bottom they are seized singly by a pair of -steel feeders, in motion as similar to that of the finger and thumb as is -possible in machinery, and carried over the collar and deposited between -the dies, and, while the fingers are expanding and returning for another -planchet, the dies close on the one within the collar, and by a rotary -motion are made to impress it silently but powerfully. The fingers, as -they again close upon a planchet at the mouth of the tube, also seize -the coin, and, while conveying a second planchet on to the die, carry -the coin off, dropping it into a box provided for that purpose, and the -operation is continued _ad infinitum_. These presses are attended by -ladies, and do their work in a perfect manner. The engine that drives the -machinery is of one hundred and sixty horse-power. - -After being stamped the coins are taken to the Coiner’s room, and placed -on a long table—the double eagles in piles of ten each. It will be -remembered that, in the Adjusting Room, a difference of one-half a grain -was made in the weight of some of the double eagles. The light and heavy -ones are kept separate in coining, and when delivered to the treasurer, -they are mixed together in such proportions as to give him full weight -in every delivery. By law the deviation from the standard weight, in -delivering to him, must not exceed three pennyweights in one thousand -double eagles. The gold coins—as small as quarter eagles being counted -and weighed to verify the count—are put up in bags of $5,000 each. The -three-dollar pieces are put up in bags of $3,000, and one-dollar pieces -in $1,000 bags. The silver pieces, and sometimes small gold, are counted -on a very ingenious contrivance called a “counting-board.” - -[Illustration: COUNTING BOARD.] - -By this process twenty-five dollars in five-cent pieces can be counted -in less than a minute. The “boards” are a simple flat surface of wood, -with copper partitions, the height and size of the coin to be counted, -rising from the surface at regular intervals, and running parallel with -each other from top to bottom. They somewhat resemble a common household -“washing board,” with the grooves running parallel with the sides but -much larger. The boards are worked by hand, over a box, and as the pieces -are counted they slide into a drawer prepared to receive them. They are -then put into bags and are ready for shipment.[8] - - - - -THE CABINET. - - -The room in the Mint used for the Cabinet is on the second floor. It was -formerly a suite of three apartments connected by folding-doors, but the -doors have been removed, and it is now a pleasant saloon fifty-four feet -long by sixteen wide. The eastern and western sections are of the same -proportions, each with a broad window. The central section is lighted -from the dome, which is supported by four columns. There is an open space -immediately under the dome, to give light to the hall below, which is the -main entrance to the Mint. Around this space is a railing and a circular -case for coins. The Cabinet of Coins was established in 1838, by Dr. R. -M. Patterson, then Director of the Mint. Anticipating such a demand, -reserves had been made for many years by Adam Eckfeldt,[9] the Coiner, -of the “master coins” of the Mint; a term used to signify first pieces -from new dies, bearing a high polish and struck with extra care. These -are now more commonly called “proof pieces.” With this nucleus, and a -few other valuable pieces from Mr. Eckfeldt, the business was committed -to the Assay Department, and especially to Mr. Du Bois, Assistant -Assayer. The collection grew, year by year, by making exchanges to supply -deficiencies, by purchases, by adding our own coin, and by saving foreign -coins from the melting-pot—a large part in this way, at a cost of not -more than their bullion value, though demanding great care, appreciation, -and study. Valuable donations were also made by travelers, consuls, and -missionaries. In 1839, Congress appropriated the sum of $1,000 for the -purchase of “specimens of ores and coins to be preserved at the Mint.” -Annually, since, the sum of $300 has been appropriated by the Government -for this object. More has not been asked or desired, for the officers of -the Mint have not sought to vie with the long established collections of -the national cabinets of the old world, or even to equal the extravagance -of some private numismatists; but they have admirably succeeded in their -purpose to secure such coins as would interest all, from the schoolboy to -the most enthusiastic archæologist. The economic principle upon which the -collection has been gathered is a lesson to all governmental departments -in frugality, as well as a restraint upon the natural tendency to -extravagance which has heretofore distinguished those who have a passion -for old coins. There are thousands of coin collectors in the United -States, and fortunes have been accumulated in this strange way. More than -one authenticated instance has been known in this country where a man -has lived in penury, and died from want, yet possessed of affluence in -time-defaced coins. - - -RELICS. - -Having referred to the portraits of the Directors of the Mint, we will -cite other interesting subjects of observation, before describing the -coins. - -The first object in the Cabinet attracting attention is a framed copy of -the law of Congress establishing the Mint, with its quaint phraseology -with the signature of Thomas Jefferson. (See fac simile on page 11.) - -In the first section, near the western window, is the assorting machine, -the invention of a Frenchman, Baron Seguier, and which is now in use in -the Mint at Paris. - -The planchets for coinage are liable to be a little too heavy or too -light; it is therefore necessary, at least in the case of gold, to assort -them by weighing. This machine is designed to enable one person to do -the work of many. “The planchets are thrown into the hopper at the rear, -and, being arranged by the action of the wheel, slide down balances. By -machinery beneath they are carried one by one to the nearest platforms to -be weighed. If too heavy, the tall needle of the beam leans to the right -and lifts a pallet-wire, which connects with an apparatus under the table -by which the planchet is pushed off and slides into one of the brass pans -in front. If the piece be light, the needle is drawn over to the left, -and touches the other pallet, which makes a passage to another brass -pan. If the piece be of true weight, or near enough, the needle stands -perpendicular between the pallets, and the piece finds its way into the -third brass pan.” - -On the opposite wall is a fine cast of Cromwell, a duplicate of one -taken shortly after his death. It was placed here by Mr. W. E. Du Bois, -who received it from H. W. Field, Esq., late Assayer of the Royal Mint, -London, who is a descendant of the great Protector. Below the cast of -Cromwell is a case showing progressive “alloys of gold.” The plates -comprise gold alloyed with copper, gold alloyed with silver, and gold -fine. - -In the eastern section are the Standard Test Scales, used to test the -weights sent to all the mints and assay offices in the United States, and -are so delicate as to weigh the _twenty-thousandth_ part of an ounce. -These scales were manufactured by employees of the Mint, and have been -in use more than a quarter of a century. The beam is hollow, and filled -with Spanish cedar to guard against the effect of dampness; the bearings -are edges of knife-blades, which impinge on a surface of agate plate. -These scales are tested by the Annual Assay Committee, which meets on the -second Tuesday in February of every year. - - -CURIOSITIES AND MINERALS. - -The most interesting objects of this curious display are three golden -images from graves in the Island of Chiriqui, off Central America. They -were dug up in 1858, and sent to the Mint as bullion, to be melted. They -are of pure gold, but the workmanship is very crude. The images are in -the forms of a reptile, a bird, and a man with symbols of power in his -hands, not unlike those designating Jupiter. There are also, in the first -section, two large cases with choice selections of mineral specimens, -carefully classified and labeled. These are from well selected results of -years of patient collecting, and are deserving of more study than can be -devoted to them by casual visitors. They are chiefly from different parts -of the United States, and are an “index book” to the vast mineral wealth -of the nation. - -Near the exit door of the Cabinet, in a large glass case, is a -magnificent American eagle, which is worthy of the visitor’s attention. -It is superbly mounted, with grand breadth of wing and wondrous piercing -eyes. The portrait of this “pet” can be recognized on Reverse of the -“Pattern” Silver Dollars of 1836, 1838, and 1839, and on the Obverse of -the first nickel cent pieces coined in 1856. - - -“PETER,” - -the name which the noble bird recognized, was an inhabitant of the Mint -six years. He would fly about the city, but no one interfered with the -going or coming of the “Mint bird,” and he never failed to return from -his daily exercise before the time for closing the building. In an evil -hour he unfortunately perched upon a large fly wheel, and getting caught -in the machinery, received a fatal injury to his wing, and this ended -rather an unusual career for an eagle. - - -EASTERN CORRIDOR. - -Opening into the eastern corridor are the rooms of the Superintendent, -the Chief Clerk, and the library of Historical and Scientific Works, -including many valuable books upon the art of coinage. Passing out -upon the gallery, we enter the Machinists’ and Engravers’ rooms. -Here are engraved and finished the dies used in this Mint and in all -the branch mints. Visitors are not ordinarily allowed access to these -rooms, or to the assay office, or to the cellar. (In the latter are a -number of immense vaults, and in the main cellar are engines, which -supply the power and light used throughout the building.) Here are also -blacksmith, carpenter, and paint shops; and in the rear, west side, is -the medal-striking room, where medals are struck by a screw press, worked -by hand. The cellar also contains the “sweep” grinding rooms. Near this -room are the wells, which are receptacles for the water used in washing -the precious metals. These wells are cleaned out every few years and the -deposit is then treated in the same way as the sweepings. - -The little wooden building in the court was formerly the cent-room, where -copper cents were exchanged for nickels;[10] it is now the office of the -agent of the Adams Express Company, who brings to the Philadelphia Mint -millions of dollars worth of precious metals in the shape of bullion -from the far west, to be converted into American Coin, when it is -again transported by the same company to various points to be put into -circulation. - - -COINS. - -The ancient coins are chiefly arranged in upright cases against the -walls in the doorways and the middle section of the saloon. The modern -coins are placed in nearly level cases at either end of the room and -in the circular or central cases. Of antique coins the portion labeled -Cabinet Nos. 97, 98, 99, “Massilia,” are interesting as belonging to a -Greek colony which settled about six hundred years before Christ upon the -coast of Gaul, on the spot now known as Marseilles. This little colony -fled their native country and the rule of a governor placed over it by a -Persian monarch. They were distinguished for their civilization, and the -work upon these small coins is the most palpable witness of that fact in -existence to-day. - - -GREEK COINS. - -Their surfaces, of gold, silver, and bronze, bristle with lance and -spear, helmet and shield. On one of these coins Jove is seated and -bearing an eagle, defying Alexander of Macedon, while on the obverse the -same mighty conqueror impersonates Hercules. The oldest coin here is -supposed to date back to 550 B.C. It is well to mention the fact that -coins were never dated until the fifteenth century; and previous to -that time the ages of coins can only be determined by the legends upon -them, as answering to the page of corroborative history and the art era -to which they belonged. No. 9 bears on the obverse the Macedonian horse, -a favorite animal, which the then war-loving Greeks are said to have -deified. At this period the haughty royal families began to chronicle in -coin their line of descent. The kings of Macedon claimed Hercules for -an ancestor, and in proof thereof the lion’s skin was a royal insignia. -An old historian says, “The kings of Macedon, instead of the crown, the -diadem, the purple, bear upon their effigy the skin of a lion.” Several -pieces of money in this case, upon which are heads of Alexander, have -rings in them, and were worn by gracious dames as ornaments. The value -of this series of coins is priceless, as furnishing portraits of the -heroes of that period which can be received without question as accurate, -for the art patronage of the kingdom was regulated by the strictest -laws. Alexander was especially jealous of how the future nations should -regard his physique, allowing only three artists, during his reign, -the privilege of drawing, painting, or modeling his head.[11] To such -royal guardianship may be attributed the perfection to which Greek art -attained; and it may well be a matter of regret that the same firmness in -this regard was not universal. The last coin of this series is a small -bronze coin, and was issued by Perseus, the last king of Macedon. - - -PERSIAN. - -In this case is a collection of Persian coins, very choice, and of no -mean workmanship, and, of course, portraying the faith and rites of the -fire-worshippers. One era is distinctly Greek in style, and marks the -period of Greek supremacy. The oldest gold coin known to the collector is -the gold Daric of King Darius, with the head of the king in bold relief; -and all Persian coins are so called in remembrance of this monarch. Their -money was very fine, so the word _Daric_ has become incorporated into -numismatic terminology to designate any pure gold coin. Nos. 58 to 67, -inclusive, of this series, are silver coins of the Sassanian kings. - - -EGYPT - -is also represented in this case, as is proper, for that nation had no -coinage until it was taught the art when conquered by Alexander. Here -are some very attractive data of Egyptian history, and from these coins -are obtained the only portraits of Arsinoe, Cleopatra, and others. - - -THE SYRIAN COINS - -are embraced in the division called “Greek monarchies,” and in them are -found many coins not only important in history, but of the very finest -Greek art, from the third to the first century B.C. In this period the -Syriac and Hebrew coins become intermingled, a fact abundantly sustained -by the Jewish shekel of Simon Maccabees. The legend of this interesting -relic is in the language of Samaria; on one side the budding rod of -Aaron, legend, “Jerusalem the Holy;” on the other, a cup of incense or -pot of manna, and the inscription, “Shekel of Israel.” This shekel is -well preserved, and is one of the most prized coins known. (See Plate and -Case XV., marked “_Selections_.”) In this collection are some coins from -Bactria, considered priceless by savans. These are trophies of recent -British explorations, and are judged to be of sufficient importance -to call forth from an English professor an extended treatise on the -“Antiquities and Coins of Afghanistan.” They are exceedingly rude in -workmanship, and nearly all of baser metal, the most important being a -small, square, brass coin, in the case marked “_Selections_.” - - -ROMAN COINS. - -The collection of Roman coins in this Cabinet numbers nearly one -thousand, and an acquaintance with it is invaluable for object teaching, -as in it is the condensed history, not only of the glory of Rome, -“Mistress of the World,” but of her customs, faith, conquests, wealth, -culture, divisions, and _downfall_. Through this entire section of -time—one-third of the known history of the world—Roman art, though high, -never reached the exalted purity of Greek lines. In their finest coins -we see no Phidias, no Myron, no Praxiteles, but they deteriorate and -fluctuate visibly when in or out of contact with the influence of the -Grecian mind. - - -GREEK REPUBLIC - -will be first in interest, both historic and artistic. It is conceded -that to the Greeks the world owes the introduction of the art of coinage, -and though centuries numbered by tens have passed, some of the old Greek -coins equal many modern productions in purity of lines, and surpass -nearly all in poetic sentiment. On the first coins no earthly potentate -was allowed to be pictured, no deed of heroism portrayed. The glory of -the gods was considered the only appropriate theme for impressions on the -surface of bronze, silver, and gold. The coins of the republic embrace a -large variety, as nearly a thousand towns were allowed the privilege of -coinage. Upon this varied issue are preserved nearly all the legends of -Greek mythology. Upon the coins are the heads of Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, -Bacchus, Apollo, and Diana, with many sacred animals, and the work is -to-day the standard of artistic perfection. Of course, the collection of -this ancient period cannot be extensive. In this case there are, however, -more than one hundred and fifty specimens, and these present a study so -attractive and so intense that it is almost impossible to imagine what -classic poetry would be without it. - -Nos. 4, 5, and 6, are silver coins of Ægina, which have on the obverse, -for a device, the tortoise, emblematic of the security of the island amid -the waves, and the protection of the gods of the sea. On the reverse are -the marks of the punches only, probably denoting the value of the coins. -These are claimed to belong to an era seven hundred years before Christ. -No. 28 is a silver coin of Athens, with a head of Minerva splendidly -drawn upon the obverse, while the reverse presents a large owl, the bird -sacred to the goddess of Wisdom. The devices upon this coin indicate its -age to be from twenty-one to twenty-three centuries. The Greek proverb of -“taking owls to Athens” referred to this coin, which was necessarily of -great importance to the tradespeople of that city. - - -FAMILY COINS. - -These comprise about one hundred and seventy-five, of which one hundred -and twenty-six are in the collection. They were struck to record the -heroic deeds which first introduced any notable ancestor to fame, -and hence are to-day family charts of respectability for many of the -patricians of Rome, albeit some of them have plebeian roots. Be that as -it may, they are as much the trusted patents of aristocracy as is the -“Book of the Peerage” of England. Here are found the same distinctions -between patrician and plebeian which mark all countries, the patricians -being always designated by a symbol of warfare, while the plebeians -were indicated by the tools and instruments of common trade. The more -noticeable of the coins are as follows: No. 16, Acilia; the reverse a -female leaning against a pillar, with a serpent clutched in her right -hand, indicating the wisdom or courage of some ancestor. No. 20, Æmilia; -on the obverse of this curious coin is a figure kneeling by the side -of a camel, presenting an olive branch, from which depends a fillet or -ancient diadem; on the reverse, a figure guiding a triumphal chariot, a -scorpion in the field. Josephus tells us of an invasion of Arabia, and -that Aretus, the king of the country, purchased peace of the Romans for -five hundred talents. The diadem hanging from the olive branch chronicles -the entire humiliation of Aretus, and the scorpion doubtless indicates -the month of the Roman triumph. No. 30, Aquillia, a small silver coin; -the reverse shows a woman kneeling before a soldier. The motto below -the figures (or in the _exergue_ of the coin, as is the art term) is -“_Sicil_.” This commemorates the suppression of a revolt of slaves in -Sicily, which was achieved by Manlius Aquillia. No. 41, Calpurnia, the -family of Cæsar’s noble wife; reverse, a horseman riding at full speed, a -head of wheat above him; legend, L. Piso-Trugi. The coin recalls the fact -that in the year 507 B.C. there was a famine in Rome, and Calpurnius Piso -was dispatched to Africa to buy corn. This seemingly small service is -magnified upon a large number of coins. Nos. 95 and 96, Hostilia, a coin -with a sacrifice to _Pallor_ and _Pavor_ (fear and trembling), offered -by Tullus Hostilius in some great emergency. No. 97, Julia; obverse, a -helmeted head; legend, Cæsar; reverse, a warrior in a chariot drawn by -two horses. - -No. 98, Junia; obverse, head of Liberty; reverse, Junius Brutus guarded -by lictors, and preceded by a herald, showing that an ancestor of -Junius Brutus was the first consul of Rome. Nos. 181, 182, Tituria. -The reverse shows two soldiers throwing their shields upon a prostrate -female, illustrating the famous story of the “Tarpeian Rock.” Reverse -represents the Romans carrying off Sabine women—a witness in coin of the -fact that the family of Tituria trace their ancestry from the Sabines. -To do justice to this case is impossible, for here are coins relating to -the ancestors of Antonia, Aurelia, Cornelia, Fulvia, Horatio, Lucretia, -Lucilla, Sempronia, Titia Valeria, and many others familiar to the -readers of history. - -This era of coins terminated about the time of the birth of Christ, when -the - - -IMPERIAL COINS - -were introduced. In noticing these, little save the labels on the case -can be given. - - -_Division II._ - -Julius Cæsar to Trajan, inclusive. Beginning 49 B.C., and ending 117 A.D. -A simple catalogue of the illustrious names on these coins would convey -an idea of their importance. All the victories of Cæsar are marked by -coinage; but out of the two hundred belonging to this case reference need -only be made to No. 24, a beautiful gold coin, with the undraped head -of Augustus, exquisitely severe, the interest attaching chiefly to the -legend, “The Son of God,” referring to the deification of Cæsar. - - -_Division III._ - -embraces from Hadrian to Elagabalus, 117-222. In the reign of Hadrian -much coin was issued, though it did not bear marks of the disasters and -revolts that signalized the foregoing. That he was a merciful ruler is -indicated by the coins, especially one—Hispania; the reverse showing the -emperor raising Spain—a female figure—from the ground. His travels are -also illustrated in coin. - - -_Division IV._ - -From Severus Alexander to Claudius Gothicus, 222-270. These coins -indicate the vicious effect of the rulers immediately preceding. - - -_Division V._ - -From Aurelian to the end of the Western Empire; includes 270-475. A -brilliant succession; Aurelian’s busy reign, ending in assassination; the -war-like Probus, the slave-emperor; Diocletian’s despotism and vindictive -persecution of Christians; the usurpation of Carausius; the happy reign -of Constantine the Great, Julian, Theodosius, down to Julius Nepos. These -are a few of the historic names and events presented in this division. - - -_Division VI._ - -covers the period of the Byzantine or Eastern Empire, and a lapse of -eight centuries; but the coinage is not comparable with that of other -eras, nor were events of so stirring and heroic a character. A general -decay, painful to contemplate, marked this long lapse of time, which -began near the acceptance of Christianity, and extended through the dark -ages. - - -“THE TEMPLE SWEEPERS.” - -A small case attracts no little attention, because it contains a single -coin; and the interest does not decrease when the inscription is read: -“Struck in the Philadelphia Mint, at least two thousand years ago.” The -late Assayer of the Philadelphia Mint, Mr. W. E. Du Bois, under title of -“The Temple Sweepers,” wrote, not long since, a valuable sketch of this -coin, made in the City of Attalus Philadelphus, Asia Minor, and for which -William Penn called his city, because the ancient one was a monument of -“brotherly love.” Diana was the patroness of Philadelphia. - -“On one side, then, we have a head; not a king’s nor an emperor’s; as -yet the free city had a pride and a privilege above that. It is a female -head, an ideal, representing the city itself; or rather the dwellers -in it, the _Demos_. Here in this head and title, we have the radix of -Democracy. - -“This is all we can gather from the obverse. On the other side we have a -larger variety: a running female figure; a dog also on the trot; a legend -of some length and of more significance. - -“The half-clad figure is that of the goddess known to the Greeks as -Artemis, to the Latins as Diana; and otherwise called Selene, Phœbe, -Delia, or Cynthia. - -“She was the favorite divinity of the cities of Asia Minor. Once the -patroness of chastity and purity. Goddess of the chase.” - -The legend on the obverse of this coin explains its name: “Friends of -Philadelphia’s [her] Temple Sweepers.” - - -ORIENTAL. - -Oriental coins are not as attractive as other varieties, though there -are special coins among them which have no rival in historic importance. -Antique coins from the East were usually without device, and, their -legends being rudely inscribed in a dead language, proved frequently to -be sealed fountains to the thirsting antiquarian. Therefore in cases -marked “Oriental” the visitor is undetermined where to begin to study, -and often decides to give it but little time. - -Those having for device the sacred peacock are from Burmah; there -is, however, in the division marked “Selections” a very curious coin -belonging to that country, which certainly formed a part of its earliest -currency. It is a common gravel-stone, encased in a circling band of -brass. - - -COINS OF SIAM. - -The coins of Siam are much sought for. Some of them, known to European -travelers as “bullet money,” are lumps of gold or silver, hammered by -rude implements into a doubtful roundness, and a few Siamese characters -stamped irregularly upon them. The sacred elephant is found on a large -proportion of their money. A Siamese coin in the Cabinet, of modern date, -is quite handsome in both workmanship and design. On the obverse is the -sacred elephant in ponderous proportion, which delights the eyes of the -devout, and the reverse presents a group of three pagodas, finely drawn. -In the case marked “Selections” is a Siamese coin of gold, comparatively -modern, called “Tecal,” corresponding in some respects to the “Shekel,” -or “Oxen,” of biblical fame. - - -CHINESE COINS. - -On the south side of the first section is a case of seven hundred -coins of the Celestial Empire. With but few exceptions these coins are -bronzed. Dynasty succeeds dynasty; usurpation, insurrection, are all writ -in bronze. The Chinese assert an uninterrupted coinage for forty-one -centuries. The manuscript attesting this is in the case, and was prepared -under authority. Large numbers of their coins were considered charms, -sufficient to protect the owner against fever, or even the more dreaded -horrors of spiritual menace. In this connection it may be said that the -Chinese had an exalted reverence for the coin-charm, and a small coin -was often placed in the mouth of the dead (now, if a Chinaman dies in -California, a small silver United States coin is placed on his tongue). -These coins were covered with cabalistic characters, symbolic animals, -birds, etc. Two worthy of notice in this regard, and said to be of the -oldest issue, are Nos. 1 and 2. The first might be mistaken for an iron -safe-key; the second is known as the “razor coin,” its form and almost -its size being that of a razor. - -In another case, appropriately labeled, is the Chinese porcelain money. -They are the only people who have made porcelain a “legal tender,” though -it would appear that almost every part of the three kingdoms of nature -has been laid under contribution. The specimen here may be mistaken for -the popular Chinese sleeve-button, bought in any bazaar for a few cents. -The Chinese, as did also the Africans, utilized the small sea-shells for -trade. In the same case are some of the variety legalized. Ten small -shells made one “cash.” This is a small, round, copper-bronzed coin, -with a square hole in the centre. The Chinese dames of high degree wore -such strung around their throats. One thousand of them are equal to our -dollar. The Japanese, however, _outcount_ their neighbors, as they have a -bronze coin called the “One-hundredth,” of which just seven thousand make -one Spanish dollar. - -Shell money of pure gold, “or gold beaten into small solid shells, was -made by those natives who supplied the Portuguese slave-traders with -slaves,” and was called by the traders “Spondylus Macutus,” from which, -some contend, came the _slang_ term “spondulics.” Forty of those small -coins, each worth about a dollar of Spanish money, was a high price for a -slave. - -There is also in the Cabinet a valuable collection of African ring money. -These ornaments are very massive and pure, comprised of elaborately -carved “signet-rings, armlets, anklets,” etc. One article, more novel -and valuable than the others, is a pipe of fine gold, bowl and handle of -curious bas-relief figures, and a heavy, square-linked chain attaching a -large medallion, on which is the head of a monarch poorly drawn. - -The Chinese government, like all despotisms, is very jealous of its -coining prerogatives; yet it does not fail to appreciate an advantage -when offered, as is evident to us by the following: - - Proclamation for general information: - - “WHEREAS, The foreign silver (coin) in daily use among - the people of the Kwang Tung Provinces has long been in - circulation, and is moreover admitted to be advantageous and - convenient. In the 5th and 11th years of Tung Chih (1866 and - 1872) the Hong Kong Mint coined a new Dollar which, upon - comparison with pure silver, bore a proportion of fully ninety - per cent., and as the Records will prove. Proclamations were - issued notifying the people that it might come into general - circulation. There has lately come to Hong Kong a newly coined - American Eagle Dollar, called the “Trade Dollar,” and Sir - Brooke Robinson, the British Consul, having requested that - officers might be appointed to assay it, the Viceroy and - Haikwan thereupon appointed officers to melt it down and assay - it, in concert with (an officer from the British Consulate), - when, taking the Haikwan Tael of pure silver as the standard, - an outturn was obtained of fully 89.61—or Taels 111.6 of this - new Eagle Dollar are equal to 100 Haikwan Taels of pure silver. - Minutes of the assay were drawn up in proof thereof. - - “For the convenience of Traders and people, therefore, this - coin should be allowed to be tendered in payment of duties at - the rate of touch obtained at the assay, and to come into daily - circulation. It becomes the duty then of the Viceroy and his - colleagues to issue a Proclamation on the subject for general - information. - - “This Proclamation, therefore, is for the information of you - merchants, traders, soldiers, and people of every district. - You must know that the ‘Eagle Trade Dollar’ that has lately - come to Hong Kong has been jointly assayed by officers - specially appointed for the purpose, and it can be taken in - payment of duties, and come into general circulation. _You must - not look upon it with suspicion._ At the same time rogues, - sharpers, and the like, are hereby strictly forbidden to - fabricate spurious imitations of this new Eagle Dollar, with a - view to their own profit. - - “And should they dare to set this prohibition at defiance, - and fabricate false coin, they shall, upon discovery, most - assuredly be arrested and punished. Let every one obey with - trembling! Let there be no disobedience! - - “A Special Proclamation. Tung Chih 12th year, 9th moon—day - (October, 1873.) - - “Translated by - - “(Signed) WALTER C. HILLIER.” - - -JAPAN. - -Perhaps the peculiar adaptability of the Japanese character cannot be -better illustrated than by their late monetary revolution, especially as -their coinage is hedged around with laws, with penal attachments of no -doubtful character. In the small morocco case marked “Japan” are a few -specimens of their original coin. Of this series the large gold plate, -four inches by three and a half, is known as the “Gold Oban,” their -most valuable coin, worth about seventy-five dollars. This coin is of -perfectly smooth surface, with an elaborate black inscription of Japanese -text, burnt in by a chemical process. To take the “Gold Oban” out of the -kingdom is _punishable with death_; to remove it by mistake, subjects the -offender to imprisonment for life. The other coins in this case are, in -their composition and shape, as distinctive as the Japanese are peculiar -as a people. The progressive character of the Japanese is exemplified by -their recent acceptance of the United States system of coinage. - -The mind of the Japanese proletaire has been much troubled in recent -years with regard to the coinage of his country; not that he ever has -much of the currency in question, but the Japanese proletaire has no -pockets, and he finds it awkward to carry in his hands such coins as he -contrives to possess. In ancient times his rulers were more considerate. -They punched square holes in the centre of the coins, through which he -passed a string, and was thus able to carry about his available capital -tied around his neck or to his waistband, which in those days was his -sole garment. The coins were not large in amount; it took a thousand of -them to make a few shillings, while a cart was required to convey five -dollars worth. But with civilization came an improved coinage, larger -in value, and with no holes, and the pocketless proletaire naturally -grumbled that civilization treated him hardly in this respect. Paper -currency for small amounts partially satisfied him for a time; but at -last his cries have been heard, and the Japanese Government has promised -to issue a new coin specially for his behoof. Its value is rather less -than one cent, and is to possess the indispensable hole, by which he can -string it as a child strings beads, and he is probably content. - - -TURKEY. - -Turkish coins often bear texts from the Koran on either side, so it may -be said the tenets of their religion are their circulating medium. The -piastres in this collection are generally those now in circulation. - - -EGYPT. - -Egypt’s antique coins were of Greek or Roman workmanship, of which the -very finest is in the case marked “Selections,” and has not its superior -for interest or beauty in the world. It was the work of some Greek -artist, and presents the head of Arsinoe, wife of Ptolemy. It was found -in 1868, and bought by the United States Government at a high price; but -as only three had been found, its market value may be named by thousands, -though its metal value is not more than twenty dollars. - -This notice of Oriental coins may conclude with suggestive reference to -the “Cufic coins,” of which there are some valuable specimens. The first -is the silver dirhem of Walid, the eccentric caliph of Damascus, A.D. -713. There is also in case XV. a coin of the reign of Haroun Alraschid. - - -FRENCH COINAGE. - -The French have the credit of making the greatest improvements in modern -coinage. The French coins are a history of that nation, from the small -coin issued in the reign of Louis “the Meek” to the last currency of the -republic of France, spanning a period of one thousand years. - -In design and execution the French coins bear the impress of the national -character, and also give assurance of the art patronage in which her -rulers, failing in much, have never wavered, but brought all their power -and cunning to bear on securing the best artists, as in the instance -of Francis I. beguiling from the holy father that exquisite artist -Benvenuto Cellini, or the later _enterprise_ of Napoleon Bonaparte. No. -83,—a medalet of the unhappy Mario Antoinette,—which is in itself very -beautiful, and from its tragic association attracts general interest. - - -GERMANY. - -The collection of Germany is very large and divided and sub-divided by -its kingdoms and principalities. - -One of the most interesting coins of any age, and excelling in beauty as -well, is the gold medallic ducat on which are the heads of Martin Luther -and Philip Melanchthon. This coin is very generally admired by visitors -to the Cabinet. - - -COINS OF SWITZERLAND. - -Switzerland is modestly represented in all her cantons, each, like the -classic Greek town, enjoying the coining privilege. There are several -pieces of commemorative and artistic worth, especially the two issues of -the republic of 1796. - - -RUSSIAN COINS. - -The double rouble, with a magnificent draped head of Peter the Great, is -unexcelled for strength of outline, and valuable as a correct portrait of -one of the very greatest and most self-reliant of modern rulers. Turning -to another rouble, the features of Elizabeth II. are recognized. It may -be assumed, with all due deference to royalty, that this portrayal is the -most laughter-provoking figure ever stamped on metal. She is so fat as to -have the effect of “spreading herself” all over the coin. Another rouble -presents the majestic Catherine II. - -Of the coins marked Denmark, Norway, Sweden, there can be only the -copper half-daler of Sweden mentioned. This coin is four inches square, -weighs about twelve ounces, and is equivalent to a United States silver -half-dollar. The daler of Sweden, thaler of Germany, dollar of Spain and -America, are all synonymous terms. - - -ENGLAND. - -The first coins of Great Britain were of tin, according to Cæsar’s -authority, who mentions the “tin money of Britain,” which has lately been -sustained by the discovery, in some work of excavation, of coins of that -metal in antique design. These coins are, however, of little use, by -reason of the obscure inscription, or rather the frequent absence of all -device. - -The English collection in the Cabinet begins with a coin made after the -stater of Greece, presenting the head of Minerva, with Greek helmet -on obverse, while the reverse gives the figure of a woman most crudely -drawn. It is supposed this rude attempt at art was coined about the time -of the Roman invasion. Note the contrast presented in placing this relic -by the side of the Victorian sovereign, where, on the obverse, is the -queen’s head superbly cut; on the reverse, Wyon’s inimitable figure of -Una and the Lion. These two coins are the Alpha and the Omega of British -coinage, while the thousands issued between them are progressive links to -civilization. - -Two small coins are placed here, thought to be contemporary with the -Christian era, having no device, but an attempt to portray the sun on -one side. No. 2 is the skeattae of Ethelbert I, king of Saxony, and is -the first Saxon coin which has yet been appropriated. It bears upon the -obverse the head of the king; on the reverse is the figure of a bird. - -Next in interest is No. 6, the penny of William the Conqueror. The -bust of that famous monarch is attempted; 1068 is about the year it -is supposed to have been made. During the three centuries following, -the condition of England, whether she was at peace or war, is plainly -indicated by her coinage. Every added province is memorialized in coin. -The rose, thistle, and fleur-de-lis, all tell in strange language for -flowers of bloody battles, long sieges, perils by the sea and land; at -last all resistance bowing before the ever-increasing power of Great -Britain. - -The first coin of English issue was dated in 1553, being either the close -of Edward VI.’s or the beginning of Queen Mary’s reign. This is claimed -by many to be the first coin dated, though old medals of the preceding -century have been found with date. - -In 1558, the ryal or royal of Queen Elizabeth was issued. On the obverse -the queen is grandly enthroned, while the reverse is a large rose, in the -centre of which are the Danish arms of Britain, and the arms of Anjou -quartered. This coin and the pound sterling of Charles I. are in Case -XV., “Selections.” - -This pound sterling is one of the famous “siege pieces” of that unhappy -king,—which were often made on the field with hammer and anvil out of -the family plate brought to the closely-pressed Stuart by his faithful -followers. It is to be regretted that so much valuable family plate of no -mean workmanship was thus sacrificed. This “siege piece” is the largest -silver coin known. The legend upon it, rudely inscribed, is, “Let God -arise; let his enemies be scattered;” above are three fleurs-de-lis, with -date, “1642.” - -In 1684-88, during the short reign of James II., several varieties of -new coins were introduced, notably, “Maundy Money,” a small coin made to -be distributed by the king on “Maundy Thursday.” Beggars, on that day, -received from his majesty bags containing as many maundy pieces as the -king had lived years. - -King James II. also had issued “gun money.” This variety was made out -of old cannon, after the suppression of an Irish rebellion. Though not -even giving a glance towards the interesting series of Queen Anne, it -is impossible to pass unnoticed the beautiful bust of George IV., by -Chantrey, upon a pattern five-sovereign piece. This well-executed bust of -“the handsomest man in Europe,” was said to be the means of Sir Francis -Chantrey being knighted. That vain monarch was as careful about how his -face would appear to future generations as was Alexander of Macedon; and -Chantrey well knew if he placed upon the shoulders of sixty years the -head of forty years, he had given the cabalistic words which would be the -“open sesame” to royal favor. - -The gold sovereign of Victoria, Nos. 183-184, has, on the reverse, an -evidence of coins as a deposit of law archives. The shield surrounded by -a crown, and bearing the arms of Great Britain quartered; but the arms of -Hanover _are omitted_. Although Victoria was next heir to William IV., -she was prevented by the Salic law from assuming the sceptre of Hanover. -On this coin, it may be remembered, are very beautifully presented the -rose, the thistle, and the shamrock. - -A recent addition has been made to the Mint Cabinet of a very fine -sovereign of the times of Oliver Cromwell, purchased at the coin sale of -May 14 and 15, 1885. - -Scotch moneys of any variety, are very much prized by collectors (see, in -Case XV., “Selections,” “Groat of Robert Bruce, 1602.”) A very rare coin -is the penny of Robert II. of Scotland, said to be the only specimen in -existence of that monarch’s reign. In the seventeenth century the coinage -of Scotland merged into that of England. - - -ENGLISH SILVER TOKENS, - -issued in England, Scotland, and Ireland. During the long suspension of -specie payments, occasioned by the wars with Napoleon, the minor currency -of England was supplied, not with small paper notes, but with silver -tokens, issued by banks and traders, and made redeemable in bank notes. -They were of reduced weight, to keep within the premium, and to prevent -hoarding. They continued to circulate until the return of better times -and of regular silver coinage. There were many varieties, most of which -are here. - - -PORTUGAL AND SPAIN. - -The coinage of Portugal and Spain in the fifteenth century, held greater -sway than that of other countries. Of their coins, there are many fine -specimens in the Mint Cabinet. The “joe and half-joe[12]” of Portugal are -known of all nations, while the Spanish dollar, with its pretentious two -globes under a crown, did not claim too much, and only tells the almost -limitless rule of the great Philip. The coins of these nations became, -through their possessions in the New World, the circulating medium of -that portion of the earth. Spanish and Mexican dollars were almost -synonymous, while the real and joe of South America was patterned after -that of Portugal, which fact can be learned in this Cabinet. As nations -decay it will be seen their coins become inevitably less trustworthy; -even a glance at the cases marked “Portugal,” “Spain,” will give this -lesson. In the Mexican collection there are issues which seem to -contradict this assertion, for the “Mexican dollar” has, for generations, -had a position in the monetary world of almost unchallenged credit, yet -not by reason of the recognition given Mexico, but because of the _United -States using it so extensively_; for, until the introduction of the -“trade dollar,” this country had _no currency_ that would meet the demand -of the Oriental market. - - -MEXICO. - -The Mexicans use only gold and silver, and their national series is full -of tragic interest, embracing, as it does, three and a half centuries -of Mexican history, from Cortez to Maximilian. The “pillar dollar,” -“windmill dollar,” “cast dollar” (the Mexicans are the only nation that -cast money), and the “cob money” (a series so called by reason of its -clumsiness), are all to be seen in this collection. - - -COINS OF BRAZIL. - -One coin, a gold “half-joe,” issued in 1832, with the infant head of Dom -Pedro, is very beautiful. By the side of this, in every way a contrast -to it, is a series of copper coins of a late issue with the head of the -“child” now seated on the throne. The coins of Bolivia proudly present -the bust of Simon Bolivar. Among the West Indies are many samples of “cut -money.” The law permitting money to be quartered had to be repealed, -because the traders of the West Indies made the wonderful mathematical -discovery that _five quarters_ make a whole! - - * * * * * - -Leaving both the eastern and the western world and their coins, there is -a single piece, of small commercial value, which is yet a light-house in -mid-ocean. This is the one cent of the Sandwich Islands, the only venture -of that kind made by the enterprising little kingdom. The inscription -is “Kamehameha III., one hundredth, Hawaii.” The name of the king being -interpreted signifies “the solitary one,” which is singularly well -adapted to the coin. - - -COLONIAL COINS. - -In 1684, the charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company was revoked, and -the governor recalled; one of the alleged grievances by the crown was -a colonial law concerning the Mint. The currency used by the colonies -was chiefly from England, Spain, and Portugal, but the supply was -limited from these sources, and the mother-country was jealous of any -infringement of her prerogative of coinage. There are various specimens -of the “pine-tree” money of Massachusetts in the Cabinet. Some doubt has -arisen as to the species of tree intended, but it is generally accepted -as the emblematic pine. This is claimed to be about the second colonial -issue, a kind of semi-official coin. The first was from the Bermudas.[13] -It is a shilling piece, stamped by one John Hall, silversmith, of the -city of Boston, 1652, who made a very good speculation of the privilege. -There has lately been added to the Cabinet a sixpence of this rare money. -The work on this species of coins is so exceedingly simple as to present -little save a planchet. On the obverse, a double ring around a pine-tree; -legend, “Massachusetts in;” and on the reverse, a double ring also, -containing the legend, “New England An Dom.[14]” - -Charles II., it appears, was easily deceived in regard to the -significance of the “pine-tree shilling.” Sir Thomas Temple, a friend -of the colonies, adroitly presented one of these obnoxious coins to the -irate monarch, explaining that the tree was the “royal oak” which had -saved his majesty’s life. Whereupon the king, laughing, denominated his -trans-Atlantic subjects “honest dogs,” and allowed the coinage to proceed. - -During the reign of George I. a new species of coin was issued from the -English Mint, denomination half penny, and it is asserted upon good -authority that this was the only issue ever authorized by the home -government for general circulation in the colonies. It was a coin of -mixed metal, resembling brass. The head of the king was on the obverse; -inscription, “Georgius Rex.” The reverse, a large double rose under a -crown; legend, “Rosa Americana.” Upon a scroll, “Utile Dulci.[15]” - -“Peltry,” we learn, was one of the principal articles of currency, and -was known as “pelt,” or Massachusetts currency, and was extensively used -in trading between Indians and whites, sometimes called “Beaver Money,” -“Corne, Wheate, Barley, and Rye;” and a still more quaint currency was -established, as will be found in an old Massachusetts court order, as -follows: “_It is likewise ordered that muskett balletts of a full boare -shall passe current for a farthing a peece, provided that noe man be -compelled to take above 12d. att a tyme of them._” - -In Maryland, not only cattle, tobacco, and other produce was accepted -as currency, but powder and shot were also included. Lord Baltimore, in -1660, sent over to Maryland the “Baltimore” shilling. In the colonial -case there is a series of these exceedingly rare coins. They were a -shilling, sixpence, groats, and are all of the same design, differing -only in denomination. They were coined in London, and compare favorably -with any minting of that age. The bust of Lord Baltimore on the obverse -is very well cut; his name “Cecil,” is the legend. On the reverse, the -coat of arms of Cecil, Lord Baltimore, is given; this device has been -re-adopted by the State of Maryland. The substitution of any legal tender -seems to be fraught with danger, and at best is jealously scanned by -the people; and there was trouble to put this coin into circulation. -The people, though demanding coin, did not yield their old currency of -“_wheat, corn, tobacco, powder, and shot_,” without a demonstration. -The Carolinas, Virginia, and New Hampshire all followed Maryland in the -introduction of a colonial coinage. - -In the interval of the Revolution, known as the Confederacy, the growth -of the spirit of independence in the people is plainly written on their -coins, especially upon their tokens or individual coins. We notice -one inscription attributed to Franklin, “_Mind your business_;” and -others, such as “_Good copper_,” “_Cut your way through_,” and like -characteristic expressions. The “New York Doubloon” was coined in 1787, -value sixteen dollars. This coin is highly esteemed by reason of its -rarity, and its market value to-day is about five hundred dollars, as -only three or four are known to be in existence. - -The Washington cent of 1791 (so-called) was not a coin of the United -States, but was struck at a private mint in Birmingham, England, -(Boulton’s), partly, no doubt, to bespeak the “job,” and partly to -_please Americans_ generally. - -It has been said that Washington objected to putting his head on the -coins, and it may be true; but it was also objected that no man’s head -should appear on the coin of a republic, which, whether good doctrine or -not, is still the prevailing idea. The “cent of 1791” is of two types, -one very rare and costly, with a small eagle. The other, with a large -eagle, is more common, and perhaps sells for about five dollars at a -public coin sale. - - -UNITED STATES COINS. - -The first copper coins made by the United States Mint were one cent and -one-half cent issues, of which there were four designs: 1st, the “chain -cent;” 2d, the “wreath cent;” 3d, the “flowing hair;” and 4th, the -“liberty cap,” which was used for a number of years. The “chain” device -was not acceptable to the sensitive American mind, and of consequence the -accidental breaking of the die was not a subject of regret, but “quite -the contrary.” The pattern sections of United States coins are very -beautiful and varied, especially those in gold. - - -THE TRADE DOLLAR. - -This coin bears on the obverse a female figure seated on bales of -merchandise, holding in her left hand a scroll on which is the word -“liberty.” At her back is a sheaf of wheat; this and the bales of goods -indicate the commercial character of the coin. Her right hand, extended, -offers the olive branch. On a scroll beneath the figure are the words “In -God we trust,” and the date below, “1873.” The reverse has a circling -inscription, “United States of America, Trade Dollar.” In the centre is -an eagle, in his claws three arrows and a sprig of olive. On a label -above are the words “E Pluribus Unum.” Below, “420 grains fine,” very -beautiful in design. - - -HISTORY OF THE TRADE DOLLAR. - -The coinage of the Trade Dollar was authorized by act of February 12, -1873, and was not intended for circulation in the United States, but for -export to China. - -It was designed to compete with the Spanish and Mexican dollar. That -empire, having no mint for the coinage of gold or silver, depended upon -foreign coin for its domestic circulation, and until the institution of -the Trade Dollar the principal shipments of coin to China were in the -form of Mexican dollars. - -The Trade Dollar was made a trifle more valuable than the American and -Mexican dollar, thus not only affording a market for the surplus silver -of the mines of the Pacific Coast, but furnishing merchants and importers -from China with silver in a convenient form for payment for commodities, -instead of their being obliged to purchase Mexican dollars for that -purpose. - -When its coinage was authorized it was inadvertently made a legal tender -to amount of five dollars, but this was repealed by section 2, Act of -July 22, 1876. - - -BRIEF HISTORY OF THE STANDARD SILVER DOLLAR. - -Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 416 grains, -standard silver; fineness, 892.4; equivalent to 371¼ grains of fine -silver, with 44¾ grains alloy of pure copper. - -Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 412½ grains, and fineness -changed to 900, preserving the same amount of pure silver = 371¼ grains, -with ⅒ alloy. - -Coinage discontinued, Act of February 12, 1873. - -Total amount coined, from 1792 to 1873, $8,045,838. - -Coinage revived, two million dollars per month required to be coined, -and issue made legal tender for all debts, public and private, Act of -February 28, 1878. - -Total amount coined, February 28, 1878, to November 1, 1884, $184,730,829. - - -PACIFIC COAST. - -The semi-official coins of the Pacific coast present quite a glittering -array of monetary enterprise, and signify the great wealth and daring -spirit of that part of the world. The fifty-dollar octagon gold piece, -issued in 1851, is a very beautiful coin. “Gold slugs” are novelties; -are oblong gold pieces, and are valued at sixteen dollars. The Utah -coins also attract attention. They are of gold, fine. The device is an -“all-seeing eye” and two clasped hands; reverse, “a bee-hive,” with -inscription, “Holiness to the Lord.” Some have for legend, “G. S. L. C. -P. G.,” which the initiated receive as “Great Salt Lake City, Pure Gold.” - -The series of the United States coins is complete, and can be readily -examined. The changes have been very gradual. The motto, “In God we -trust,” was introduced in 1866. - -There is one specimen which illustrates how a coin may become famous -without the least premonition, and also is a witness of the positive -law which protects and governs coinage. A law passed Congress in 1849 -ordering twenty-dollar gold pieces to be issued. One piece was struck. -Something intervened to delay the work, and the year closed; then, of -course, the dies had to be destroyed, as no more could be lawfully issued -of 1849. The coin just beside this, marked 1850, of same value, is not -worth the collector’s consideration, while “1849” cannot to be purchased. -It is marked “unique,” and is really the only one in gold. One specimen -exists in brass. - - -COINS OF THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY. - -It has been said and repeated as a historical fact that the Southern -Confederacy had no metallic currency. After a lapse of eighteen years -the following official document from the Confederate archives explains -itself, and substantiates the fact that silver to a limited extent was -coined at the New Orleans Mint by order of the Confederate Government, in -the early days of the rebellion, and only suspended operations on account -of the difficulty in obtaining bullion for coinage. - - WAR DEPARTMENT, - ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE, - WASHINGTON, _March 27, 1879_. - - DR. B. F. TAYLOR, _New Orleans, La._ - - DEAR SIR:—The enclosed circular will explain to you the nature - of the duties upon which I am now engaged; I would like to have - from you, from file with confederate archives, a letter stating - when you were appointed Chief Coiner of the Confederate States - Mint, instructions received copies of the originals of any - official papers, sketches, descriptions, etc., of all the coins - made, etc. This will make a valuable addition to Confederate - history, and I know no one but you can give it. - - Very truly yours, - - MARCUS J. WRIGHT. - - NEW ORLEANS, LA., _April 7, 1879_. - - TO HON. MARCUS J. WRIGHT. - - DEAR SIR:—Your favor requesting a statement of the history of - the New Orleans Mint, in reference to the coinage under the - Confederate Government, is received. That institution was - turned over by the State of Louisiana, the last of February, - 1861, to the Confederate States of America, the old officers - being retained and confirmed by the government, viz.: Wm. A. - Elmore, Superintendent; A. J. Guyrot, Treasurer; M. F. Bonzano, - M. D., Melter and Refiner; and Howard Millspaugh, Assayer. - In the month of April, orders were issued by Mr. Memminger, - Secretary of the Treasury, to the effect that designs for - half-dollars should be submitted to him for approval. Among - several sent, the one approved bore on the obverse of the coin - a representation of the Goddess of Liberty, surrounded by - thirteen stars, denoting the thirteen States from whence the - Confederacy sprung, and on the lower rim the figures, 1861. On - the reverse there is a shield with seven stars, representing - the seceding States; above the shield is a liberty-cap, - and entwined around it stalks of sugar cane and cotton, - “Confederate States of America.” The dies were engraved by A. - H. M. Peterson, Engraver and Die Sinker, who is now living in - Commercial Place. They were prepared for the coining press - by Conrad Schmidt, foreman of the coining room (who is still - living), from which _four pieces only_ were struck. About this - period an order came from the secretary suspending operations - on account of the difficulty of obtaining bullion, and the Mint - was closed April 30, 1861. - - Of the four pieces mentioned, one was sent to the Government, - one presented to Prof. Biddle, of the University of Louisiana, - one sent to Dr. E. Ames of New Orleans, the remaining one being - retained by myself. Upon diligent inquiry I am unable to find - but one piece besides my own, that being in the possession of a - Confederate officer of this city, who transmitted it to his son - as a souvenir of his father’s in the Confederate cause. - - So soon as copies are made I will take pleasure in sending you - a specimen for the archives you represent. - - Very respectfully, your obedient servant, - - B. F. TAYLOR, M. D. - _Formerly Chief Coiner C. S. A._ - -The most notable and valuable silver coin is the dollar of 1804. It is -said that the scarcity of this dollar was owing to the sinking of a -China-bound vessel having on board almost the entire mintage of the 1804 -dollars in lieu of the Spanish milled dollars. It is believed that there -are not more than seven, possibly eight, genuine 1804 dollars extant. The -rarity of the piece and the almost fabulous prices offered for it are -patent facts. - - -SKETCH OF THE 1804 DOLLAR.[16] - -This coin among collectors is known as the “king of American rarities.” -But seven or eight pieces are known to exist. The 1804 dollars are of -two classes, to wit: first, originals, which are from but one obverse -and one reverse die,—draped bust of Liberty facing right; the head bound -with a fillet; hair flowing; 6 stars before and 7 behind the bust above -LIBERTY, upper right hand star almost touching letter y; reverse heraldic -eagle bearing on his breast a broad shield, in his beak a scroll, -inscribed E PLURIBUS UNUM; 12 arrows in right talon, a branch of olive -in left; above, an arc of clouds from wing to wing of eagle; in field -beneath 13 stars; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; edge lettered ONE HUNDRED -CENTS, ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT, which are lightly struck in some parts. The -first specimen in the Mint Cabinet weighs 415.2 grs.; second, Mr. M. A. -Stickney procured from the Mint in 1843 in exchange for other coins; -third, W. S. Appleton bought, at an advance of $750, in 1868, from E. -Cogan, who purchased it from W. A. Lilliendahl, who bought it at a sale -of collection of J. J. Mickley, 1867, for $750; fourth, L. G. Parmelee -bought, at sale of E. H. Sandford’s collection, 1874, for $700, who -obtained it in 1868 from an aged lady, who got it at the Mint many years -before; fifth, W. B. Wetmore bought of Mr. Parmelee, 1868, for $600, -from sale of H. S. Adams’ collection, 1876, at $500, from sale of M. J. -Cohen’s collection, 1875, at $325 (in fair condition); sixth, present -owner unknown to us, formerly in possession of collection of Mr. Robert -C. Davis, of Philadelphia, and recently sold for $1200; seventh, S. H. -and H. Chapman purchased October, 1884, at a sale in Berlin, and resold -to a Mr. Scott, a dealer in coins, for $1000 at their Philadelphia sale, -in May, 1885. - -_Restrikes._ There were struck at the Mint in 1858 restrikes with plain -edges, of which three were recovered after diligent search; two of these -were destroyed in the Mint, and the other placed in the Cabinet, where it -remains. The difference between these and the originals are as follows: -obverse, the original die was re-cut in the word LIBERTY, the stars and -date, which made them larger and deeper, especially noticeable in the -stars, which are broadened; also in the date, it making the outline sharp -and square, whereas in the originals they are somewhat rounded; reverse, -not having the original die, they used another, which differs in many -respects, most easily noticeable in that the A touches the eagle’s claw, -the OF much nearer of the end of eagle’s wing than S in States (in the -original it is equally spaced); edge, plain; weight, 381.5 grains. One -specimen is in the Mint and another in England,—struck between 1860 and -1869, as in the latter year all dies remaining were destroyed, same as -the above, but endeavors were made to letter the edges in the absence of -a complete collar by using pieces of collars which did not contain all -the letters, but repeated some of them several times. There was one of -these pieces sold in the Berg collection in 1883 for $740, and showed all -the peculiarities mentioned, and its weight was said to be inaccurate. -The dies were destroyed in the winter of 1868-69. No counterfeit dies of -the 1804 dollar were ever made. After the close of each year all dies are -now destroyed. - - -DOUBLE EAGLE. - -Among the rare coins in the Cabinet at the Mint is a Double Eagle. The -dies for this piece were made in 1849, and only one was struck. “UNIQUE” -and beyond price. There is also a Quarter Eagle of 1842, and the only one -known extant at the Mint. - - - - -SELECTIONS. - - -Having referred many times to this case, it may be as well to append the -entire list of its contents, as they, almost without exception, are rare, -spanning the world from remotest antiquity to the present day, beginning -with the gold Daric of Darius, and ending with the twenty-mark piece of -Kaiser William. - - -GREECE. - -1. Four drachma, Athens, B. C. 500; 2. Oboloi of Athens; 3. One-half -obolos, 1⅓ of a cent; 4. Daric, Darius, of Persia, B. C. 520, value, five -dollars and fifty cents; 5. Silver Daric; 6. Brass Ob. Berenice, B. C. -284; 7. Ptolemy and Berenice, copy; 8. Maneh of Ptolemy Philadelphus, -B. C. 284, value, $17.70; 9. Drachma, Cyrene, B. C. 322; 10. Coin of -Syracuse, copy, about B. C. 300; 11. Silver coin, Bactria, B. C. 126; 12. -Brass of Bactria, B. C. 180; 13. Cleopatra, B. C. 30; 13_a_. Denarius of -Cleopatra and Mark Antony; 14. Alexander the Great, B. C. 36; 15. Philip, -B. C. 323; 16. Stater of Seleucus; 17. Alexander Balas, B. C. 150; 18. -Antiochus VI; 19. Philip, King of Syria, B. C. 93. - - -ROME. - -20. Roman aes, B. C. 500; 21. Denarius of Augustus, B. C. 31; 22. -Tiberius, A. D. 14; 23. Simon, Bar Cochab, false Christ, A. D. 133; 24. -Vespasian, A. D. 49; 25. Gold bezants, A. D. 610; 26. Justinian, A. D. -527; 26_a_. Kingdom of Cyprus and Jerusalem, Peter 1, 1361 to 1372, -testoon, Kingdom of Jerusalem; 26_b_. Amaury II., 1194 to 1205. - - -ENGLISH. - -27. Gold of Britain; 28. Carausius, Roman Emperor of Britain, A. D. -287; 29. Penny of Ethelbert, King of Kent, 858 A. D.; 30. Harold the -Dane, A. D. 1036; 31. William the Conqueror, 1066, A. D.; 32. Edward the -Confessor, A. D. 1041; 33. Robert the Bruce, A. D. 1306; 34. Elizabeth, -Double Ryal, A. D. 1558; 35. James I, 1603, Ryal (30 shillings) and -sovereign; 36. Charles I, sovereign; 37. Siege pound of Charles I, 1642; -37_a_. Gold sovereign of Oliver Cromwell; 38. Crown, and half crown and -shilling, Oliver Cromwell, 1658; 38_a_. Farthing, Queen Anne; 39. George -IV; 40. Coins of Australia. - - -FRANCE. - -41. Deniers of Charlemagne, 806; 42. Medalet, Marie Antoinette; 43. Five -francs, Napoleon I; 44. Gold, Napoleon I, 1851; 45. Five francs, Paris -Commune. - - -GERMANY. - -46. Bracteats; 47. German Crown, Ob. St. Stephen; 48. Ducat, Ob. Luther -and Melanchthon, 1730; 49. Crown, Maximilian, A. D. 1615; 50. Ducat, -Nuremburg; 51. Ducat Hamburg; 52. Monument, Bavaria; 53. King’s family, -Bavaria; 54. Coins of Prussia; 55. Silver piece, Frederick William and -Augusta. - - -SPAIN. - -56. Ferdinand and Isabella; 57. Charles II., Spain; 58. Alphonso, Spain. - - -ITALY. - -59. Silver of Venice under the Doges, twelfth century; 60. Ducat of -Venice; 61. Copper of San Marino; 62. Silver piece of Lombardy; 63. Gold -twenty lira piece; 64. Swiss crown, ob. St. Vincent; 65. African shell -money; 66. African ring money. - - -ORIENTAL. - -67. Siamese coins; 68. Chinese tael; 69. Widow’s mite; 70. Jewish shekel; -70_a_. Herod the Great, 37 B C.; 70_b_. Herod Archelaus, 4 B. C.; 71. -Glass coin, Egypt; 72. Gold of Alnaser, A. D. 1222; 73. Dirhem of Mahomet -V., A. D. 854; 74. Dirhem of Walid, Caliph of Damascus, A. D. 713; 75. -Haroun Alraschid, Koran text, 806; 76. Fire Worshippers, A. D. 300; 77. -Gold of Japan, 1634; 78. Gravel stone of Burmah; 79. Late coin of Turkey; -80. Mexican dollar used in China; 81. Coin of Cochin China. - -The most notable coin in this case, and perhaps the most celebrated coin -in the world, is the “Widow’s Mite.” Its name bespeaks its commercial -insignificance. Yet visitors every day, upon entering the Cabinet of the -Mint, ask first to see the “Widow’s Mite.” - -The following letter from Wm. E. Du Bois, will be found of interest to -the reader. - - -THE WIDOW’S MITE. - - SIR: The curators of the mint cabinet do not consent to the - intimation in a statement recently made that their widow’s mite - is not the real coin. - - The expression of a doubt as to any received fact is thought - to be a sign of superior insight. Hence we have so much - “destructive criticism,” a good deal of it being fatal to the - critic himself. - - The widow’s mite in our showcase of specialties, always - attracting much attention, is precisely what the Scriptures - speak of—a _lepton_, the smallest of Greek and Syriac coins. - The name comes from _leptos_, very small. The word “mite” is - English, and was formerly a weight representing the twentieth - part of a grain, but has long fallen into disuse. It was - employed in the translation of the New Testament to represent - the word _lepton_, simply because it was so very small. - - It is pretty certain that there was no Jewish or Hebrew coin - so small as the _lepton_; that people depended very much upon - outside coins for their circulation. Even their money terms - had changed to those of the Syrian-Greek Empire and of Rome, - as we see from all the instances in the New Testament. What - few copper or bronze pieces they had, struck by local princes - for a limited time, and now very rare, were large enough to - bear a show of devices and inscriptions, for which the _lepton_ - was too minute. The one in our cabinet has a diameter of only - three-tenths of an inch, and weighs but ten grains. On one side - nothing is discernible, on the other a mint monogram, such as - were common in that era, occupies the space. It is much like - the letter x, with a line crossing it near the top. Whether it - is Samaritan, or Syriac, or Greek, we cannot be sure; nor is - it of any consequence. It is enough to show that it is a coin, - and belongs to the age shortly before and after the advent of - Christ, and its size proves it to be a _lepton_. - - It is an interesting and confirmatory fact, that this piece - was found among the rubbish of the Temple grounds, by Dr. - Barclay, long resident in Jerusalem, and author of “The City of - the Great King.” By him it was presented to the mint cabinet. - The objector may soberly doubt whether this was one of the - identical mites offered by the widow; for the rest of his - doubts they are of no value. - - We are often asked how much this famous offering amounted to? - There is some obscurity and confusion about their coin-tables, - and, therefore, some variety in the estimation. We may say, - however, that the current value of the _lepton_, or mite, was - about one-fifth of a cent in our money; being eighty to the - drachma or denarius, which was 16 or 15 cents. - - But as the purchasing or paying power of a drachma was probably - as great in that day and country as a dollar is in ours, we - may say that the value of a lepton, judged by our ideas, was - about one cent. As the treasurer would not take a less gift - than two _lepta_, it follows that the poor but very liberal - woman contributed fully two cents, which is more than some - persons—neither poor nor in widowhood—throw into the church - basket. - - It is worth while to add that a visitor at the mint saw a - similar piece in Jerusalem, and tried to obtain one, but on - account of its rarity did not succeed. - - W. E. D. - - -DONATIONS OF OLD COINS. - -_Extract from the American Journal of Numismatics, April, 1884._ - - Under the head of donations, we have from Quartermaster General - Meigs, a half-dollar and pistareen of Carolus and Johana of - Spain. These pieces were presented to General Meigs at Corpus - Christi, Texas, in 1870. The special interest attached to them, - is their having been found on the beach of Padre Island, off - the southerly coast of Texas. The supposition is that they were - washed up from a sunken treasure ship wrecked on the coast, - while carrying funds to the Army of Cortez, who entered the - City of Mexico in 1519. Their good condition may warrant our - accepting this briny romance _Cum grano salis_. Antiquarian - stories must expect to stand the test of the chemist, as - well as of the historian. This reminds me, however, of some - specimens of the Mint Cabinet, from the wreck of the San Pedro, - some account of which may not be uninteresting here.[17] “Early - in 1815, a naval armament was fitted out in Spain, by Ferdinand - VII., for the purpose of reducing the Rebellious Colonies in - South America. The military force of this expedition amounted - to ten thousand men, of whom two thousand were on board the - flag ship “San Pedro.” The vessel was also freighted to a large - amount with gunpowder, cannon balls and specie.” - - The account then goes on to state that the fleet touched at the - Island of Marguerita near the coast of Venezuela. After leaving - the island, the vessel took fire, burnt four hours until the - magazine caught and exploded, and the wreck went down with four - hundred men. The right of working the wreck, was granted about - thirty years after, to a Baltimore Company, known as the “San - Pedro Company.” Divers were set to work, and the wreck found in - sixty feet of water on a hard bed of coral. Over this there was - a deposit of mud, and again over this a layer of coral, which - had to be pierced to arrive at the treasure. - - The Spanish dollars recovered were sent to Philadelphia, and - (up to September, 1848) about seventy-five thousand dollars had - been recovered and re-coined. The dollars were much corroded - and encrusted, the coating having first to be removed, to - bring the pieces into fit condition for minting; the loss from - corrosion was considerable; one dollar with the impression - still visible, being reduced to thirty-four cents in value. In - the light of these and other facts, it is difficult to conceive - how the pieces found in Texas, could have come so clean from - their reputed berth, of over three hundred years, but they are - worth keeping for all that, and General Meigs has the thanks of - the Republic for them. - - - - -COLONIAL COINAGES. - -[Illustration: PLATE I. - -NOVA CONSTELLATIO “QUINT.” 1783. - -NOVA CONSTELLATIO “MARK.” 1783. - -NOVA CONSTELLATIO, IMMUNE COLUMBIA. - -SOMMER ISLAND SHILLING. “HOGGIE.” - -NEW JERSEY IMMUNIS. - -CONFEDERATIO INIMICA, ETC. - -See description.] - -[Illustration: PLATE II. - -CONNECTICUT CENT, 1787. - -NEW ENGLAND ELEPHANT TOKEN. VERY RARE. 1694. - -GOOD SAMARITAN SHILLING, MASS. - -MASSACHUSETTS HALF CENT. 1787. - -MASSACHUSETTS CENT. - -NEW YORK. - -See description.] - - -NOVA CONSTELLATIO. - -Obverse: An eye, the center of a glory, thirteen points cross, -equidistant; a circle of as many stars. Legend: “NOVA CONSTELLATIO.” - -Reverse: “U. S. 500” inscribed in two lines, a wreath surrounding. -Legend: “LIBERTAS JUSTITIA 1783.” Border, beaded; edge, leaf work. Known -as the “Quint.” - -No. 2.—Obverse: An eye, around which a narrow, plain, circular field; -outside a glory, thirteen points cross, equidistant; a circle of as many -stars. Legend: “NOVA CONSTELLATIO.” - -Reverse: “U. S. 1000” inscribed in two lines, a wreath surrounding. -Legend: “LIBERTAS JUSTITIA 1783.” Border, a wreath of leaves; edge, leaf -work; silver; size, 21; weight, 270 grains. Known as the “Mark.” - - -THE IMMUNE COLUMBIA. - -Obverse: An eye, on a small, plain, circular field; from the outside -of the field radiates a glory of thirteen blunt points, crossing, -equidistant, the spaces between as many stars in a circular -constellation. Legend: “NOVA CONSTELLATIO.” Border, serrated. - -Reverse: The Goddess of Liberty, seated upon a paneled cubic pedestal, -facing right; her left hand is well extended and balances the scales of -justice. A short liberty staff, crowned with a cap and bearing a flag, -rests against her right shoulder, and is supported by the right hand. -Legend: “IMMUNE COLUMBIA.” Exergue: the date 1785. Border, serrated; -edge, plain or milled; size, 17; weight, gold, 128.8 grains; silver, 92 -grains; copper 148 grains. - - -BERMUDA SHILLING—(“HOGGE-PENNY”). - -Obverse: Device—A hog, standing, facing left, above which are displayed -the Roman numerals “XII.,” the whole surrounded by a beaded circle. -Legend: “SOMMER ISLANDS” around which is a beaded circle like that -enclosing the device. - -Reverse: Device—A full-rigged ship under sail to the left, a flag flying -from each of her four masts—enclosed in a beaded circle, the beads larger -than on the obverse. Copper; size, 19; weight, 177 grains. - - -NEW JERSEY IMMUNIS. - -Obverse: Goddess of Liberty, seated upon a globe, facing right; in her -extended left hand the scales of justice; right hand staff of liberty -bearing a flag and crowned with a cap. Legend: “IMMUNIS COLUMBIA.” -Exergue: “1786.” Border, serrated; edge, plain; size, 18; weight, 160 -grains. - -Reverse: A shield argent, six pales gules, a chief azure. Legend: “E -PLURIBUS UNUM.” Border, serrated; edge, plain; size, 18; weight, 160 -grains. - - -CONFEDERATIO AND INIMICA TYRANNIS. - -Obverse: A circular central field, size 6, covered with a cluster of -thirteen small stars; around this device a glory of fine rays, presenting -a corrugated outline of sixteen points. Legend: “CONFEDERATIO 1785.” -Border, serrated. - -Reverse: An Indian, standing beside an altar or pedestal, his right foot -upon a crown, an arrow in his right hand, a bow in his left; at his back -a quiver full of arrows. Legend: “INIMICA TYRANNIS AMERICA.” Border, -serrated; edge, plain; size, 18; weight, 112 grains. - - -CONNECTICUT CENT, 1788. - -Obverse: Identical with one of 1787. - -Reverse: The same as one of the coins of Vermont. Another Connecticut -coin of this year, has the same reverse as the “GEORGIVS III REX” issue -of Machin & Co., from the mint established by them in the State of New -York. - -NOTE.—The obverse and reverse dies of the Connecticut cents are too -numerous to mention, there being no less than one hundred and sixty-four -of the first, and eighty-four of the latter. - - -NEW ENGLAND TOKEN. - -Obverse: Same as that of the common type of the Carolina Token of 1694, -and from the same die as that and the “London Halfpenny.” - -Reverse: An inscription, in five lines, occupying the whole field, “GOD -PRESERVE NEW ENGLAND 1694.” Borders, milled; edge, plain; copper; size, -18½; weight, 133 and 236 grains. - - -GOOD SAMARITAN SHILLINGS. - -The same general type and variety as the Pine Tree Shilling, but bearing -upon the obverse a well-executed device, illustrating the parable of -the Good Samaritan; but two or three specimens of this coin have been -known, two of which are in existence and of unique varieties; they are -supposed to have been pattern pieces, struck at the origin of the Mint of -Massachusetts Colony. - -[Illustration: PLATE III. - -LARGE PATTERN CENT. NOT ISSUED. - -BAR CENT. VERY RARE. - -FUGIO. “MIND YOUR BUSINESS.” FIRST. - -INIMICA TYRANNIS AMERICANA. - -FUGIO. “MIND YOUR BUSINESS.” SECOND. - -See description.] - -[Illustration: PLATE IV. - -HALF CENT. 1836. - -CONFEDERATE C. S. A. HALF DOLLAR. - -HALF CENT. 1840. - -HALF CENT. 1845. - -“JEFFERSON HEAD” CENT. - -HALF CENT. 1846. - -See description.] - - -MASSACHUSETTS HALF CENT, 1787. - -Obverse: Same general description as the Cent of 1787. - -Reverse: Same in general as the Cent of 1787, except that the shield upon -some specimens, bears only “HALF CENT.” Borders, milled; edge plain; -size, 15 to 15½; weight, 75 to 83 grains. - -The “Cent,” 1788. Twelve Types. Thirteen Varieties. - - -MASSACHUSETTS CENT, 1788. - -Obverse: A clothed Indian, standing, facing left, in his right hand a -bow, in his left an arrow. Legend: “COMMONWEALTH.” - -Reverse: A spread eagle, a broad shield upon his breast, six pales gules -(upright), a chief azure (open or plain). Upon the chief, or upper part -of the shield, the word “CENT,” in bold Roman lettering. In exergue, -beneath a heavy horizontal bar, the date 1787. Borders, milled; edge, -plain; size, 16½ to 19; weight, 146 to 165 grains. - - -FUGIOS OR FRANKLIN CENTS. - -The Fugios or Franklin Cents are the earliest coins issued by authority -of the United States. They being all dated 1787, and made in conformity -with resolution of Congress, dated July 6, 1787: - -“_Resolved_, That the Board of Treasury direct the contractor for the -copper coinage to stamp on one side of each piece the following devices, -viz.: Thirteen circles linked together, a small circle in the middle, -with the words ‘UNITED STATES’ round it, and in the centre the words, ‘WE -ARE ONE’; on the other side of the same piece the following device, viz.: -a dial with the hours expressed on the face of it; a meridian sun above, -on one side of which is to be the word ‘FUGIO,’ and on the other the year -in figures ‘1787’; below the dial the words ‘MIND YOUR BUSINESS.’” - - -THE BAR CENT, OR U S A COPPER. - -This coin, presumed to have belonged to the same issue as the Nova -Constellatio Coppers, was probably made in Birmingham, England, by -Thomas Wyon, for circulation in America. The “U S A” Copper was first -passed as money in the City of New York, in November, 1785. The device -was taken from an old Continental button, to which fact and the light -weight of the piece, has been attributed the disfavor shown the coinage -and the limited circulation given the same. - -Obverse: Large Roman “U S A” in a monogram, on a plain field. - -Reverse: Thirteen horizontal bars. Border, serrated; Edge, plain; size, -15½; weight, 85 grains. Two pairs of dies. - - -MARYLAND PENNY. - -The Maryland Penny. One Type. One Variety. Unique. - -Obverse: Similar to that of the sixpence. - -Reverse: A Ducal Coronet, upon which are erected two masts, each bearing -a flying pennant. Legend: “DENARIVM TERRE-MARIÆ.” Copper; size, 13. - -The only specimen of this piece extant was imported into America from -England, at a cost of £75, and was sold for $370 with the collection of -J. J. Mickley, Esq., of Philadelphia. - - -ROSA AMERICANA HALF-PENNY, 1722. - -Obverse: Laureated head of King George I, facing right. Legend: “GEORGIUS -DEI GRATIA REX.” - -Reverse: A full double rose; from this project five barbed points. -Legend: “ROSA AMERICANA UTILE DULCI 1722” which encircles the piece. -Border, beaded; edge, plain; “Bath Metal;” size, 16 to 18; weight, 139 -grains. - -Devices: Same as those of the Penny of this coinage. Legends: Same import -as those upon the Penny, but varied by abbreviations and in punctuation. -Border, beaded; edge, plain; “Bath Metal;” size, 13 to 14; weight, 75 -grains. - - -LIBER NATUS LIBERTATEM DEFENDO—_First_. - -Reverse: Arms of the State of New York. Upon an oval shield at the center -is shown the sun rising from behind a range of hills, the sea in the -foreground; left of the shield, Justice, with sword and scales; right, -Liberty, with staff and cap. Upon a hemisphere, above the shield, stands -an eagle, wings outspread, facing right. Exergue: 1787; beneath this, -next the border, “EXCELSIOR.” Border, serrated; edge, plain; size, 17; -weight, 157 grains. - -[Illustration: PLATE V. - -MARYLAND PENNY. - -HALF CENT. 1847. - -ROSA AMERICANA HALF PENNY. 1722. - -LIBER NATUS LIBERNATUM DEFENDO. FIRST. - -GRANBY OR HIGLEY TOKEN. 1737. - -LIBER NATUS LIBERNATUM DEFENDO. SECOND. - -See description.] - -[Illustration: PLATE VI. - -WASHINGTON CENT. 1783. - -WASHINGTON LIVERPOOL HALF PENNY. 1793. - -“NAKED BUST.” WASHINGTON CENT. 1792. - -NON DEPENDENS STATUS. - -HALF CENT. 1842. - -PATTERN CENT. 1792. - -See description.] - - -LIBER NATUS LIBERTATEM DEFENDO.—_Second._ - -Obverse: An Indian, standing, crowned with feathers, and facing left; in -his right hand he wields a tomahawk, his left supports a bow, the end of -which rests on the ground near his feet; over his right shoulder appears -the top of a quiver of arrows, which is borne upon his back. Legend: -“LIBER NATUS LIBERATEM DEFENDO.” - -Reverse: A hemisphere of the globe, marked by longitudinal and meridianal -lines; upon this stands a large heavy-bodied eagle, wings spread, -somewhat drooping, beak toward the right. Legend: “NEO-EBORACUS 1787 -EXCELSIOR.” Border, serrated; edge, plain; size, 17; weight, 153 grains. - - -GRANBY OR HIGLEY TOKEN, 1737. - -Obverse: A deer, standing, facing left, occupying the whole field. -Legend: “VALVE ME AS YOU PLEASE.” Exergue: The Roman numerals III upon a -small scroll; a little crescent is shown below. - -Reverse: Three hammers, each bearing a crown upon the head. Legend: “I AM -GOOD COPPER 1737.” - - -WASHINGTON CENT, 1783. - -Obverse: Large laureated bust of Washington, draped, facing left. Legend: -“WASHINGTON & INDEPENDENCE 1783.” - -Reverse: A figure of a female, facing left, seated upon a rock; right -hand holds an olive branch; left, staff of liberty, with cap. Legend: -“UNITED STATES.” Exergue: T. W. I. E. S. Border, beaded; edge, plain; -size, 17½; weight, 120 grains. Two obverse and three reverse dies. - - -WASHINGTON LIVERPOOL HALF-PENNY. - -Obverse: Bust of Washington, in uniform, facing left, hair in a queue. -Legend: “WASHINGTON PRESIDENT.” - -Reverse: A ship, under sail, to the right: Legend: “HALFPENNY” under the -ship, waves, and in the foreground, on a panel, the date 1793. Border, -milled; edge, lettered: “PAYABLE IN ANGLESEY LONDON OR LIVERPOOL.” Size, -19; weight, 163 grains. - - -WASHINGTON NAKED BUST CENT, 1792. - -Obverse: A classical bust of Washington, undraped, facing right; the head -is encircled by a fillet, confining the hair, which is cut short and is -curly; the fillet is tied at the back of the head by a bow knot with long -pendent ends. Legend: “WASHINGTON PRESIDENT 1792.” - -Reverse: A small eagle, displayed, wings upraised; on his breast a shield -argent, six pales gules; right talon, an olive branch, fourteen leaves, -six berries; left talon, thirteen arrows; about the head of the eagle are -six mullets, and above is the word “CENT.” Border, milled; edge, plain, -or inscribed: “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Size, 19; weight, 198 grains. -Some six or eight specimens only are known. - - -NON DEPENDENS STATUS. - -Obverse: A full bust, facing right; flowing hair to the shoulders. Upon -the drapery of the bust a small oval shield as an epaulet, emblazoned -with a staff bearing a flag; across the staff, saltierwise, rests a naked -sword. In each angle of this device is displayed a fleur de lis. Upon the -breast of the bust is a head with spreading wings. Legend: “NON-DEPENDENS -STATUS.” - -Reverse: An Indian, seated upon a globe, facing left; nude, except a cap -or bandeau upon his head, and a feather tunic around the lower part of -the body. In his extended right hand he holds a bunch of tobacco; the -left reaches behind him and rests upon a shield, bearing the same emblems -displayed upon the epaulets upon the bust on the obverse. Legend: “AMER -ICA,” divided by the figure of the Indian. Exergue: 1778. Border, plain; -edge plain; size, 19. - -Some coin dealers advertise the Non Dependens Status as “a rare copper, -worth $100.” - - -PATTERN CENT, 1792. - -Obverse: A bust of Liberty, facing to right, the hair confined by a -fillet. Above is inscribed the word “LIBERTY,” and beneath the date -“1792.” - -Reverse: A portion of a globe, on which stands an eagle, with raised -wings. Legend: “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” This cent has a grained edge, -like the cents of 1793. Some numismatists give it the preference as the -first cent. - - -GEORGE CLINTON COPPER, 1787. - -The George Clinton Copper has the bust of Governor Clinton facing right, -with legend “GEORGE CLINTON.” - -Reverse: The State arms of New York, and in the exergue, “1787 -EXCELSIOR.” This last reverse is found also combined with the Liber -Natus, which has an Indian standing, facing left, with tomahawk in the -right hand and bow in the left, a bundle of arrows also at his back. -Legend: “LIBER NATUS LIBERTATEM DEFENDO.” This latter obverse is also -found combined with another reverse, as follows: An eagle stands upon a -section of the globe. Legend: “NEO EBORACUS 1787 EXCELSIOR.” - -[Illustration: PLATE VII. - -GEORGE CLINTON COPPER. 1787. - -KENTUCKY TOKEN. - -IMMUNIS COLUMBIA. 1787. - -MASSACHUSETTS PINE TREE SHILLING. 1652. - -CHAIN CENT. 1793. - -MYDDELTON TOKEN. - -See description.] - -[Illustration: PLATE VIII. - -GREEK EGYPTIAN COIN. PTOLEMÆUS SOTER. 285-300 B. C. - -ROMAN COIN. FAUSTINA, DAUGHTER OF ANTONINUS PIUS, WIFE OF MARCUS -AURELIUS. DIED, 175 A. D. - -MACEDONIAN SILVER COIN. ALEXANDER THE GREAT. 300 YEARS B. C. - -SILVER SHEKEL OF JUDEA. SIMON MACCABEES. 145 B. C. - -PERSIAN SILVER COIN. VOLOGESES III. 148-190 A. D. - -JUDEAN COPPER COIN. SIMON MACCABEES. 145 B. C. - -See description.] - - -KENTUCKY TOKEN OR CENT - -Has a hand holding a scroll inscribed “Our Cause is Just.” Legend: -“UNANIMITY IS THE STRENGTH OF SOCIETY.” Reverse: A radiant pyramid, -triangular in shape, of fifteen stars united by rings, each star having -placed in it the initial of a State, Kentucky being at the top. Legend: -“E PLURIBUS UNUM.” - - -SHEKEL (SIMON MACCABEES). - -The Shekel was originally a weight. The first form in which money -was used by the Jews, and by all other nations of which we have any -knowledge, was the pieces without any regular shape or any marks or -devices upon them. Precious metals passed by weight. Thus it is said of -the purchase made by Abraham of the cave and field of Machpelah, “And -Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, -which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred -shekels of silver, current with the merchant.” Gen. xxiii. 16. - -The weight of a shekel was a little less than one-half an ounce troy. -The term “current with the merchant,” probably refers to the purity of -the silver, which was about ninety-five per cent. fine, and the value in -our money was fifty-eight cents. It first appeared as a coin in the time -of the Maccabees, who lived about 140 B. C. The amount of silver in the -coin is the same as was contained in the piece of silver denominated a -shekel. It will be seen that on one side is the golden cup that had manna -(see Exod. xvi. 33, and Heb. ix. 4), with the inscription in old Hebrew -character, “SHEKEL OF ISRAEL;” on the other side appears Aaron’s rod that -budded with the legend in the same character, “JERUSALEM THE HOLY.” This -specimen is in the Mint cabinet; one of the most rare and interesting -coins in the collection. - - -IMMUNIS COLUMBIA, 1787. - -Obverse: The Goddess of Liberty, seated upon a globe, facing right; in -her fully extended left hand she balances the scales of justice; the -right hand supports a liberty staff, bearing a flag and crowned with a -cap. Legend: “IMMUNIS COLUMBIA.” Exergue: 1787. - -Reverse: An eagle, displayed; right talon, an olive branch, thirteen -leaves; left talon, thirteen arrows. Legend: “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Borders, -serrated; edge, plain; size, 16½; weight, 135 grains. - - -MASSACHUSETTS PINE TREE SHILLING. - -“John Hull and Robert Saunderson were equal officers in the ‘gainful -business’ of the Mint. How much they coined in all for the colony, or -the exact amount of their profits under the contract they carried out, -cannot be determined.” The coinage was certainly large in amount, and -they, as was well understood, became men of wealth and substance. When -the daughter of John Hull was married to Judge Samuel Sewall, the founder -of the town of Newbury, Mass., the prosperous mint-master gave the bride -a dowery of her weight in silver. At the conclusion of the wedding -ceremony, a large steel-yard was brought into the room, and the blushing -bride placed upon one of the platforms of the same, while into a tub upon -the other side were poured the Pine Tree Shillings, until the steel-yard -balanced. - - -CHAIN CENTS. - -These have a bust with flowing hair, looking right, with the date below -and word “LIBERTY” above it; on the reverse side, in the centre, is “ONE -CENT,” with “⅟₁₀₀” below it, enclosed in an endless chain of fifteen -links, typifying the number of States then in the Union. The legend is -“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” in all excepting one die, which reads “UNITED -STATES OF AMERI,” the engraver evidently not having room to complete the -word. - - -THE MYDDELTON TOKENS. - -Obverse: A figure, representing Hope, beside an anchor; she presents two -children to a female, the last extending her right hand in reception of -the charge; the left hand supports a liberty staff, which is crowned with -a cap; in front of the figure with the staff is an olive branch and a -wreath, to the rear a cornucopia. Legend: “BRITISH SETTLEMENT KENTUCKY.” - -Reverse: Britannia, seated disconsolate amid the down-cast emblems of her -power, and facing left; her head is bowed; she holds in her right hand -an inverted spear, the head of which penetrates the ground; at her right -side a bundle of fasces or lictors’ rods have fallen near the cap of -Liberty; upon the ground, before the figure, are the scales of justice, -upon which Britannia has set her left foot and the sword of justice, -with broken blade; the left arm of the figure rests upon a large shield, -bearing the cross of the British ensigns. Legend: “PAYABLE BY P. P. P. -MYDDELTON.” - -[Illustration: PLATE IX. - -HALF CENT. 1802. - -WREATH CENT. 1793. - -HALF CENT. 1794. - -WASHINGTON MEDAL. 1789. - -HALF CENT. 1847. - -NEW YORK CENT. - -See description.] - -[Illustration: PLATE X. - -GREEK EGYPTIAN COIN. PTOLEMY. - -WIDOW’S MITE. COPPER COIN. - -ROMAN BRONZE COIN. TRAJAN AUGUSTUS. 98-117 A. D. - -ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES. - -COUNTERFEIT JUDEAN SHEKEL. DATING ABOUT THE TIME OF CHRIST. - -MACEDONIAN COIN. PHILIP III. 317-324 B. C. - -See description.] - - -THE SMALL PATTERN CENT. - -Obverse: A head, facing right, hair unconfined, floating backward in -flowing locks. Legend: “LIBERTY PARENT OF SCIENCE & INDUST.” Exergue: -Beneath the head the date 1792. - -Reverse: A wreath, two olive branches crossed at the lower ends and tied -with a ribbon; within the wreath a field bearing an inscription “ONE -CENT” in two lines. Legend: “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Exergue: “⅟₁₀₀.” -Border, milled; edge, reeded; size, 14; weight, 65 grains. Extremely rare. - - -THE DOUBLE HEAD WASHINGTON. - -A small head on both obverse and reverse. The former has the legend, -“WASHINGTON;” the latter the legend “ONE CENT.” No date. - - -NEW YORK WASHINGTON CENT. - -Bust of Washington with a wig, and with military draping, face right. -Legend: “NON VI VIRTUTE VICI.” - -Reverse: The Goddess of Liberty, seated, with liberty pole and scales of -justice. Legend: “NEO EBORACENSIS.” Date, 1786. - - -CAROLINA ELEPHANT (TOKEN.) - -A token much prized by collectors is known as the Carolina Elephant. The -obverse is from a rather common English token known now as the London -Elephant. The animal is standing with his head down. There is no legend. - -Reverse: “GOD PRESERVE CAROLINA AND THE LORDS PROPRIETERS 1694.” - - -COPPER HALF-CENT OF 1794. - -In 1794 and 1795 similar device to that of 1793; but face Liberty facing -to the right. Weight, 104 grains. - - -CENT, 1799. - -The liberty cap is omitted, as is the lettering on the edge, not to -reappear on the American cent. Liberty Cap Cents are very rare. - -In the year 1798 a slight change was made in the obverse of the cent, -giving some of the curls a different termination from those of 1796, -1797, and the early part of 1798. The latter device was continued each -year, until and including 1807. The reverse remained unchanged during -the same time, excepting some slight variations, probably unintentional, -if not positive mistakes. For instance, in 1797 and 1802 we find some -without stems to the wreaths, and in one case only one stem. In 1801 and -1802 some have ⅟₀₀₀ instead of the fraction ⅟₁₀₀. In addition to this -error, a variety of the cent of 1802 has “Iinited,” instead of “United.” -In 1796 we have in one instance “Liherty,” instead of “Liberty.” - - -LIBERTY CENT, 1809. - -In 1809 an obverse head of Liberty; forehead encircled by a band, -“LIBERTY” inscribed upon it, surrounded by thirteen stars. Exergue: -“1809.” - -Reverse: Wreath in a circular garland inclosing the words “ONE CENT.” No -change took place during the issues of 1808 to 1814, inclusive. - - -HALF-CENT OF 1793. - -The first half-cent was issued in 1793, having on obverse: Bust of -Liberty, facing to the left; staff surmounted by liberty-cap over right -shoulder. Legend: “LIBERTY.” Exergue: “1793.” - -Reverse; Inscription, “HALF CENT,” surrounded by a wreath, tied with a -ribbon. Weight, 132 grains. - - -WREATH CENT. - -Obverse: Bust of Liberty, hair flowing. Legend: “LIBERTY.” Exergue: -“1793.” - -Reverse: A wreath with berries, the stems of wreath tied in a bow with -a ribbon. Inscription: “ONE CENT.” Legend: “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” -Exergue: “⅟₁₀₀.” - -Third. Known as the “Liberty Cap Cent.” - - -LIBERTY AND SECURITY WASHINGTON COIN. - -Obverse: A bust of Washington, in uniform, facing right, hair in a queue. -Legend: “GEORGE WASHINGTON.” - -Reverse: A shield with sixteen argent and gules impaling argent, fifteen -mullets; above the shield an eagle, left talon, an olive branch, right -talon, six arrows. Legend: “LIBERTY AND SECURITY.” Exergue: “17 95,” -divided by the point of the shield. Border: A plain circle, and outside -of the same, milled edge, lettered “AN ASYLUM FOR ALL NATIONS.” Size, -20½; weight, 310 grains. This piece is extremely rare. - - -VIRGINIA HALF-PENNY. - -The well-known Virginia half-pennies seem to have been very plentiful. A -number of different dies were used. A laureated bust of George the Third -is surrounded, as on the English half-penny, with his title, “GEORGIVS -III. REX.” The reverse has an ornamental and crowned shield, emblazoned -quarterly: 1, England empaling Scotland; 2, France; 3, Ireland; 4, the -electoral dominions. Legend: “VIRGINIA.” - -[Illustration: PLATE XI. - -CENT. 1809. - -HALF CENT. 1793. - -CHAIN CENT. 1793. - -PATTERN “TWO CENT” PIECE. - -CENT. 1799. - -SMALL PATTERN CENT. 1792. - -See description.] - -[Illustration: PLATE XII. - -DOUBLE HEAD WASHINGTON. - -LIBERTY AND SECURITY WASHINGTON MEDAL. 1795. - -GRANBY OR HIGLEY COPPER TOKEN. - -N. Y. COLONIAL CENT. 1787. - -CAROLINA ELEPHANT TOKEN. 1694. - -VIRGINIA HALF CENT. - -See description.] - -[Illustration: PLATE XIII. - -MEDAL OF 1776, COMMEMORATIVE OF THE NATION’S INDEPENDENCE. - -“KITTANNING MEDAL,” ONE OF THE EARLIEST MEDALS EXECUTED IN AMERICA.] - -[Illustration: PLATE XIV. - -1795 SILVER DOLLAR. OBVERSE AND REVERSE. - -1798 SILVER DOLLAR. OBVERSE AND REVERSE.] - -[Illustration: PLATE XV. - -ROSA AMERICANA. - -MASSACHUSETTS HALF CENT. - -RHODE ISLAND MEDAL. - -PITT MEDAL. - -IMMUNIS COLUMBIA. - -NEW YORK TOKEN. - -See description.] - -[Illustration: PLATE XVI. - -PATTERN HALF DOLLAR. 1859. - -PATTERN CENT. 1854. - -LIBERTY CENT. 1793. - -LIBERTY HALF CENT. 1795. - -PATTERN CENT, COPPER AND SILVER. 1850. - -PATTERN CENT. 1855.] - -[Illustration: PLATE XVII. - -RARE COLONIAL CENT, OF NEW JERSEY.[18] - -WASHINGTON HALF DOLLAR. 1792. - -WASHINGTON CENT. 1783. - -WASHINGTON CENT. 1783. - -WASHINGTON CENT. VERY RARE. 1792. - -WASHINGTON CENT. 1791.] - -[Illustration: PLATE XVIII. - -TRIBUTE MONEY. - -CONSTANTINE THE GREAT. - -COUNTERFEIT SHEKEL, OF EUROPEAN MANUFACTURE. - -JEWISH. LEPTON, B. C. - -JEWISH. LEPTON, A. D. - -SYRIAN. - -GRECIAN. - -MAXIMUS PHILLIPUS.] - -[Illustration: PLATE XIX. - -DOUBLE EAGLE, 1849. “Unique,” beyond price. - -GOLD DOLLAR, 1849. - -DOUBLE EAGLE. 1885. - -HALF EAGLE, 1849. - -TEN DOLLAR EAGLE, 1795. - -HALF EAGLE, 1885. - -EAGLE, 1849. - -HALF EAGLE, 1795. - -EAGLE, 1885. - -THREE DOLLARS. Gold Piece, 1885. - -QUARTER EAGLE, 1847. - -QUARTER EAGLE, 1885. - -GOLD DOLLAR, 1885.] - -[Illustration: PLATE XX. - -RHODES. - -ANTIOCHUS VII. - -SYBARIS. - -GREEK COIN. ALEXANDER THE GREAT. 300 B.C. - -ATHENS. - -HEROCLEA.] - -[Illustration: PLATE XXI. - -1804 DOLLAR, “The King among Rarities.” - -PATTERN DOLLAR, None issued. - -PATTERN DOLLAR OF 1871, Rejected. - -PATTERN PIECE KNOWN AS THE BARBER DOLLAR, Rejected.] - -[Illustration: PLATE XXII. - -SILVER DOLLAR, 1849. - -STANDARD DOLLAR, 1885. - -HALF DOLLAR, 1849. - -DIME, 1849. - -HALF DOLLAR, 1885. - -HALF DOLLAR, 1794. - -QUARTER DOLLAR, 1885. - -QUARTER DOLLAR, 1849. - -HALF DIME, 1849. - -DIME, 1885. - -HALF DIME, 1794. - -DIME, 1796.] - -[Illustration: PLATE XXIII. - -LIBERTY CAP CENT, 1793. - -CHAIN CENT, 1793. First issue. - -CHAIN CENT, 1793. Second issue. - -PATTERN TWENTY CENT PIECE, Rejected. - -HALF CENT, 1793. - -CENT, 1849. - -CENT, 1885. - -THREE CENT NICKEL, 1885. - -HALF CENT, 1849. - -THREE CENT PIECE, 1885.] - -[Illustration: PLATE XXIV. - -ANTIOCHUS VII. - -ADDERA. - -PRUSIAS. - -ANTIOCHUS VIII. EPIPHANES. - -PANORMUS. - -ALEXANDER THE GREAT. - -Grecian Coins about 300 years B.C.] - - - - -COINS ISSUED AT THE UNITED STATES MINT AT PHILADELPHIA, FROM ITS -ESTABLISHMENT IN 1792 TO 1888. - - - -GOLD. - - -_Double Eagle._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of March 3, 1849. Weight, 516 grains; -fineness, 900; size, 21. - -1850 to 1865, inclusive. No. 1. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, hair -tied behind, a coronet on the forehead inscribed “LIBERTY,” thirteen -stars and date. - -Reverse: An eagle with shield upon its breast, and an olive branch and -three arrows in its talons; in its beak, an elaborate scroll, inscribed -“E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Above, a circle of thirteen stars and a curved line of -rays extending from wing to wing. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” “TWENTY D.” - -1866 to 1876, inclusive. No. 2, same, with the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” -inscribed within the circle of stars on the reverse. - -1877. No. 3. Same, with “TWENTY DOLLARS” for “TWENTY D.” - - -_Eagle._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 270 grains; -fineness, 916⅔. Weight changed, Act of June 28, 1834, to 258 grains. -Fineness changed, Act of June 28, 1834, to 899.225. Fineness changed, Act -of January 18, 1837, to 900. - -1795. Obverse: Liberty head, wearing a cap, facing right. Fifteen stars. -Above, “LIBERTY;” beneath, “1795;” size, 21. - -Reverse: An eagle with displayed wings, standing on a palm branch; in -beak, a laurel wreath. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” - -1796. Same, with sixteen stars. - -1797. No. 1. Same, with sixteen stars. - -1797. No. 2. Obverse: Same, with sixteen stars. - -Reverse: An eagle with the United States shield upon its breast, a bundle -of arrows in the right talon, and an olive branch in the left; in its -beak, a scroll inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Around the head are sixteen -stars; above, is a curved line of clouds extending from wing to wing. -“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” - -1798 to 1801, inclusive. Same, with thirteen stars on the obverse. Of -1798, two varieties with four stars facing. - -1802. None issued. - -1803 and 1804. Same as No. 2 of 1797. Thirteen stars. - -1805 to 1837, inclusive. None issued. - -1838 to 1865, inclusive. Obverse: Liberty head facing left, hair tied -behind, a coronet on the forehead inscribed “LIBERTY,” thirteen stars, -and date. - -Reverse: An eagle with the United States shield upon its breast, and an -olive branch and three arrows in the talons. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” -Size, 17. - -1866. Same, with a scroll above the eagle inscribed “IN GOD WE TRUST.” - - -_Half Eagle._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 135 grains; -fineness, 916⅔. Weight changed, Act of June 28, 1834, to 129 grains. -Fineness changed, Act of June 28, 1834, to 899.225. Fineness changed, Act -of January 18, 1837, to 900. - -1795. No. 1. Same type as the Eagle; size, 16. - -1795. No. 2. Obverse: Same. - -Reverse: An eagle, wings extended upwards, with the United States shield -upon its breast, a bundle of thirteen arrows in the right talon, and an -olive branch in the left. In its beak, a scroll inscribed “E PLURIBUS -UNUM.” Around the head are sixteen stars, and above is a curved line of -clouds extending from wing to wing. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” - -1796. Same as No. 1 of 1795; fifteen stars on obverse. - -1797. No. 1. Same as No. 1 of 1795. - -1797. No. 2. Same, with sixteen stars on obverse. - -1797. No. 3. Obverse: Same, with fifteen stars. - -Reverse: Same as No. 2 of 1795, sixteen stars around the eagle. - -1798. No. 1. Same as No. 1 of 1795, with thirteen stars. - -1798. No. 2. Obverse: Same. - -Reverse: Same as No. 2 of 1795, thirteen stars. - -1799 and 1800. Same as No. 2 of 1795, with thirteen stars on the obverse. - -1801. None issued. - -1802 to 1806, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1795, with thirteen stars on -the obverse. - -1807. No. 1. Obverse: Same as No. 1, 1795, with thirteen stars. - -Reverse: Same as No. 2, 1795. - -1807. No. 2. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left; bust, draped, wearing a -kind of turban with a band in front inscribed “LIBERTY,” thirteen stars, -and date. - -Reverse: An eagle, with the United States shield upon its breast, an -olive branch and three arrows in the talons. Above, a scroll, inscribed -“E PLURIBUS UNUM.” United States of America “5. D.” - -1808 to 1812 inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1807. - -1813 to 1815, inclusive. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, wearing a -kind of turban, a band in front inscribed “LIBERTY.” Thirteen stars and -date. No shoulders. - -Reverse: Same as No. 2 of 1807. - -1816 and 1817, inclusive. None issued. - -1818 to 1828, inclusive. Same as 1813. - -1829. No. 1. Same as 1813; size, 16. - -1829. No. 2. Same, but smaller; size, 15. - -1830 to 1833, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1829. - -1834. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1829. - -1834. No. 2. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, hair confined by a band -inscribed “LIBERTY.” - -Reverse: Same as No. 2 of 1807, without the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” -omitted; size, 14. - -1835 to 1838, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1834. - -1839 to 1865, inclusive. Same type as the Eagle of 1838. - -1866. Same type as Eagle of same date. - - -_Three-Dollar Piece._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of February 21, 1853. Weight, 77.4 grains; -fineness, 900. - -1854. Obverse: An Indian head, wearing a crown of eagle feathers, on band -of which is inscribed “LIBERTY”—“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” - -Reverse: “3 dollars 1854” within a wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, and -tobacco. Size, 13. - - -_Quarter-Eagle._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 67.5 grains; -fineness, 916⅔. Weight changed, Act of June 28, 1834, to 64.5 grains. -Fineness changed, Act of June 28, 1834, to 899.225. Fineness changed, Act -of January 18, 1837, to 900. - -1796. No. 1. Obverse: Liberty head, facing right, above “LIBERTY”—sixteen -stars. - -Reverse: Same type as No. 2 half-eagle of 1795, size 13. - -No. 2. Same, with no stars on obverse. - -1797-1798. Same as No. 1 of 1796, with thirteen stars. - -1799-1801, inclusive. None issued. - -1802. Same as 1798. - -1803. None issued. - -1804 to 1807, inclusive. Same as 1798. - -1808. Same type as No. 2 half-eagle of 1807, with “2½ D.” - -1809 to 1820, inclusive. None issued. - -1821. Obverse: Same type as the half-eagle of 1813, size 12. - -Reverse: Same type as No. 2 half-eagle of 1807. - -1822 and 1823. None issued. - -1824-1827, inclusive. Same as 1821. - -1828. None issued. - -1829 to 1833, inclusive. Same as 1821. - -1834. No. 1. Same as 1821. No. 2. Same type as No. 2 half-eagle of 1834, -size 11. - -1835 to 1839, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1834. - -1840 to 1865. Same type as the eagle of 1834. - -1866. Same type as eagle of 1866. - - -_Dollar._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of March 3, 1849. Weight, 25.8 grains; -fineness, 900. - -1849 to 1853, inclusive. Obverse: Same type as the eagle, without date. - -Reverse: “1 DOLLAR 1849” within a laurel wreath, “UNITED STATES OF -AMERICA.” Size 8. - -1854. No. 1, Same. No. 2. Same type as the three-dollar piece, size 9. - - -SILVER. - - -_Dollar._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 416 grains; -fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 412½ grains. -Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Coinage discontinued, -Act of February 12, 1873. Coinage reauthorized, Act of February 28, 1878. - -1794. Obverse: Liberty head, facing right, flowing hair, fifteen stars; -above, “LIBERTY;” beneath, “1794.” - -Reverse: An eagle with raised wings, encircled by branches of laurel -crossed; “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” On the edge, “HUNDRED CENTS, ONE -DOLLAR OR UNIT.” Size, 24. - -1795. No. 1. Same. - -1795. No. 2. Bust of Liberty, facing right, hair bound by a ribbon, -shoulders draped, fifteen stars. - -Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings, standing upon clouds, within a -wreath of palm and laurel, which is crossed and tied. “UNITED STATES OF -AMERICA.” - -1796. Same as No. 2, of 1795. - -1797. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1795, with sixteen stars, six of which are -facing. - -1797. No. 2. Same, with seven stars facing. - -1798. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1795, with fifteen stars. - -1798. No. 2. Same, with thirteen stars. - -1798. No. 3. Obverse: Same, with thirteen stars. - -Reverse: An eagle with raised wings, bearing the United States shield -upon its breast, in beak, a scroll inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” A bundle -of thirteen arrows in the right talon, and an olive branch in the left. -Above, are clouds, and thirteen stars. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Size, -25. - -1799 to 1804, inclusive. Same as No. 3, of 1798. - -1805 to 1839, inclusive. None issued. - -1840 to 1865, inclusive. Obverse: Liberty seated upon a rock, supporting -with her right hand the United States shield, across which floats a -scroll inscribed “LIBERTY,” and with her left the staff and liberty cap; -beneath, the date. - -Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings, bearing the United States shield -upon its breast, and an olive branch and three arrows in its talons. -“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” “ONE DOLL.” Reeded edge; size, 24. - -1866 to 1873, inclusive. Same, with a scroll above the eagle, inscribed, -“IN GOD WE TRUST.” - -1874 to 1877, inclusive. None issued. - -1878. Obverse: Liberty head facing left, upon which is a cap, a wheat and -cotton wreath, and a band inscribed “LIBERTY;” above, “E PLURIBUS UNUM;” -beneath, the date. Thirteen stars. - -Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings pointing upwards; in right talon an -olive branch with nine leaves; in the left, three arrows. In the field -above, “IN GOD WE TRUST;” beneath, a semi-wreath, tied and crossed, -reaching upwards to the wings; “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Some pieces of -the above date (1878) were coined with eight feathers in the tail during -the year, but seven have been adopted. - - -_Trade Dollar._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of February 12, 1873. Weight, 420 grains; -fineness, 900. - -1873. Obverse: Liberty seated upon a cotton bale, facing left; in her -extended right hand an olive branch; in her left a scroll inscribed -“LIBERTY;” behind her a sheaf of wheat; beneath, a scroll inscribed “IN -GOD WE TRUST;” thirteen stars; “1873.” - -Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings; in talons three arrows and an -olive branch; above, a scroll inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM;” beneath, on -field, “420 grains;” “900 fine.” “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Size, 24. - - -_Half Dollar._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 208 grains; -fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 206¼ grains. -Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed, Act -of February 21, 1853, to 192 grains. Weight changed, Act of February 12, -1873, to 12½ grammes, or 192.9 grains. - -1794 and 1795. Same type as the dollar of 1794. On the edge, “FIFTY CENTS -OR HALF A DOLLAR.” Size, 21. - -1796. No. 1. Same type as No. 2, dollar of 1795, with the denomination, -“½,” inscribed on the base of the reverse. No. 2. Same, with sixteen -stars on the obverse. - -1797. Same as No. 2, of 1796. - -1798 to 1800, inclusive. None issued. - -1801 to 1803, inclusive. Same type as No. 3, dollar of 1798. - -1804. None issued. - -1805 and 1806. Same as No. 3, dollar of 1798. - -1807. No. 1. Same. - -No. 2. Obverse: Liberty head facing left, wearing a kind of turban, with -“LIBERTY” inscribed upon the band. Thirteen stars and date. - -Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings pointing downwards, bearing upon -its breast, the U. S. Shield, an olive branch and three arrows in its -talons; above, in the field, a scroll inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM;” -beneath 50 C. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” - -1808 to 1835 inclusive, same as No. 2 of 1807. - -1836. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1807. - -No. 2. Obverse: Same. - -Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings pointing downwards, the U. S. -shield upon its breast, an olive branch and three arrows in its talons, -“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” reeded edge. - -1837. Same as No. 2 of 1836. - -1838. Obverse: Same as No. 2 of 1836. - -Reverse: Same; “HALF DOL.” for “50 C.” - -1839. No. 1. Same as 1838. - -No. 2. Same type as dollar of 1840. - -1840 to 1852 inclusive, same. - -1853. Obverse: Same with an arrow head on each side of the date. - -Reverse: Same, with a halo of rays around the edge. - -1854. Same, without the rays. - -1855. Same. - -1856 to 1865 inclusive, same, without the arrow heads. - -1866 to 1872 inclusive, same, with scroll above the eagle inscribed “IN -GOD WE TRUST.” (Some have been occasionally met with, which have been -issued by the San Francisco Mint, _without_ this legend in 1866.) - -1873. No. 1. Same. - -No. 2. Same, with arrow heads on each side of the date. - -1874. Same. - -1875. Same, without the arrow heads. - - -_Quarter Dollar._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 104 grains; -fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 103½ grains. -Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed, Act -of February 21, 1853, to 96 grains. Weight changed, Act of February 12, -1873, to 6¼ grammes, or 96.45 grains. - -1796. Same type as No. 2 dollar of 1795, with reeded edge; size, 18; -fifteen stars. - -1797 to 1803. None issued. - -1804 to 1807, inclusive. Same type as No. 3 dollar of 1798, beneath, -“25c.” - -1808 to 1814, inclusive. None issued. - -1815. Same type as No. 2 half dollar of 1807. - -1816 and 1817. None issued. - -1818 to 1825, inclusive. Same type as No. 2 half dollar of 1807, size 17. - -1826. None issued. - -1827 and 1828. Same type as No. 2 half dollar of 1807. - -1829 and 1830. None issued. - -1831 to 1837, inclusive. Same type as half dollar of 1807, with the -diameter reduced from size 17 to size 15, and a corresponding increase in -thickness and decrease of the size of devices, and the omission of the -scroll, inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” - -1838. No. 1. Same as 1837. No. 2. Same type as the dollar of 1840, with -“QUAR. DOL.” for “ONE DOLL.” - -1839 to 1852, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1838. - -1853. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with arrow heads on each side of date, -and a halo of rays around the edge. - -1854 and 1855. Same, without the rays. - -1856 to 1865. Same, without the arrow heads. - -1866 to 1872, inclusive. Same, with the scroll above the eagle, inscribed -“IN GOD WE TRUST.” - -1873. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with an arrow head on each side of the -date. - -1874. Same. - -1875. Same, without the arrow head. - - -_Twenty-Cent Piece._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of March 3, 1875. Weight, 5 grammes, or -77.16 grains; fineness, 900. Coinage discontinued, Act of May 2, 1878. - -1875 to 1878, inclusive. Obverse: Same type as the dollar of 1840. - -Reverse: An eagle with displayed wings, three arrows, and an olive -branch, two of the leaves of which nearest the stem, together with those -drooping from the centre, overlap; the terminating leaves on the end of -the branch, however, do not. On each side a star. Plain edge. “UNITED -STATES OF AMERICA.” “TWENTY CENTS.” Size, 14. - - -_Dime._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 41.6 grains; -fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 41¼ grains. -Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed, Act of -February 21, 1853, to 38.4 grains. Weight changed, Act of February 12, -1873, to 2½ grammes, or 38.58 grains. - -1796. Same type as the No. 2 dollar of 1795; size 13; fifteen stars. - -1797. No. 1. Same, with sixteen stars on the obverse. No. 2. Same, with -thirteen stars on the obverse. - -1798. No. 1. Same type as No. 3 dollar of 1798, with sixteen stars. No. -2. With thirteen stars on the obverse. - -1799. None issued. - -1800 to 1805, inclusive. Same as No. 3 of 1798. - -1806. None issued. - -1807. Same as No. 2 of 1798. - -1808. None issued. - -1809. Same type as No. 2 half-dollar of 1807; size, 12. - -1810. None issued. - -1811. Same as 1809. - -1812 to 1813, inclusive. None issued. - -1814. Same as 1809. - -1815 to 1819, inclusive. None issued. - -1820 to 1825, inclusive. Same as 1809. - -1826. None issued. - -1827 to 1836, inclusive. Same as 1809. - -1837. No. 1. Same as 1809. No. 2. Obverse: Liberty seated. No stars. - -Reverse: “ONE DIME” within a wreath of laurel. “UNITED STATES OF -AMERICA.” Size, 11. - -1838. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1837. No. 2. Same, with thirteen stars. - -1839 to 1852, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1838. - -1853. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with an arrow head on each side of the -date. - -1854 and 1855. Same as No. 2 of 1853. - -1856 to 1859, inclusive. Same, without arrow heads. - -1860 to 1872, inclusive. Obverse: Same, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” -instead of stars. - -Reverse: “ONE DIME” within a wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco. - -1873. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with an arrow head on each side of the -date. - -1874. Same as No. 2 of 1873. - -1875. Same, without arrow heads. - - -_Half Dime._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 20.8 grains; -fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 20⅝ grains. -Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed, Act of -February 21, 1853, to 19.2 grains. Coinage discontinued, Act of February -12, 1873. - -1794 and 1795. Same type as the half dollar; size, 10. - -1796. Same type as No. 2 dollar of 1795; fifteen stars. - -1797. No. 1. Same, with fifteen stars. No. 2. Same, with sixteen stars. -No. 3. Same, with thirteen stars. - -1798 and 1799. None issued. - -1800 to 1803, inclusive. Same type as No. 3 dollar of 1798. - -1804. None issued. - -1805. Same as 1800. - -1806 to 1828, inclusive. None issued. - -1829 to 1873. See dime. - - -_Three Cent Piece._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of March 3, 1851. Weight, 12⅜ grains; -fineness, 750. Weight changed, Act of March 3, 1853, to 11.52 grains. -Fineness changed, Act of March 3, 1853, to 900. Coinage discontinued, Act -of February 12, 1873. - -1851 to 1853, inclusive. Obverse: A star bearing the United States -shield. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” - -Reverse: An ornamented “C,” within which is the denomination “III,” -around the border, thirteen stars; size, 9. - -1854 to 1858. Obverse: Same, with two lines around the star. - -Reverse: An olive branch above the “III,” and three arrows below, all -within the “C.” - -1858 to 1873, inclusive. Same, with one line around the star. - - -MINOR COINS. - - -_Five cent piece. (Nickle.)_ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of May 16, 1866. Weight, 77.16 grains; -composed of 75 per cent. copper, and 25 per cent. nickle. - -1866. Obverse: A United States shield surmounted by a cross, an olive -branch pendent at each side, back of the base of the shield are two -arrows, the heads and feathers are only visible; beneath, “1866;” above, -in the field, “IN GOD WE TRUST.” - -Reverse: “5” within a circle of thirteen stars, and rays, “UNITED STATES -OF AMERICA.” Size, 13. - -1867. Same. No. 2. Same, without the rays. - -1868. Same as No. 2 of 1867. - -1869 to 1882. Same as No. 2 of 1867. - -1883. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Obverse: Liberty head wearing a coronet which -is inscribed “LIBERTY,” thirteen stars, and date, “1883.” - -Reverse: A “V” within a wreath of corn and cotton. Legend, “UNITED STATES -OF AMERICA.” Exergue, “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” No. 3, Obverse: Same as No. 2. - -Reverse: Same, with “CENTS” as the exergue, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” above -the wreath. - -1884. Same as No. 3 of the preceding. - - -_Three cent piece. (Nickle.)_ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of April 3, 1865. Weight, 30 grains; -composed of 75 per cent. copper, and 25 per cent. nickle. - -1865. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, hair bound by a ribbon, on the -forehead a coronet inscribed “LIBERTY;” beneath, the date, “UNITED STATES -OF AMERICA.” - -Reverse: “III” within a laurel wreath. - - -_Two Cent Piece (bronze)._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of April 22, 1864. Weight, 96 grains, -composed of ninety-five per cent. copper and five per cent. of tin and -zinc. Coinage discontinued, Act of February 12, 1873. - -1864 to 1873, inclusive. Obverse: The United States shield, behind which -are two arrows, crossed, on each side a branch of laurel; above, a scroll -inscribed “IN GOD WE TRUST”; beneath, the date. - -Reverse: “2 CENTS” within a wreath of wheat. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” -Size, 14. - - -_Cent (copper)._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of April 22, 1792. Weight, 264 grains. -Weight changed, Act of January 14, 1793, to 208 grains. Weight changed -by proclamation of the President, January 26, 1796, in conformity with -an Act of March 3, 1795, to 168 grains. Coinage discontinued, Act of -February 21, 1857. - -1793. No. 1. Obverse: Liberty head, facing right, flowing hair. Above, -“LIBERTY”: beneath, “1793.” - -Reverse: A chain of fifteen links, within which is inscribed “ONE CENT” -and the fraction “⅟₁₀₀.” United States of America; reeded edge; size, 17. - -No. 2. Same, with the abbreviation “AMERI.” in the Legend. - -No. 3. Obverse: Same as No. 1, with a sprig beneath. - -Reverse: “ONE CENT” within a wreath of laurel. “UNITED STATES OF -AMERICA.” Reeded edge. - -No. 4. Obverse: A bust of Liberty, facing right, with pole and liberty -cap. Above, “LIBERTY”; beneath, “1793.” - -Reverse: Same as No. 3; on the edge, “ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR.” Size, 18. - -1794 and 1795. Same as No. 4 of 1793. - -1796. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with hair bound by a ribbon, and without -pole and liberty cap on the obverse. Plain edge. - -1797 to 1807 inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1796. - -1808 to 1814, inclusive. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, hair -confined by a band, inscribed “LIBERTY.” Thirteen stars and date. - -Reverse: “ONE CENT,” within a laurel wreath. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” -The fraction “⅟₁₀₀” is omitted. - -1815. None issued. - -1816. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, the hair is confined by a -roll, and tied by a cord, while the forehead is bedecked with a tiara, -inscribed “LIBERTY.” - -Reverse: Same as 1808. - -1817. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with fifteen stars. - -1818 to 1836. Same as No. 1 of 1817. - -1837. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with the hair tied by a string of beads -instead of a cord. - -1838 to 1857, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1837. - - -_Cent (Nickle)._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of February 21, 1857. Weight 72 grains; -composed of 88 per cent. copper and 12 per cent. nickle. Coinage -discontinued, Act of April 22, 1864. - -1857 and 1858, Obverse: An eagle flying to the left. “UNITED STATES OF -AMERICA.” - -Reverse: “ONE CENT,” within a wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco. -Size, 11. - -1859. Obverse: An Indian-head, facing left, bedecked with eagle plumes, -confined. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Beneath, the date. - -Reverse: “ONE CENT.” within a wreath of laurel. - -1860 to 1864, inclusive. Obverse: Same. - -Reverse: “ONE CENT,” within an oak wreath and shield. - - -_Cent (Bronze)._ - -Coinage authorized, Act of April 22, 1857. Weight, 48 grains; composed of -95 per cent. copper and 5 per cent. of tin and zinc. - -1864. Same type as nickle cent of 1860. Size, 12. - - -_Half Cent (Copper)._ - -Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 132 grains. Weight -changed, Act of January 14, 1793, to 104 grains. Weight changed by -proclamation of the President, January 26, 1796, in conformity with Act -of March 3, 1795, to 84 grains. Coinage discontinued, Act of February 21, -1857. - -1793. Same type as cent No. 4, 1793, with head facing left. On the edge, -“TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR.” Size, 14. - -1794. Same type as the cent of 1794. - -1795 to 1797, inclusive. Same, with plain edge. - -1798 and 1799. None issued. - -1800. Same type as No. 2 cent of 1796, with the fraction “⅟₂₀₀” on the -base of the reverse. - -1801. None issued. - -1802 to 1808, inclusive. Same as 1800. From 1808, the fraction “⅟₂₀₀” -omitted. - -1809 to 1811, inclusive. Same type as cent of 1808. - -1812 to 1824, inclusive. None issued. - -1825 and 1826. Same type as cent of 1808. - -1827. None issued. - -1828. No. 1. Same type as cent 1808, with thirteen stars. No. 2. Same, -with twelve stars. - -1829. Same, with thirteen stars. - -1830. None issued. - -1831 to 1836, inclusive. Same type as cent of 1808. - -1837 to 1839, inclusive. None issued. - -1840 to 1857, inclusive. Same type as No. 2 cent of 1837; size, 14. - - - - -THOMAS JEFFERSON, - - -an eminent American Statesman, and third President of the United States, -was born April 2, 1743, at Shadwell, Virginia, near the spot which -afterwards became his residence, with the name of Monticello. He was the -oldest son in a family of eight children. His father, Peter Jefferson, -was a man of great force of character and of extraordinary physical -strength. His mother, Jane Randolph, of Goochland, was descended from -an English family of great note and respectability. Young Jefferson -began his classical studies at the age of nine, and at seventeen he -entered an advance class at William and Mary College; on his way thither, -he formed the acquaintance of Patrick Henry, who was then a bankrupt -merchant, but who afterwards became the great orator of the Revolution. -At college, Jefferson was distinguished by his close application, and -devoted, it is said, from twelve to fifteen hours per day to study, and -we are told became well versed in Latin, Greek, Italian, French, and -Spanish, at the same time proficient in his mathematical studies. After -a few years course of law under Judge Wythe, he was admitted to the bar -in 1767. His success in the legal profession was remarkable; his fees -during the first year amounted to nearly three thousand dollars. In -1769, Jefferson commenced his public career as a member of the Virginia -House of Burgesses, in which he had while a student of law, listened to -Patrick Henry’s great speech on the Stamp Act. In 1773 he united with -Patrick Henry and other revolutionary patriots in devising the celebrated -committee of correspondence for disseminating intelligence between the -Colonies, of which Jefferson was one of the most active and influential -members. He was elected in 1774 to a convention to choose delegates to -the first Continental Congress at Philadelphia, and introduced at that -convention his famous “Summary view of the rights of British America.” -On the 21st of June, 1775, Jefferson took his seat in the Continental -Congress. His reputation as a Statesman and accomplished writer at once -placed him among the leaders of that renowned body. He served on the -most important committees, and among other papers drew up the reply of -Congress to the proposal of Lord North, and assisted in preparing in -behalf of the Colonies, a declaration of the cause of taking up arms -against the Mother Country. The rejection of a final petition to King -George, destroyed all hope of an honorable reconciliation with England. -Congress, early in 1776, appointed a committee to draw up a Declaration -of Independence, of which Jefferson was made Chairman; in this capacity -he drafted, at the request of the other members of the committee, -(Franklin, Adams, Sherman, and Livingston), and reported to Congress, -June 28, the great Charter of Freedom, known as the “Declaration of -American Independence,” which, on July 4, was unanimously adopted, and -signed by every member present, with a single exception. “The Declaration -of Independence,” says Edward Everett, “is equal to anything ever borne -on parchment, or expressed in the visible signs of thought.” “The heart -of Jefferson in writing it,” adds Bancroft, “and of Congress in adopting -it, _beat for all humanity_.” After resigning his seat in Congress, -Jefferson revised the laws of Virginia; among other reforms, he procured -the repeal of the laws of entail, the abolition of primogeniture, and -the restoration of the rights of conscience, a reform which he believed -would abolish “every fibre of ancient or future aristocracy;” he also -originated a complete system of elementary and collegiate education -for Virginia. In 1779, Jefferson succeeded Patrick Henry as Governor -of Virginia, and held the office during the most gloomy period of the -Revolution, and declined a re-election in 1781. In 1783, he returned to -Congress, and reported the treaty of peace, concluded at Paris, September -3, 1783, acknowledging the independence of the United States. He also -proposed and carried through Congress a bill establishing the present -Federal system of coinage, which took the place of the English pounds, -shillings, pence, etc., and also introduced measures for establishing a -Mint in Philadelphia, (the first public building built by the general -Government, still standing on Seventh street, east side, near Filbert). -In 1785, he succeeded Dr. Franklin as resident Minister at Paris. In -organizing the Government after the adoption of the Constitution, he -accepted the position of Secretary of State, tendered him by President -Washington during his first term. Jefferson was Vice-President of the -United States from 1797 to 1801, and President for the two consecutive -terms following. After participating in the inauguration of his friend -and successor, James Madison, Jefferson returned to Monticello, where -he passed the remainder of his life in directing the educational and -industrial institutions of his native State and entertaining his many -visitors and friends. His death occurred on the same day with that of -John Adams, July 4, 1826. - - - - -ALEXANDER HAMILTON, - - -Statesman, orator, and financier, born in the West Indian island of -Nevis, 11th of January, 1757. His father was a Scotch merchant, and his -mother was the daughter of a French Huguenot. He was educated at King’s -College, N. Y. When he was 18 years of age he surprised the people by his -public speeches and pamphlets in favor of American independence. He was -commissioned Captain of a Company of Artillery in March, 1776, and served -with distinction at the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Trenton, -and Princeton, and was appointed Aid-de-camp and Private Secretary to -General Washington in March, 1777, and gained his special favor and -confidence in planning campaigns and devising means to support the -army. In 1782 he was elected a member of the Continental Congress, and -Washington expressed the opinion that no one excelled him in probity and -sterling virtue. He was an active member of an anti-slavery party in New -York, and offered a resolution in 1784, that every member of that society -should liberate his own slaves. He was a delegate to the convention -which met in Philadelphia in May, 1787, to form a Federal Constitution -and to promote the Union of the States, and it appears was the principal -author of the movement. Hamilton was appointed Secretary of the Treasury -in 1789, at the time the nation was burdened with a heavy debt, almost -destitute of credit, and on the verge of bankruptcy. The results of his -financial policy were the restoration of public credit, protection to -American industry, and a rapid revival of trade and commerce. He resigned -his office to resume his practice of law, January 31, 1795. He declined -the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States -previously tendered him. Washington testified his great esteem for -Hamilton by consulting him in the preparation of his Farewell Address, as -well as in many other acts of his noble career. - -In 1804, Aaron Burr, presenting himself as a candidate for Governor -of New York, but Hamilton opposed his election expressing the opinion -that “Burr was a dangerous man and unfit to be trusted with power.” -The election of Gen. Lewis blasted the ambitious projects of Burr, who -insolently demanded an explanation of Hamilton, and finally challenged -him, Hamilton accepted the challenge, was mortally wounded at Weehawken, -and died July 12, 1804. His death was profoundly lamented throughout the -country. - -NOTE.—His eldest son had been killed in a duel by a political adversary -about 1802. Mr. Hamilton was the principal author of the Federalist, and -the real father of our financial system. Immediately after adopting the -constitution, he strongly advocated the establishment of a Mint, so that -the New World would not be dependant on the Old for a circulating medium. - - - - -HON. JAMES PUTNAM KIMBALL, - -PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OF ALL THE MINTS, - - -was born in Salem, Mass., April 26, 1836. After graduating at the High -School of his native town in 1854, he entered the Lawrence Scientific -School of Harvard University. In the summer of the following year he went -to Germany, and matriculated at the University of Frederick Wilhelm, -Berlin, in the Fall of the same year, and was graduated at the University -of George Augusta, at Gottingen, in the Autumn of 1857, with the degrees -of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. Upon his graduation he -entered upon a practical course in Mining and Metallurgy, at the Mining -School of Freiburg, in Saxony. - -After making a tour of the Continent and England, he returned home -and engaged as the Assistant of Prof. J. D. Whitney, now of Harvard -University, in the State Geological Surveys of the States of Wisconsin -and Illinois, embracing the Upper Mississippi lead region. He continued -with Prof. Whitney during the survey, comprising the southeastern part of -Iowa. - -On the establishment of the New York State Agricultural College at Ovid, -the foundation of which was subsequently merged with that of Cornell -University, Dr. Kimball was appointed to the Chair of Professor of -Chemistry and Economic Geology. Upon the appointment of the President -of the college, Gen. Patrick, as Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Dr. -Kimball became that officer’s Chief of Staff, with a commission from -the President of the United States, as Assistant Adjutant-General of -Volunteers, with the rank of Captain. This was in 1862. His first -service in the field was with the Army of the Rappahannock, under Gen. -McDowell. He took part in numerous engagements, notably, those of -Groveton, Manassas, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, -Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. General Patrick having been assigned -to duty as Provost-Marshal of the Army of the Potomac, Capt. Kimball -accompanied him, and served on the General Staff of that army under -Generals McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, and Meade, successively. - -When the army went into winter quarters, Capt. Kimball, whose health -had become impaired, resigned from the army, and settled in New York. -He resumed the practice of his profession as Mining Engineer and -Metallurgist. Upon his marriage, in 1874, he accepted an honorary -Professorship in Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa., removing from New -York to one of the houses in the beautiful park and grounds of that -institution, though retaining his office and business in New York City. - -Dr. Kimball has been largely identified with the mineral development -of Bedford County, Pa., and at the time of his appointment as Director -of the Mints, was President of the Everett Iron Company, whose blast -furnace, built in 1883-84, is one of the largest and finest in this -country. As a scientist he is a contributor to various scientific -journals at home and abroad, and among others the _American Journal of -Science_, published at New Haven. Several of his papers have appeared -in the proceedings of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, of -which he has been Vice President. Dr. Kimball has traveled extensively -in the United States, Mexico, and the West Indies, in prosecuting his -professional practice, and as a man of scientific accomplishments and of -affairs, bears a deservedly high reputation. - -Dr. Kimball comes of Revolutionary stock. His paternal great-grandfather, -William Russell, of Boston, was associated with the Sons of Liberty, and -the leaders in public affairs in the times that tried men’s souls. He was -present, disguised as an Indian, and assisted in the famous Tea Party in -Boston harbor on the memorable 16th of December, 1773. Later, Mr. Russell -was adjutant of the Massachusetts Artillery, raised for the defense of -Boston, and which served in the Rhode Island campaign of 1777-78. Still -later, while serving as Secretary to Commander John Manley, of the U. S. -war vessel Jason, Russell was captured by the British frigate Surprise, -and confined in Mill prison till June 24, 1782, when he was exchanged. -But so sturdy a patriot could not rest unemployed, and twenty days after -his liberation, found him again in the naval service. He was again made -prisoner by the British, in November following, and consigned to the -notorious British prison ship, Jersey, lying off New York. - -An anecdote is related by Mr. James Kimball, father of the subject of -this sketch, in a memoir on the Tea Party in Boston harbor furnished -the Essex Institute Historical collections (1874), which illustrates -the temper of Mr. Russell as a patriot. Returning to his home after the -destruction of the tea, he took off his shoes, and carefully dusted them -over the fire; he then took the tea canister and emptied its contents. -Next morning he had printed on one side of the canister, “Coffee,” and on -the other, “No Tea.” This was the brief decree of banishment promulgated -by the Tea Destroyers, and the prohibited luxury disappeared from their -tables. - - - - -HON. JOHN JAY KNOX. - -Late Comptroller of the Currency, now President of the National Bank of -the Republic, New York City, we are indebted to _The Financier, August, -1885_, for the following biographical sketch: - - -Hon. John Jay Knox was Comptroller or Deputy Comptroller of the National -currency for seventeen years. He was born in Oneida county, New York, -March 19, 1828. His ancestors were Scotch Irish, and came originally -from Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1759. He received his early -education at the Augusta Academy and the Watertown Classical Institute, -and was graduated from Hamilton College in the Class of 1849. Among those -in college with him were Senator Hawley of Connecticut, and Chas. Dudley -Warner. After leaving college he became teller in a bank at Vernon, of -which his father was President, at a salary of $300 a year, where he -remained from 1850 to 1852. He spent some time in the Burnet Bank at -Syracuse, and was afterwards cashier of the Susquehanna Valley Bank at -Binghampton. He and his brother, Henry M. Knox, established a banking -house at St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1857, shortly before that State was -admitted into the Union. - -The first steamboat launched on the Red River of the North, establishing -a most important communication for the business interests of Minnesota, -was transported in the dead of winter across country on runners, from -Sauk Rapids to Breckenridge, and Mr. Knox was one of the few who paid the -expenses of the enterprise. - -In the financial discussions which preceded the establishment of the -National banks, Mr. Knox took a prominent part, and made many valuable -suggestions on the currency question. He advocated a safe and convertible -currency, the issue of a uniform series of circulating notes to all the -banks, and the guarantee by the Government of circulation secured by its -own bonds. - -In 1862 he was introduced to Secretary Chase and the Hon. Hugh McCulloch, -then Comptroller of the currency. The attention of the Secretary had -previously been attracted to the financial articles of Mr. Knox, -published in _Hunt’s Merchants’ Magazine_. - -He was shortly afterward appointed to a clerkship under Treasurer -Spinner, and was subsequently transferred to the office of Mr. Chase, as -disbursing clerk, at a salary of $2,000 a year. After three years in this -position he became cashier of the Exchange National Bank at Norfolk, Va., -but finding the southern climate uncongenial, after a year he returned -to Washington. He was commissioned by Secretary McCulloch to examine the -mint at San Francisco, and to select a site there for a new one. His -report upon the Mint service of the Pacific Coast was printed in the -Finance Report of 1866, with a complimentary notice by the Secretary. The -site selected was purchased from Eugene Kelly of New York for $100,000. - -He subsequently visited New Orleans and discovered a deficiency of -$1,100,000 in the office of the Assistant Treasurer. He took possession -of that office, and for some weeks acted as Assistant Treasurer of the -United States. - -The promotion of Mr. Knox to the office in which he was able to do -himself the most credit, and perform those services to the country which -are part and parcel of its financial progress, occurred in 1867. At this -time a vacancy was brought about in the Deputy-Comptrollership of the -Currency, and Secretary McCulloch appointed him to fill it. Until May 1, -1884, he remained as Deputy or head of the Bureau, his terms of office -being as follows: Five years as Deputy-Comptroller, from 1867 to 1872; -five years as Comptroller, from 1872 to 1877, appointed by General Grant; -five years, second term as Comptroller, from 1877 to 1882, by President -Hayes, on the recommendation of Secretary Sherman—the reappointment being -made without his knowledge, before the expiration of the preceding term, -and confirmed by the Senate without reference to any committee. He was -again reappointed, by President Arthur, April 12, 1882. - -In 1870 he made an elaborate report to Congress (Senate Mis. Doc., No. -132, XLI. Cong., 2d Sess.), including a codification of the Mint and -Coinage laws, with important amendments, which was highly commended. -The bill which accompanied the report comprised, within the compass of -twelve pages of the Revised Statutes, every important provision contained -in more than sixty different enactments upon the Mint and Coinage of -the United States—the result of eighty years of legislation. This bill, -with slight amendments, was subsequently passed, and is known as “The -Coinage Act of 1873;” and the Senate Finance Committee, in recognition of -his services, by an amendment, made the Comptroller of the Currency an -_ex-officio_ member of the Assay Commission, which meets annually at the -Mint in Philadelphia for the purpose of testing the weight and fineness -of the coinage of the year. - -Through his official reports, twelve in number, and his addresses on the -currency question, Mr. Knox has indirectly exercised great influence -in financial legislation, and he took an active, though quiet and -unassuming part, in the great financial _coup d’etat_ of the resumption -of specie payment. - -In April, 1878, he accompanied Secretary Sherman and Attorney-General -Devens to New York, and arranged a meeting between these two members -of the Cabinet and the officers of ten of the principal banks of the -city at the National Bank of Commerce, with the view of negotiating the -sale of $50,000,000 of 4½ per cent. bonds, the avails of which were to -be used for resumption purposes. The Presidents of the banks, who were -present, gave Secretary Sherman no encouragement as to the purchase of -the bonds at the rates proposed by him. Upon the return of the Secretary -and Comptroller to the Fifth Avenue Hotel, in the evening, they were -met by August Belmont, who had a cable dispatch from the Rothschilds, -authorizing a purchase of the whole amount at a premium of one and -one-half per cent. for the account of the syndicate. Upon the following -day the Secretary and the Comptroller returned to Washington, after an -absence of three days, and the success of the negotiation was announced, -much to the chagrin of some members of the Finance Committee of the House -of Representatives, who were then bitterly opposing the scheme proposed -by the Secretary for the resumption of specie payments. This negotiation -was the first of a series of brilliant financial transactions preceding -and following resumption on January 1, 1879. - -Subsequently he arranged a conference, which was held in the Treasury -at Washington, in the evening, between leading bank officials of New -York and Secretaries Sherman and Evarts, which resulted in the admission -of the Assistant Treasurer as a member of the clearing house, and the -receipt by the banks of legal tender notes on a par with gold; and in -1881, by request of President Garfield, he attended a conference in New -York between the leading financial men of the city and Secretary Windom -and Attorney-General McVeagh, which resulted in the issue and successful -negotiation of three and one-half per cent. bonds. - -At the time of his resignation, Mr. Knox was the oldest officer in term -of service in the department. One of the leading financial writers in the -country, in noticing his retirement, in the _Nation_ said: - -“The retirement of Mr. John Jay Knox from the office of Comptroller of -the Currency is a loss to the public service of no common kind. The -intelligence which he has brought to the complicated duties of his -office has never been surpassed in any similar station, and has not -been equalled in the particular station which he has so long filled. -The National banking system owes much of its present carefulness in -detail management to his mastery of all the facts and principles of -sound finance. His annual reports embrace perhaps the most complete and -satisfactory arrangement of information needful to the business-man, the -student, and the legislator that has ever been furnished in this country -on any economical subject. Mr. Knox resigns the Comptrollership to take -the Presidency of the National Bank of the Republic of New York City.” - -In a speech before the Merchants’ Club of Boston, in February, 1885, Mr. -Knox alluded to the subjects of civil service reform and the coinage of -silver in the following trenchant language: - -“The platforms of both parties in the late campaign contained nothing but -platitudes upon the silver question, which should have been the burning -issue. The candidate of the Republicans seemed to avoid the issue in -his letter of acceptance, rather than to express the sentiments of the -best men in his party. The candidate of the Democrats said nothing. Yet -I am told by good authority that Governor Cleveland is earnest in his -desire to stop the coinage, and that nothing would please him more than -to have a clause inserted in an appropriation bill which would repeal -the law which was passed in the interest of silver miners when the -whole production is not equal, according to Edward Atkinson, who is an -authority upon such subjects, to the production of eggs by the hens of -this country! If Governor Cleveland has the bottom and pluck to carry out -these two reforms, his administration will be one of the most memorable -in the annals of the country. It will elevate not only every branch -of the civil service, but will greatly improve the character of the -representatives sent to Congress from every State of the Union, and will -serve to lift the depression which now burdens every industrial interest. -It will require some intellect to work out these reforms. But it will -require more bottom than brains, and if he has the grit to stand by his -pledges, he will have the united support of all intelligent, upright, and -honest men everywhere without distinction of party.” - -Mr. Knox has written a valuable book, which is justly popular, entitled -“United States Notes.” It is published by the Scribners, and republished -in London, and is a history of the various issues of paper money by the -Government, and is said by George Bancroft to be “a clear, thorough, -able, accurate and impartial work on United States Notes.” - - - - -THE COINAGE ACT OF 1873. - - -The enactment of the Mint Law of 1873 marks an era in the Mint Service -of the United States. Prior to this, the Director of the Mint at -Philadelphia was the Director of all the Mints—the institution at -Philadelphia being regarded as the “Mother Mint,” and the others, at San -Francisco, New Orleans, etc., were called Branch Mints. Each branch had -its Superintendent, reporting direct to Philadelphia. But the authors of -the Act of 1873 regarded the Mint Service as so large and important a -part of the Government, that it should be constituted a separate Bureau -of the Treasury, with the Director located at Washington. One of the -promoters of this Act was the Hon. John Jay Knox, late Comptroller of -the Currency, and now President of the National Bank of the Republic, -New York. The following sketch of the origin and history of the new law -may prove of interest. It was originally published in Rhodes’ Journal of -Banking, July, 1884. Referring to Mr. Knox, the author says: - - “In 1870 he made an elaborate report to Congress (Senate Mis. - Doc. No. 132, XLI. Cong., 2d Sess.), including a codification - of the Mint and Coinage laws, with important amendments, which - was highly commended. The method adopted in this codification - was, first, to arrange in as concise a form as possible the - coinage laws then in existence, with such additional sections - and suggestions as seemed valuable. The proposed bill was - then printed upon paper having a wide margin, and transmitted - to the officers of the different Mints and Assay offices, - and to such other gentlemen as were known to be conversant - and intelligent upon the subject of the coinage, with the - request that the printed bill should be returned with such - notes as experience and education should dictate. In this way - the views of many gentlemen who were conversant with these - subjects were obtained, with but little inconvenience to such - correspondents. This correspondence was subsequently published - by order of Congress, in H. R. Ex. Doc. No. 307, XLI. Cong., - 2d Sess. Having received these suggestions, the bill, which - comprised within the compass of eight or ten pages of the - Revised Statutes every important provision contained in more - than sixty different enactments upon the Mint and Coinage of - the United States—the result of eighty years of legislation—was - prepared and submitted to Congress. This bill, with but slight - amendments, was subsequently passed, and was known as ‘The - Coinage Act of 1873;’ and the Senate Finance Committee, in - recognition of the services of the Comptroller of the Currency, - by an amendment, made that officer an _ex-officio_ member of - the Assay Commission, which meets annually at the Mint in - Philadelphia for the purpose of testing the weight and fineness - of the coinage of the year. Upon his suggestion the coinage of - the silver dollar was discontinued, and the paragraph in the - report upon this subject was as follows: - - “The coinage of the silver dollar-piece, the history of which - is here given, is discontinued in the proposed bill. It is by - law the dollar unit; and, assuming the value of gold to be - fifteen and one-half times that of silver, being about the - mean ratio for the past six years, is worth in gold a premium - of about three per cent., its value being $1.03.12, and - intrinsically more than seven per cent. premium in our other - silver coins, its value thus being $1.07.42. The present laws - consequently authorize both a gold dollar unit and a silver - dollar unit, differing from each other in intrinsic value. - The present gold dollar-piece is made the dollar unit in the - proposed bill, and the silver piece is discontinued.” - -The first Director of the Mint under this new law, was the Hon. Henry R. -Linderman. The title of the chief officer at Philadelphia being changed -to Superintendent—the first incumbent with that title was the Hon. James -Pollock. - -Biographical notices of these officers will be found in their appropriate -place in this volume. - - - - -DIRECTORS OF THE MINT. - - -DAVID RITTENHOUSE, FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE MINT. - -Entering the Cabinet, the portraits of the different Directors attract -attention. That of David Rittenhouse is the copy of a painting by Charles -Willson Peale. Mr. Rittenhouse was appointed by Washington, April 14, -1792, and remained in charge of the Mint until June, 1795, when his -declining health compelled him to resign. - -At an early age he indicated mechanical talent of a high order in the -construction of a clock, and his studies from that time were principally -mathematical. His genius soon attracted attention, and he was appointed -by the colonial governor a surveyor, and in that capacity determined the -famous Mason and Dixon line. He succeeded Benjamin Franklin as President -of the American Philosophical Society. Mr. Barber, late Engraver of the -Mint, executed a bronze medal of Dr. Rittenhouse. Possibly, excepting -Duvivier’s head of Washington after Houdon, it cannot be surpassed in -the Cabinet. The engraver had a very fine subject, and treated it in the -highest style of art. On the obverse is “David Rittenhouse,” with date of -birth and death. On the reverse, inscription, “He belonged to the whole -human race.”—“Wm. Barber.” This beautiful memento is highly prized. - - -HENRY WILLIAM DESAUSSURE, SECOND DIRECTOR OF THE MINT. - -The portrait of Henry William Desaussure, now in the cabinet, was painted -by Samuel Du Bois, from a daguerreotype taken from a family picture. This -Director was distinguished for his legal ability, as well as his strict -integrity. He entered upon his duties with a protest, as he claimed -no knowledge of the requirements of the position, having long been a -practicing lawyer; but he was reassured by Alex. Hamilton, then Secretary -of the Treasury, and proved himself a fine officer for the short term of -his service. He was appointed by Washington, July 8, 1795, but resigned -in the following October. Washington not only expressed regret at losing -so valuable an officer, but consulted him as to the selection of a -successor. - - -ELIAS BOUDINOT, THIRD DIRECTOR OF THE MINT, - -was appointed October 28, 1795, and remained in office eleven years. -In the summer and autumn of 1797 and the two following years, and also -of 1802 and 1803, the Mint was closed on account of the ravages of the -yellow fever. Mr. Boudinot resigned in 1805, and devoted the remainder -of his life to benevolent and literary pursuits. He died on the 24th of -October, 1821, at the advanced age of eighty-two. The fine portrait of -this venerable Director seen in the Cabinet was presented by a relative, -and is a good copy of a painting by Waldo and Jewett. - - -ROBERT PATTERSON, LL.D., FOURTH DIRECTOR OF THE MINT, - -was appointed by President Jefferson, January 17, 1806. He was a native -of Ireland, distinguished for his acquirements and ability. He held -the office of Director for an exceptionally long term of service. His -portrait, which hangs in the Cabinet, is a copy of a fine original by -Rembrandt Peale. - - -SAMUEL MOORE, M. D., FIFTH DIRECTOR OF THE MINT, - -was appointed by President James Monroe, July 15, 1824. He was a native -of New Jersey, and the son of a distinguished Revolutionary officer. He -was one of the first graduates of the Penn University, in 1791, and was -afterwards a tutor in that institution. During his directorship the Mint -was removed to the present building. His portrait was painted from life -by B. Samuel Du Bois, now in the Cabinet. - - -ROBERT MASKELL PATTERSON, M. D., SIXTH DIRECTOR OF THE MINT, - -son of a former Director, was appointed by President Andrew Jackson, May -26, 1835. His term of office was marked by an entire revolution in the -coinage, and the ready acceptance of those improvements which followed -so rapidly upon the introduction of steam. Dr. Patterson possessed -the advantage of foreign travel; and having become familiar with the -discoveries which had been adopted in the French Mint, he inaugurated and -perfected them, also introducing improvements, which are still in use, in -the machinery of the Mint. His portrait is in the Cabinet. - - -GEORGE N. ECKERT, M. D., SEVENTH DIRECTOR OF THE MINT, - -was appointed by President Fillmore, July 1, 1851. He served nearly two -years, and, resigning, was followed by - - -THOMAS M. PETTIT, EIGHTH DIRECTOR OF THE MINT, - -who was appointed by President Pierce, April 4, 1853. He died a few -weeks after his appointment. No portrait of him in the Cabinet. He was -succeeded by - - -HON. JAMES ROSS SNOWDEN, LL.D., NINTH DIRECTOR OF THE MINT. - -Mr. Snowden, who was appointed by President Pierce, June 3, 1853, was -formerly a member of the State Legislature, and served two terms as -Speaker; was afterwards elected for two terms as State Treasurer. During -his official term the building was made fire-proof, the large collection -of minerals was added, and nickel was first coined. - -Mr. Snowden has placed the numismatic world under many obligations, by -directing the publication of two valuable quarto volumes,—one of them a -description of the coins in the Cabinet, under the title of “The Mint -Manual of Coins of all Nations,” the other “The Medallic Memorials of -Washington,” being mainly a description of a special collection made by -himself. In the preface to the former work he gives due credit to the -literary labors of Mr. George Bull, then Curator, and also to a reprint -of the account of the ancient collection, by Mr. Du Bois, who also -furnished other valuable material. These books are valuable as authority, -and by reason of the national character of the last mentioned. - - -JAMES POLLOCK, A.M., LL.D., TENTH DIRECTOR AND FIRST SUPERINTENDENT, - -was appointed by Abraham Lincoln in 1861, and was re-appointed by -President Grant to succeed Dr. Linderman in 1869 to 1873. Born in -Pennsylvania in 1810; graduated at Princeton College, New Jersey, in -1831, and commenced the practice of the law in 1833; he served in -Congress three terms; was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 1854, and -in 1860 was a peace delegate to Washington from his State to counsel with -representatives from different parts of the Union as to the possibility -of amicably adjusting our unhappy national troubles. His portrait, by -Winner, hangs in the eastern section of the Cabinet.[19] - - -HON. HENRY RICHARD LINDERMAN, M. D., DIRECTOR OF THE MINTS AND ASSAY -OFFICES OF THE UNITED STATES, - -was the eldest son of John Jordan Linderman, M. D., and Rachel Brodhead. -He was born in Pike county, Pennsylvania, the 25th of December, 1825. The -elder Dr. Linderman was one of the most noted physicians in northeastern -Pennsylvania, and practiced medicine for nearly half a century in the -valley of the Delaware, in this State, and New Jersey. He was a graduate -of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of New York, where he had -studied under the famous Dr. Valentine Mott. Dr. Linderman’s grandfather, -Jacob von Linderman, came to this country during the disturbed period -of the Austrian War of Succession, during the first half of the last -century, and settled in Orange county, where he purchased a tract of -land. The property is still in the possession of the family. Jacob von -Linderman was the cadet of an ancient and honorable family of Saxony, -which had been distinguished for two centuries in the law and medicine, -several of his ancestors having been counsellors and physicians to the -Elector. He was a descendant of the same family as Margaretta Linderman, -the mother of the great Reformer, Martin Luther. Of this paternal -stock, Dr. Henry R. Linderman was, by his mother, a nephew of the late -Hon. Richard Brodhead, Senator of the United States from Pennsylvania; -grandson of Richard Brodhead, one of the Judges of Pike county, and -great-grandson of Garrett Brodhead, an officer of the Revolution, and -a great-nephew of Luke Brodhead, a Captain in Col. Miles’ Regiment, -and of Daniel Brodhead, Colonel of the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment of -the Continental Line; the latter was afterwards a Brigadier-General, -was one of the original members of the Cincinnati of this State, and -Surveyor-General of the Commonwealth when the war closed. His only son -Daniel was a First Lieutenant in Colonel Shee’s Battalion, was taken -prisoner by the British, and died after two years’ captivity. General -Brodhead married Governor Mifflin’s widow, and died in Milford, Pike -county, in 1803. The nephew of these three brothers, Charles Wessel -Brodhead, of New York, was also in the Revolutionary army, a Captain of -Grenadiers. They all descended from Daniel Brodhead, a Captain of King -Charles II.’s Grenadiers, who had a command in Nichol’s expedition, which -captured New York from the Dutch in 1664. Captain Brodhead was of the -family of that name in Yorkshire, which terminated in England so recently -as 1840 in the person of Sir Henry T. L. Brodhead, baronet. - -Dr. Henry R. Linderman, after receiving an academic education, entered -the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons. When barely of age he -graduated, returned to Pike county and began practice with his father, -and earned a reputation as a skillful and rising physician. - -In 1855 his uncle, Richard Brodhead (United States Senator), procured -his appointment as chief clerk of the Philadelphia Mint. He held this -position until 1864, when he resigned and engaged in business as a banker -and broker in Philadelphia. In 1867 he was appointed Director of the Mint -by President Johnson. In 1869 he resigned. In 1870 he was a commissioner -of the Government to the Pacific coast to investigate the San Francisco -and Carson Mints, and to adjust some intricate bullion questions. In -1871 he was a commissioner to Europe, to examine the coinage systems -of the Great Powers. In 1872 he was a commissioner, with the late Dr. -Robert E. Rogers, of the University of Pennsylvania, for fitting up the -Government refinery at the San Francisco Mint. In the same year he wrote -an elaborate report on the condition of the gold and silver market of the -world. “In this report he called attention to the disadvantages arising -from the computation and quotation of exchange with Great Britain on -the old and complicated Colonial basis, and from the undervaluation of -foreign coins in computing the value of foreign invoices and levying and -collecting duties at the United States Custom Houses.” He was the author -of the Act of March 9th, 1873, which corrected the defects above referred -to. His predictions in this report on the decline in the value of silver -as compared to gold were fulfilled to the letter. - -He was thoroughly familiar with the practice, science, and finance of the -Coinage Department of the Government, and about this time he wrote the -Coinage Act of 1873, and secured its passage through Congress. General -Grant, then President, considered him as the fittest man to organize the -new Bureau, and, though a Democrat, appointed him first Director under -the new Act; the Director being at the head of all the Mints and Assay -Offices in the United States. - -For the remainder of his life until his last illness, which began in -the fall of 1878, he worked incessantly. Under his hands the Bureau of -the Mints and the entire Coinage and Assay service were shaped in their -present form. Much is due to his official subordinates, but his was the -master mind, his the skillful and methodical direction, the studious and -laborious devotion to the duties and obligations of his high position -at the head of the Coinage Department of this great nation, which have -given the United States the best coinage system in the world. It was -Dr. Linderman who projected the “trade dollar,” solely for commerce, -and not intended to enter into circulation here. It was a successful -means of finding a market for our great surplus of silver, which Dr. -Linderman sought to send to Oriental countries rather than flood our own -and depreciate its fickle value. The old silver dollar by the Coinage -Act of 1873 was abolished. The codification of all the legislation of -Congress since the foundation of the Mint in 1792 was thus accomplished. -Other needed legislative enactments were passed by Congress on his -recommendations. - -In 1877 Dr. Linderman wrote, and Putnam published, “Money and Legal -Tender in the United States,” a valuable and interesting contribution -to the science of finance, which was favorably received abroad as well -as here. The same year his official report presented one of the most -exhaustive, profound, and able efforts which has ever emanated from the -Government press. The fact that several of his reports were in use as -text books of technical information in some of the technical schools -(notably that at Harvard University), will serve to show the estimation -in which the late Dr. Linderman was held as an authority upon coinage, -mining, and finance. When the Japanese established their mint, that -government made him the liberal offer of $50,000 to stay in their country -one year and organize their mint service. - -When M. Henri Cernuschi, the eminent financier and the Director of the -French Mint, was in this country in 1878, he said, “Dr. Linderman’s -name is as celebrated on the continent of Europe in connection with -his opinions on the double standard of metallic currency, as that of -Garibaldi in connection with the Italian revolution.” - -In 1877 Dr. Linderman was appointed a commissioner, with power to name -two others, to investigate abuses in the San Francisco Mint and Custom -House. He appointed ex-Governor Low, of California, and Mr. Henry Dodge, -and this commission sat as a court of inquiry in San Francisco in 1877. -He returned to Washington in the autumn of that year. His report of the -commission was duly approved, and all the changes it advised were made by -the Government authorities. - -In 1853 Dr. Linderman married Miss Emily Davis, a highly accomplished -and talented lady, daughter of George H. Davis, one of the pioneer -coal operators of the Wyoming and Carbon districts. Dr. Linderman died -at his residence in Washington in January, 1879, after a long illness -superinduced by his self-sacrificing care and solicitude for public -interests. His conscientious and valuable aid and advice in counsel, -his conception of public duty, which so entirely guided his conduct -in all his official relations connected with our present monetary -system, established through his efforts, justly entitle him to be held -in grateful remembrance for the benefits he conferred upon his fellow -countrymen.[20] - - -COL. A. LOUDON SNOWDEN, SECOND SUPERINTENDENT, - -was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and descends from one of the -old families of Pennsylvania. - -He was educated at the Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. On -the completion of his collegiate course he studied law, but on May 7, -1857, just before being admitted to the bar, accepted the position of -Register, tendered him by his uncle, the late Hon. James Ross Snowden, -then Director of the United States Mint. - -In 1866, a vacancy having occurred in the office of Coiner of the Mint, -he was appointed by the President, and entered upon the duties of this -office October 1, 1866. - -At the request of President Grant, in 1876, he was induced to accept the -Postmastership of Philadelphia. - -He assumed the duties of that office January 1, 1877, with much -reluctance, but soon manifested as Postmaster the same capacity for -thorough discipline and organization which had distinguished him in the -Mint. President Hayes, in December, 1878, tendered him the position -of Director of all the Mints of the United States, made vacant by the -expiration of the commission of Dr. Linderman. After the death of Dr. -Linderman the President again sent for him and urged his acceptance -of the place, which he was believed to have declined previous to Dr. -Linderman’s death from motives of delicacy, having long been the friend -of the late Director. - -This offer he again declined, as the acceptance of it would necessitate -his removal from Philadelphia to Washington. - -In the following February the President again made a tender of office. -This time it was the superintendency of the Philadelphia Mint, and, -as its acceptance of it restored him to a service agreeable to him in -every particular, and permitted him to remain among his friends in -Philadelphia, he promptly accepted, and assumed control of the Mint on -the 1st of March, 1879, and continued in charge of the “Parent Mint” of -the United States until June, 1885, when he resigned his commission. - -In January, 1873, he was elected vice-president of the Fire Association, -one of the oldest and largest fire insurance companies of the United -States. In 1868 he was elected its president. In October, 1880, he was -elected president of the “United Fire Underwriters of America,” an -organization embracing the officers of more than one hundred and fifty of -the leading American and foreign companies doing business in the United -States, representing a capital of over $118,000,000. - - -DANIEL M. FOX. - -Hon. Daniel M. Fox, the new Superintendent of the United States Mint, was -born in this city on the 16th of June, 1819. His ancestors, both on his -father’s and mother’s side, are not without fame, many of them having -figured more or less conspicuously in the early history of the country. -Daniel Miller, his maternal grandfather, took quite a prominent part in -the Revolutionary war, being present with Washington at Germantown, Pa., -New Brunswick, N. J., the Highlands, N. Y., Valley Forge, Pa., the siege -of Yorktown, and witnessed the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. -During the campaign in New Jersey he was taken by the British as a spy -and brought to Philadelphia, but effected his escape and rejoined the -army. At the termination of the war he finally settled with his family in -the old Northern Liberties, where Mr. Fox’s grandfather, by the father’s -side, John Fox, resided. Here Daniel’s father and mother were born, and -here he himself first saw the light, and was reared and educated. - -His parents were possessed of very little of this world’s goods, but -that did not prevent them from giving their son a liberal education, -which he was not backward in taking advantage of. After leaving school -the first two years were employed as clerk in a store, after which he -turned his attention to conveyancing, as he intended to make that his -permanent profession. He devoted the next five years to the close study -of all its intricate details in the office of the late Jacob F. Hoeckley, -who at that period stood at the head of the profession in this city, and -graduating with eminent credit he commenced practice for himself. - -[Illustration: _Daniel M. Fox_] - -The profession is one affording many temptations to men who are not well -grounded in strict integrity, and sustained in the paths of rectitude -and virtue by a conscientious regard for the _meum_ and _tuum_ of a -well-ordered business life; but Mr. Fox, looking upon his profession as -one of dignity and trust, soon commanded and permanently secured the -confidence of the public, by avoiding those speculative ventures which -have brought so much disrepute upon it, and by a scrupulous regard for -the interests of those who placed their property in his keeping. In -consequence, the business entrusted to him has increased to such an -extent from year to year that it is said he has more estates in his -charge for settlement, as administrator, executor, or trustee, than -any other single individual in Philadelphia. His practice constantly -increasing as time rolled on, the laws touching real estate operations -becoming more complicated year by year, and appreciating the necessity -in many cases for court proceedings to secure perfection of title, -he submitted himself to a legal examination, and was admitted to the -Philadelphia bar in November, 1878. - - -HIS PUBLIC CAREER. - -His first step in public life was at the age of twenty-one, when he was -elected a member of the Board of School Directors of the district in -which he then lived, and for many years prior to 1854, when the city was -consolidated, and the law in that regard changed, he was President of -the Board. For many years he had taken an active interest in the public -schools, and was a pioneer in the night-school system for adults. He -was chosen two consecutive terms by the City Councils as a Director of -Girard College, and also represented the Northern Liberties in the Board -of Health, having charge of the sanitary matters and the quarantine -regulations of the city, and was quite active and efficient in the -abatement of the cholera, which was epidemic here twice during the nine -years he served in that Board. - -For three years he represented his ward in the Select Council of -Philadelphia with credit and ability. In 1861 he retired from Councils, -and in the year following was unanimously nominated for the Mayoralty by -the Democratic party. The city at that time was strongly Republican, and -he was defeated by Hon. Alexander Henry, although he ran largely ahead of -his ticket. In 1865 he again received a unanimous nomination for the same -office, and ran against Hon. Morton McMichael and with the same result. -His personal popularity, however, was in the ascendant, and when he was -placed in nomination in 1868 against General Hector Tyndale, he was duly -elected. - -On January 1, 1869, he was inaugurated, and his first official duty as -Mayor was to formally receive on behalf of the city authorities General -Grant as President-elect. The reception took place in Independence Hall, -in the presence of Councils and a large number of prominent citizens, -and was conducted on the part of the new Mayor with ease, grace, and -elegance. His municipal administration was marked by many reformatory -and sanitary measures, especially in those portions of the city where -the impurity of the denizens hazarded the health of more respectable -neighborhoods. It was during his official term that the Volunteer Fire -Department ceased to exist. It had been his practice during its closing -days to attend all conflagrations for the double purpose of holding a -moral check on the lawless and to stimulate the police in their duties of -keeping the streets clear for the free exercise of those whose business -it was to extinguish the flames. The passage by Councils of the ordinance -establishing a Paid Fire Department created a profound sensation in the -city, arousing the bitter feelings of many of the volunteer firemen, and -kindling an intense anxiety on the part of the people generally as to -the fate of the bill when it reached the hands of the Mayor. He retained -it for a fortnight, unsigned, evidently desiring to soften the feeling -engendered by its passage, and also to perfect such arrangements as would -be necessary to meet any emergency in carrying the act into effect. The -latter being accomplished, he formally approved the ordinance and it -became a law. This course was very unpalatable to the riotous element -of the volunteers, who manifested their feelings in various ways, such -as suspending the effigy of the Mayor in several engine houses, but no -other violent demonstrations of any moment occurred, as the steps taken -by his officers proved effective and rigorous; these, coupled with the -co-operation of many of the discreet firemen, enabled the new “Paid -Department” to go into operation without any disturbance whatever, and -the city has ever since rejoiced in an efficient system without any of -the former accompaniments of noise, riot, and public disturbance. - -A startling attempt at assassination occurred during Mayor Fox’s -incumbency, in the shooting of United States Revenue Detective James -Brooks, in open day, in a Front street store, by some miscreants. The -case was at once taken in hand by the Mayor, who by stimulating the -police and offering heavy rewards caused the arrest of the parties. -Their conviction soon followed. Whenever any question of grave public -importance presented itself, it was his practice to invite conferences -with the most prominent citizens at his office, as to the best course to -be pursued; thus, while showing a true devotion to the public interests, -he was enabled to act with great sagacity; he also brought to his -support the power of eloquence, which he possesses in an eminent degree; -this added much to his popularity. He did not hesitate to use the veto -whenever he differed with Councils, and during his term he transmitted to -these bodies thirty-two messages of this character, the majority of which -were sustained. His official term ended in a most gratifying manner, -both chambers of Councils unanimously passing resolutions of thanks for -his able and energetic administration of the city’s affairs. This was -followed by a grand banquet at the Academy of Music, tendered to him by -our most distinguished citizens, irrespective of party. In two successive -State conventions he received complimentary votes for the Gubernatorial -nominations. - -The great International Exposition in commemoration of the centennial -anniversary of the birth of our nation was held in this city in 1876. In -the preparation for this grand demonstration, in its opening and down -to its close, in the autumn of that year, Mr. Fox took a leading part, -the incipient step having been taken in the Mayor’s Office during his -administration, in a consultation with a committee from the Franklin -Institute, who waited upon him for that purpose. As an active and earnest -member of the Centennial Board of Finance, which had charge of all the -funds for the Exposition, Mr. Fox contributed his time, his means, and -his voice greatly to its promotion and final success. - -Once more Mr. Fox was called to the discharge of an important public -duty. For a number of years a controversy had existed between the -general Government and the railroad corporations with reference to the -transportation of the United States mails, the former complaining that -the service was not satisfactorily rendered, and the latter that they -were not adequately compensated. - -On the 12th of July, 1876, Congress passed a bill authorizing the -President to appoint a Commission of three civilians to investigate the -subject and make report upon it. Mr. Fox was one of the appointees, -his colleagues being selected from other States. The Commission, in -the exercise of its functions, visited every section of the country, -embracing a distance of travel of over twenty-eight thousand miles. -Sessions were held in all the principal cities, much testimony taken, -and when its labors were completed a report of great value was prepared -and presented, which went far towards a satisfactory settlement of the -controversy. - - [From The History of the Philadelphia Police.] - - One of the most important occurrences during Mr. Fox’s term as - Mayor was the abolition of the old Volunteer Fire Department. - The ordinance for the erection of a Paid Fire department was - passed December 29, 1870, after a series of hot debates. The - old volunteers were a power in politics, but their acts of - violence and incendiarism made it imperative in the opinion - of a majority of citizens that they should be superseded. The - passage of the ordinance caused a sensation because it was not - believed that Councils would dare to abolish the volunteers. - Feeling ran high. The firemen held meeting after meeting in - their engine-houses. All attention was directed towards the - Mayor. Would he sign the ordinance and make it a law? He had - ten days in which to consider the bill. He was known to favor - it; but day after day passed and he took no action. Meanwhile - he was not asleep. He had perfected police arrangements whereby - the whole force could be called out at once on the outbreak - of any violence, and the excitement was so great that the - rowdy element and the firemen were expected to sally forth at - any moment. There were two or three isolated outrages, but - no general riot. The ten days drew towards a close and the - excitement became less intense every day. It was with this - object in view that the Mayor delayed signing the ordinance. He - waited until the last day before putting his signature to the - bill. The volunteers had become in a degree reconciled to the - measure, and some of them hoped to resume work with engine and - hook-and-ladder under the new system. - - The old volunteer firemen now hold Mr. Fox in high esteem. - At the great fire in Newhall, Borie & Co.’s sugar refinery, - which stood at the corner of Race and Crown streets, the lives - of a number of the volunteers were endangered through their - own stubbornness, and only saved through determined action - on the part of the Mayor. The engine-house of the refinery - was a single story building facing on Crown street; over it - was a projection five or six stories in height containing the - hoisting apparatus and other machinery of great weight. - - HIS WATCHFUL CARE SAVES MANY LIVES. - - About a score of the firemen took up a position on the roof - of the engine-house and directed a stream of water against - the main building. Unknown to them the flames were rapidly - eating their way to the machinery in the projection over them. - The Mayor made it a point to attend all important fires, and - frequently his vigilance at great conflagrations resulted in - the detection of gangs of thieves who operated in the uniform - of firemen. On this occasion he observed the danger which - threatened the men. It was evident to him that the machinery - would soon be reached, and the projection fall. A serious - disaster would be the consequence unless the men removed. The - Mayor sent the Chief of Police to inform them of their danger, - and endeavored to induce them to retire from their perilous - position. They angrily declared they would occupy whatever - place they pleased, and said the Mayor should mind his own - business as he had no authority over them. The Mayor saw that - prompt and decisive action was necessary if the lives of the - men were not to be sacrificed. He ordered Chief Mulholland - to drive the headstrong fellows from the roof by force. All - the policemen in the neighborhood of the fire were collected - and they charged the volunteers, who were routed with some - difficulty and came clamoring around the Mayor, demanding to - know by what authority he had interfered with them, execrating - and threatening him with personal violence. - - “Wait five minutes and I will give you an answer,” said Mr. - Fox, quietly. - - A moment later the projection with all the heavy machinery - fell, crushing the engine-house. The men who a moment before - had reviled the Mayor were silent for a moment, then they - gathered around him and gave three prolonged and hearty cheers - for Daniel M. Fox. - -Mr. Fox was the first Mayor who directed the roping off the streets -during large conflagrations, thereby keeping away not only the crowds who -drawn by idle curiosity went simply to look on but also those persons who -may have been attracted for purposes of theft. It aided considerably, -too, in giving the Fire Department a clean working space, thus adding -to their efficiency, and also avoiding the chance of accidents from -falling embers or walls. This plan so wisely begun has been followed with -advantage by every successive Mayor. - -Mr. Fox’s participation in the philanthropic and benevolent movements -of the city has always been unlimited. As President of the Pennsylvania -Society for the Protection of Children from Cruelty, Trustee of the -Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, and in his connection -with many other charitable works, his constant aim has been the -alleviation of the sufferings and the general welfare of his fellow men. - -Personally, Mr. Fox is of dignified and distinguished presence, yet in -manner affable, courteous, and kind. Always interested in his fellow -men, he draws men towards him and impresses them with the sincerity of -his nature and the unselfishness of his purpose. Love of justice is -one of the strong characteristics of the man, and his life has been -singularly free from the petty strifes which disfigure the lives of so -many who have had to fight their battle against odds. His selection for -the Superintendency of the Mint, being unsought, was a just tribute to -his unquestioned integrity and his eminent abilities as a public man. The -country is fortunate in his preferment, and his administration of the -affairs of the Mint will fitly crown an honored career. - -Superintendent Fox has greatly improved the immediate surroundings of -the Mint since his entrance upon duty. The areas have been cleared of -rubbish, temporary wooden structures demolished, where it is possible -to dispense with them, and a systematic policing of the premises has -been adopted. But perhaps the most notable of the improvements which -Superintendent Fox has made is the removal of the old steam plant -from the body of the basement and the creation of a new and much more -efficient plant in vaults prepared outside of the walls. This has had -the effect to render the atmosphere of the building cool and pure, and -at the same time has actually increased the working space nearly forty -per cent. Another story has also been added to the adjusting room, with -appliances for cooking and toilet, thus increasing the comfort of the -ladies employed in that department. The plots on either hand of the -entrance on Chestnut street show some happy efforts to please the eye, -in a renewal of the sward and landscape gardening in colors. The fine -specimens of American cypress in the centre of these plots seem to have -borrowed fresh attractions from their new and beautiful setting, and -their foliage contrasts pleasingly with the clumps of foliage plants and -exotics beneath. Throughout the premises the supervision of a thorough -business man is apparent; nothing seems to escape the eyes of the -vigilant Superintendent. - - -COINERS. - -HENRY VOIGT, the first Chief Coiner, was appointed by President -Washington, January 29, 1793. He was selected on account of his -mechanical knowledge and skill, being a clockmaker by trade. Many of our -old families bear witness to the skill of Mr. Voigt in the affection they -have for many an “old clock on the stairs,” for the manufacture of which -timekeepers he was quite famous. Mr. Voigt held office until removed by -death in February, 1814. - -ADAM ECKFELDT was born in Philadelphia, June 15, 1769. He was trained -to mechanical pursuits by his father, who was a large manufacturer of -edge-tools and implements. On the establishment of the Mint he was -engaged to construct some of the machinery for it. He built the first -screw-coining presses. The contrivance for ejecting the piece from -the collar, together with some other mechanical appliances, were his -invention. - -In an old pay-roll of 1795 (see page 12), we find the name of “Adam -Eckfeldt, Die Forger and Turner.” His official connection dates from -January 1, 1796, when he was appointed Assistant Coiner by Director -Boudinot, with the consent of President Washington. Upon the death of -Henry Voigt, Mr. Eckfeldt was appointed to succeed him as Chief Coiner, -and remained in that position until he resigned, in 1839. He continued to -visit the Mint for some years after; and he is yet remembered as a hard -worker in the Mint, without compensation. For half a century he was one -of the central figures of the Mint service. His mechanical skill, his -zeal, energy, and uprightness, brought him many distinctions, both as an -officer and a citizen. - -In his letter of resignation he warmly recommends the appointment of -Franklin Peale, in the following terms: “I feel it my duty, in leaving -office, to recommend that my place be filled by Mr. Franklin Peale, the -present Melter and Refiner. Our close association as fellow-officers has -made me acquainted with his peculiar qualifications, and I therefore know -him to be fitted for the situation; and I do not know any other person -that is.” He had a high ideal of what a chief coiner should be. - -Mr. Eckfeldt died February 6, 1852, in his 83d year. - -FRANKLIN PEALE was the son of Charles Willson Peale, the eminent -artist and founder of Peale’s Museum. Born in the Hall of the American -Philosophical Society, October 15, 1795, he was presented to the society -by his father, when four months old, as “the first child born in the -Philosophical Hall,” and with a request that the society should name him. -He was accordingly named after the chief founder and first President of -the Society—Franklin. - -Young Peale early showed a taste for mechanics, and his father gave -him every facility to improve himself in any direction in which nature -seemed to lead him. Part of his general education was received at the -University of Pennsylvania and part at the Germantown Academy. At the age -of seventeen he entered the machine shop of Hodgson & Bro., Delaware. -He soon grew to be a skilled mechanic and draughtsman. Some time after -he became manager of his father’s Museum. He assisted Baldwin in the -construction of the first locomotive built in this country. In 1833 -Mr. Peale entered the Mint service, and was sent to Europe by Director -Moore to examine into foreign Mint methods. He brought with him valuable -apparatus for the Assay Department, together with other important -improvements and suggestions. He was appointed Melter and Refiner in 1836 -and Chief Coiner in 1839. He introduced the first steam coining press, -the milling machine and some other of our more modern forms of Mint -machinery. - -Mr. Peale’s administration as Chief Coiner may be said to mark an era in -the mechanic arts of Minting. Being specially fitted, by natural genius -as well as education, for the position which he adorned, his mildness, -integrity, gentlemanly bearing and high moral and mental culture -constituted him a model officer. His connection with the service lasted -until 1854. He died on the 5th of May, 1870. - -GEORGE K. CHILDS, appointed December 12, 1854. - -LEWIS R. BROOMALL, appointed June 30, 1861. - -JOHN G. BUTLER, appointed November 30, 1863. - -A. LOUDON SNOWDEN, appointed October 1, 1866. - -(For sketch of A. Loudon Snowden, see list of Directors and -Superintendents, page 92.) - -COLONEL O. C. BOSBYSHELL. On the 4th of May, 1869, Ex-Governor Pollock, -then Director of the Mint, appointed Col. Bosbyshell Register of -Deposits. His course in the Mint was so satisfactory that, without -solicitation, he was made assistant coiner by Col. A. L. Snowden, the -then coiner, on the 1st of October, 1872. Upon Col. Snowden’s appointment -as Postmaster of Philadelphia, Col. Bosbyshell was appointed Coiner of -the Mint by President Grant, on the 15th of December, 1876, and remained -in that capacity until January, 1885, when, to the regret of all parties -having business relations with him, he tendered his resignation to accept -a responsible position in the Controller’s Office, tendered him by his -friend, Col. Robert P. Dechert. - -WILLIAM S. STEEL was born in the City of Philadelphia, on the 1st of -March, 1841. He received a good common school education, and in 1856 -entered the office of David Cooper & Co., at Girard’s wharves, remaining -engaged in mercantile pursuits till 1861. At 19 years of age he was -appointed by Colonel James Ross Snowden, then Director of the United -States Mint, First Assistant Weigh Clerk. In this position he served -continuously through Colonel J. Ross Snowden, ex-Governor Pollock, and -Colonel A. Loudon Snowden’s administrations. In September, 1862, just -before the battle of Antietam, Mr. Steele entered the State service, -and served with the Thirty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, -until discharged by expiration of term. When Colonel A. Loudon Snowden -was transferred to the Post Office, January, 1877, Mr. Steele, upon the -recommendation of the then Coiner, Colonel O. C. Bosbyshell, became -Assistant Coiner, a position he filled in a most acceptable manner, until -Colonel Bosbyshell’s retirement in February, 1885, when he was made -Coiner. - -HARRY A. CHESTER, Assistant Coiner, was born in Philadelphia (Northern -Liberties), September 10, 1852, and educated in the North East -School, Sixth Section. He was an attachee of the National House of -Representatives from 1876 to 1882, clerk in Register of Wills’ Office -from January 1, 1883, until May, 1885, when he was appointed by Colonel -A. Loudon Snowden as Assistant Weigh Clerk, and promoted by Hon. Daniel -M. Fox in October, 1886. - -DR. HENRY LEFFMANN was appointed Chief Coiner at the Philadelphia Mint -January 10, 1888, by President Cleveland. Dr. Leffmann was born in -Philadelphia September 9, 1847, and was educated in the public schools of -Philadelphia, including four years at the Central High School. He devoted -three years in practical study in the laboratory of Dr. Charles M. -Cresson, and graduated at Jefferson Medical College in 1869, having been -for some years assistant to the Professor of Chemistry at the College, -and in 1875 was elected Lecturer on Toxicology, which position he held -for a number of years. In 1876 he was elected to take charge of the -laboratory of the Central High School, and remained in that position for -four years. In 1883 he was elected Professor of Chemistry and Metallurgy -in the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, a position which he still -holds; and he has been for a number of years Professor of Chemistry and -Mineralogy in the Wagner Free Institute of Science. Dr. Leffmann has -been engaged as chemical expert in patent and criminal cases, notably -in the Goerson poisoning case and the chrome-yellow poisoning cases. He -is a member of several American and foreign scientific societies, has -contributed papers to current scientific literature, and has for the past -five years been editor of _The Polyclinic_, a monthly medical journal. -In 1880 he was a candidate for Coroner on the Democratic ticket, but was -defeated, and in 1884 was appointed Port Physician for Philadelphia by -Governor Pattison, and held that position until October, 1887. - - -ASSAYERS. - -JACOB R. ECKFELDT, Sixth Assayer, was born in Philadelphia, 1846. He -entered the Assay Department as Second Weigher, in 1865. By regular -promotions he reached the position of Assistant Assayer, in 1872, -and upon the death of his superior he was appointed and confirmed as -Assayer, December 21, 1881. The position of Assayer is one of great -responsibility, and demands not only scientific training but wide and -special knowledge and experience upon subjects relating to the history -and arts of Coinage. Since the foundation of the Mint there have been but -six official heads of this department. - -WILLIAM MCINTIRE was born in Delaware in 1831. He entered the Assay -Department of the Mint as an assistant in September, 1853, which position -he held, with the exception of a short interim while he was engaged in -mercantile business, until October, 1887, when by regular promotion he -was appointed Assistant Assayer. - - -JACOB R. ECKFELDT. - -EXTRACT FROM AN OBITUARY NOTICE BY MR. DU BOIS. - -(_Read before the American Philosophical Society, Oct. 4th, 1872._) - - Jacob R. Eckfeldt, late Assayer of the Mint, was the son of - Adam and Margaretta Eckfeldt, and was born in Philadelphia, - March —, 1803. He was, therefore, in his seventieth year, at - the time of decease, August 9th, 1872. - - In the Spring of 1832, Mr. John Richardson, who had been - Assayer about one year, and did not find the employment - congenial to his tastes, informed Mr. Eckfeldt that he intended - to resign, and wished him to prepare to take the place. Mr. E. - shrank from this responsibility, and declined. But some of his - friends who had influence with President Jackson, presented his - name with a strong recommendation and he was appointed without - being asked as to his party preferences. This occurred on the - 30th of April, 1832. He therefore held the office _over forty - years_. - - When he entered upon the work, he had to encounter some - embarrassments. The apparatus was old-fashioned, and not - calculated for nice results. The silver assay had been well - performed, without going to a close figure, for many years; but - gold was little known in the country or at the Mint, and it - is not surprising that its assay was incorrectly performed. - Add to this, there was the coarse and cumbrous nomenclature, - brought from the old country, of carats and grains for gold - fineness, and so many grains to the pound for silver fineness. - - Close upon all this, that is to say, in June, 1834, came the - celebrated reduction in the standards of our gold coin, one of - the chief measures of the Jackson administration. This changed - gold from a curiosity to a currency; bullion and foreign - coin flowed to the mint, and accuracy of assay was more than - ever needful. Mr. Eckfeldt was equal to the emergency, and - resolutely introduced reforms, which, at first, made the older - officers stand in doubt. - - In those days, about the time the new mint edifice on Chestnut - street was finishing, Mr. Peale was sent to London and Paris - to observe the methods of assaying and refining, and to - procure a new apparatus. We were thus supplied with French - beams, weights, and cupel furnaces, and with the appliances - of Gay-Lussac’s humid assay, and the printed details of the - process. Soon after, Mr. Saxton, famous for his skill in - constructing balances and other delicate instruments, returned - from a long schooling in that line in London, and was employed - in the Mint. Thus furnished, Mr. Eckfeldt felt himself “set - up,” and able to compete with the foreign assayers, and if he - was ever more precise, it was because he disregarded certain - allowances which had become a time-honored custom. - - A large importation of fine gold bars from France, known as - the French Indemnity, and which came because President Jackson - declared he “would submit to nothing that was wrong,” gave a - fine opportunity for testing and comparing foreign assays; and - it was generally found that these bars were somewhat below - the alleged fineness. A still more important discovery, was - the fact that British Sovereigns ran below their standard of - fineness. This happened when he had been in office less than - three years, and the Director was unwilling to set the finding - of young Eckfeldt against the experience of Old England. - The Assayer being assured and re-assured of the accuracy of - his results, Director Moore consented to notify the British - Government of their error. The result was a closer scrutiny in - the London Mint, and a final acknowledgement that they were - wrong. This was no less a triumph for Mr. Eckfeldt, than it was - a contribution to exact science, and an honor to the American - Government. - - It is not surprising, that he felt at first the inconvenience - of passing from one form of nomenclature to another, though to - a better one. A friend remarks, “I recall conversations with - Mr. Eckfeldt, showing how seriously he felt the revolution. He - would _think_ in carats, and _report_ in decimals. And I often - recur to this as illustrating the kind of difficulties which - would arise in case of a decimalising of weights and measures.” - - For some years prior to 1842, Mr. Eckfeldt and his Assistant, - in addition to their ordinary duties, engaged in the - preparation of an original and comprehensive work on the Coins - of all Nations; on the Varieties of Gold and Silver Bullion; on - Counterfeit Coins, and on other subjects related thereto. This - was published in 1842, and has long been regarded as a standard - authority. In 1850, they issued a supplementary smaller work, - and again in 1852. - - As the United States increased in commerce, wealth and - population, the Mint of course increased in work. In - particular, Mexican dollars came in great quantities for - recoinage. Not only were our vaults full, but our entries and - corridors were at times crowded with rows of kegs. Every day, - for years, we had the constant task of sixteen melts of silver - ingots to melt and assay; and it was a great advantage and - satisfaction to be supplied with the _humid_ apparatus. - - The success of gold mining in our Southern States, and - the increasing commerce of New Orleans, gave rise to the - establishment of three branch mints at the South, in 1837; - and it devolved upon Mr. Eckfeldt to become schoolmaster, and - educate the three assayers appointed for those places. The same - had to be done again at a later date for other mints and assay - offices. - - In December, 1848, came the first lot of gold grains from - California; and with the opening of the next year the tide - set in most powerfully. I shall not here speak of this great - turning-point in metallic currency any further than as it - affected the mint, or rather the labor which it laid upon - Mr. Eckfeldt and his department. As is well known, the lots - were numerous, and the aggregate amount was enormous. Instead - of making gold assays by dozens, we had to go through with - hundreds every day, following the arrival of each steamer. - We procured young men as operators in the weigh-room and - additional workmen in the laboratory; and in spite all the - help we were overworked. Here let me say that the persons who - have been educated by Mr. Eckfeldt to this profession have - done credit to the selection that was made, not only by skill, - diligence, and good character while here, but wherever they are - now scattered to other mints and assay offices, or to different - pursuits. - - The gold pressure continued for about five years, when it was - relieved by the creation of a Government assay office in New - York, and a branch mint at San Francisco. But directly sequent - to this came the change of standard in silver coin, causing - an immense recoinage in small pieces. Thus our daily assays - continued to count by hundreds. This lasted for some years. - When it began to slacken off, a law was passed for calling in - the large copper coins and issuing in their stead pieces of - copper-nickel alloy of much smaller size. - - The analysis of Nickel alloys was not well laid down in - the books, and the European or other assays which came - with purchased lots showed an incorrect determination. Mr. - Eckfeldt was therefore obliged to study out and perfect this - assay, which is more tedious and laborious, though of less - consequence, than the assay of the precious metals. - - But it was his habit to be as scrupulous in minor matters as - in major; and after the routine was well settled it went on - with the same clockwork regularity as the other branches of - assaying. I need not say that this nickel coinage imposed - another heavy pressure upon the mint for years. - - After this came the substitution of the Bronze alloy; and this - called for another process of assay, and brought us a great - deal of work. - - I thus hastily review this sequence of gold, silver, nickel, - and bronze, not only as an interesting part of Mint History, - but to show the varied and abundant services of the untiring, - energetic Principal Assayer, and the masterly skill with which - he met every obligation. - - His skill and success as an Assayer and Analyst largely - consisted in his power of finding out what was defective or - erroneous, and in applying the proper remedy. It often seemed - that what was a puzzle to others was to him a matter of quick - insight. - - In the assays of certain complex alloys, and of low grades of - gold and silver, he contrived various methods which are not in - print, but which are of great use in the daily manipulations. - - And here I may state that he not only introduced great accuracy - and precision in the assays, but carried special investigations - to a delicacy almost incredible. Thus, much interest was - excited by a publication some years ago, both in this country - and across the Atlantic, of his experiment upon the brick-clay - which underlies our city. Taking two samples from the center of - the town and the suburbs he found they contained gold at the - rate of nearly 12 grains (say fifty cents) to the ton of clay - in its ordinary moisture. Other experiments went to prove the - very general diffusion of gold, in infinitesimal proportions. - - Some analysts, through want of exactitude, or for the pleasure - of making a sensation, may produce very curious results; - but Mr. Eckfeldt was conscientious, I may say, nervously - scrupulous, about stating anything he was not sure of. Partly - for that reason, partly for the very love of work, he was - laborious to a fault, all his life long. - - -UNITED STATES MINT OFFICERS. - - Washington, D. C., James P. Kimball, Director of the Mint $4,500 - Philadelphia, Pa., Daniel M. Fox, Superintendent 4,500 - Boise City, Idaho, Norman H. Camp 2,000 - Carson City, Nevada, James Crawford, Superintendent 3,000 - Charlotte, N. C., Calvin J. Cowles, Assayer 1,500 - Denver, Colorado, Herman Silver, Assayer 2,500 - Helena, Montana, Russell B. Harrison, Assayer 2,500 - New Orleans, La., Andrew W. Smyth, Superintendent 3,500 - New York, N. Y., Andrew Mason, Superintendent 4,500 - San Francisco, Cal., Edw. F. Burton, Superintendent 4,500 - St. Louis, Mo., Eliot C. Jewett, Assayer 2,500 - - -WILLIAM E. DU BOIS. - -Extract from an obituary notice by Robert Patterson. - -(Read before the American Philosophical Society, November 18, 1881.) - - William Ewing Du Bois was born at Doylestown, Pennsylvania, - December 15, 1810. Through his father, Rev. Uriah Du Bois, - he was descended from Louis Du Bois, a French Huguenot of - honorable extraction, who emigrated to America in 1660, - seeking freedom of religious worship, and, in connection with - others of his countrymen, formed the settlement of New Paltz, - Ulster County, New York. Through his mother, Martha Patterson, - daughter of Professor Robert Patterson, of the University of - Pennsylvania, he inherited the Scotch-Irish element which - has exerted so marked an influence in the development of our - country. - - The father of Mr. Du Bois was a Presbyterian clergyman, in - charge of churches in and near Doylestown, and was principal of - the Union Academy at that place, a classical school then and - afterwards of high reputation. He was greatly respected, both - as preacher and teacher. - - The bright and studious mind of Mr. Du Bois gathered every - advantage from his opportunities, and he was well furnished in - the classics and mathematics, and in English literature. While - yet a boy he developed a freedom and capacity as a writer quite - remarkable. - - His oldest brother was an eminent member of the bar, and it - seemed fitting that Mr. Du Bois should, under his guidance, - adopt the law as his profession. He accordingly pursued the - usual course, in the meantime aiding to support himself by - literary work and conveyancing, and was admitted to practice - in September, 1832. But his health failing him on account of - a bronchial affection, he accepted an appointment in the Mint - at Philadelphia, and thus began the life-work by which his - reputation was established. - - Mr. Du Bois entered the Mint in September, 1833, and was - first employed in the office of the Director, Dr. Moore. In - 1835, at the request of the Assayer, Mr. Jacob R. Eckfeldt, - he was transferred to a more congenial position in the assay - department. Here he continued for the remainder of his life. In - 1836 he was appointed Assistant Assayer. In September, 1872, he - succeeded Mr. Eckfeldt as Assayer, and remained at the head of - the department until his death, July 14, 1881, thus completing - nearly forty-eight years of Mint service. - - Mr. Du Bois early took rank as an accomplished assayer, and - long before his death had reached the head of his profession. - - The close intimacy between Mr. Du Bois and Mr. Eckfeldt - developed into warm friendship. The tie was made closer by - the marriage of Mr. Du Bois, in 1840, to Susanna Eckfeldt, - the sister of his chief. I shall have to speak of published - works and scientific communications appearing under the names - of Eckfeldt and Du Bois. Although it was understood that Mr. - Du Bois was the sole literary author, yet no separate claim - of authorship was made by either. Whatever of reputation was - earned, each was contented that it might be shared by the - other, and jealousy never for a moment weakened a union that - bound them for life. - - In the year 1834 a change took place in the ratio of gold to - silver in the standard of U. S. coins, the effect of which - was to bring large deposits of gold to the Mint. The coinage - previously had been chiefly of silver. The more equal supply of - the precious metals gave active employment in the assay of each - of them, and was, of course, most valuable as an experience - to Mr. Du Bois, who about this time became connected with the - assay department. - - In 1837, on revision of the Mint laws and standards brought - about by Dr. Robert M. Patterson, then Director, a reform was - effected in the method of reporting assays, the millesimal - system taking the place of the time-honored but cumbrous - method of carats and grains. About this time, also, the older - plan of assaying silver was abandoned, the humid assay being - substituted, and largely worked under the direct supervision of - Mr. Du Bois. - - About 1838 branch mints were organized in the States of - Louisiana, Georgia, and North Carolina. The labors and - responsibilities of the Philadelphia assay department were - increased by this development, partly from the necessity of - instructing assayers for the new branches, and partly in - testing the correctness of the assays made there. - - In 1848 the great discovery of gold in California was made - known. This brought a tremendous pressure on every department - of the Mint, and not the least on the assayers. The gold - coinage was, in three years, raised from a little over three - million dollars to more than sixty-two millions. The assays - were often counted by hundreds in a day. But whatever the - pressure in the office, accuracy ruled, and the correctness of - the assays was never impeached. - - In 1853 a change was effected in the law for providing - subordinate silver coins. This brought about, for some years - succeeding, an unprecedented coinage of that metal, and still - further increased the labors of the assay department. - - He instituted the Cabinet of coins which now adorns the Mint. - This was commenced in 1838. A small annual appropriation - was procured from Congress for this purpose, and the work - of collection committed entirely to Mr. Du Bois. He brought - to it all the enthusiasm which animates most numismatists, - sobered, however, by good judgment. His expenditures were - always judicious. Some of the best of the specimens were culled - from the Mint deposits for the bullion value, merely, of the - pieces. After the collection had taken good shape, and been - well classified, he wrote and published, in 1846, a description - of it, under the title “Pledges of History,” etc. The title - thus selected intimated his opinion as to the real value of - such collections. He thought that a coin should be prized for - its historical teaching, or artistic merit, and discouraged the - rage to possess a piece simply because of its rarity. Mr. Du - Bois acted as curator of the Cabinet until his death. - - Another important labor undertaken by Mr. Du Bois (in - connection with Mr. Eckfeldt) was the preparation and - publication, in 1842, of a “Manual of the Gold and Silver Coins - of all nations, struck within the past century.” This was a - work of very great labor, and, from its expense, of some risk - also to the authors. It is admirably arranged, the information - clear, and it embraced every subject of interest at that - date as to coins, bullion, counterfeits, etc. Subsequently, - in 1850 and 1851, supplements were published covering later - topics, made prominent in consequence of the California gold - discoveries. - - The writings of Mr. Du Bois were numerous, and continued up to - the year of his death. His papers on numismatics were frequent - and always attractive, his last appearance in print being - in April of this year, in an article on the “Coinage of the - Popes.” To the “American Philosophical Society,” of which he - was elected a member in 1844, he made various communications on - behalf of Mr. Eckfeldt and himself, mostly on topics suggested - by experiences in the assay department. Among the most curious - was one on “The Natural Dissemination of Gold,” by which we - were astonished to learn that this precious metal is found in - appreciable quantity in the clays underlying our city. - - In 1869 he wrote for the “Bankers’ Magazine,” “Propositions - for a Revised System of Weights, and a Restoration of Silver - Currency.” The development of his views on these subjects - is a model of clear exposition, and the conclusions reached - were such as might be expected from a mind aiming to attain - practical results rather than to impose visionary theories. - - From the beginning he was highly esteemed at the Mint. It was - his ambition to acquire a knowledge of every branch of the - service, and with his capacity and opportunities this end was - attained. He early became the trusted friend and counsellor - of his colleagues, and was able to serve them in many ways, - perhaps most of all with his ready pen. As time passed, and - forty-eight years of experience was given to him, he was - recognized by all as the Nestor of the Mint service. And here I - pause to draw a lesson, from the example of Mr. Du Bois’s life, - as to the value of a properly organized civil service. In the - department with which he was connected, political tests were - never obtruded, and permanence of tenure followed on merit. - On no other basis could his services have been claimed or - retained. They would have been transferred to a private sphere, - probably to his pecuniary gain, certainly to the public loss. - He was very accessible, and ever ready to lend aid from the - stores of his knowledge, but in particular did he delight to - instruct and bring forward his younger friends. - - Mr. Du Bois was able to fulfill his official duties until - within a few months of his death. He was fully conscious of his - approaching end, preserving his intelligence to the last, and - the faith which had comforted him in this life supported him at - its close. - - The following minute was adopted at a meeting of the officers - and employees after his decease: - - “The remarkably close conformity of the United States coins to - the standard assigned them by law, has been recognized by the - highest Mint authorities of the world to be unsurpassed, if - quite equalled, in its uniform exactness. The founding of such - a reputation and its continuance during the last half-century, - are largely due to the joint labors of the late Jacob R. - Eckfeldt and William E. Du Bois.” - - -MELTERS AND REFINERS. - -JOSEPH CLOUD, appointed January, 1797; served until January, 1836 (39 -years). - -FRANKLIN PEALE, appointed January 5, 1836. - -JONAS R. MCCLINTOCK, appointed February 19, 1840. - -RICHARD S. MCCULLOCH, appointed in April, 1846; served until April 1, -1849. - -JAMES CURTIS BOOTH, Melter and Refiner, was born in Philadelphia in -1810, educated in the same place, and graduated in the University of -Pennsylvania 1829. After study and field practice in the Rensselaer -School, at Troy, N. Y., in 1831-32, under the late Professor A. Eaton, -Mr. Booth studied Practical Chemistry in Germany, in 1833-34-35, in the -laboratories of Professors F. Wohler and G. Magnus, and in visiting -accessible manufacturing establishments in Germany and England having -relation to chemistry. The late Prof. J. F. Frazer and Mr. Booth were -the two Assistants on the Geological Survey of Pennsylvania in its -first year, 1836. Mr. Booth next had charge of the Geological Survey of -Delaware in 1837-38 (being often assisted by Prof. Frazer), and published -his report on the survey in 1839-40. - -Mr. Booth, observing the great deficiency in the knowledge of Applied -Chemistry in his native place, opened a laboratory for teaching the same, -by chemical analysis and by operating, in 1836, and the same laboratory -has been continued successfully to the present time by Dr. T. H. Garrett -and Mr. A. Blair. - -With the same object in view, Mr. Booth lectured at the Franklin -Institute for nine successive winters, giving three full courses of -lectures, each of three winters’ duration (1836-1845). - -Prior to 1850 Mr. Booth published the Encyclopædia of Chemistry, being -the author of the majority of the articles contained in it, with valuable -contributions by Prof. R. S. McCulloch and others. It was a valuable -adjunct to the study of chemistry for many years. - -The Director and officers of the Mint unsuccessfully solicited the -appointment of Mr. Booth as Melter and Refiner of the Mint in 1838-40, -but in 1849 Mr. Booth obtained, through his friend, Mr. Meredith, the -appointment, over the signature of President Z. Taylor, and has continued -in the same position from that date to 1887, a period of more than -thirty-six years. He resigned his office at the close of the year 1887. - -DR. DAVID K. TUTTLE, of the Carson City Mint, appointed Melter and -Refiner January 10, 1888. - -NATHANIEL B. BOYD, Assistant Melter and Refiner, was born in -Philadelphia, January, 1832. Twenty years later, he was graduated with -honors at Burlington College. After leaving College he studied law, and -was admitted to the Philadelphia Bar in 1854. In 1869 he accepted an -appointment in the National Mint, tendered him by Director Pollock. In -1873 he was appointed Assistant Melter and Refiner, a position which he -still occupies (1885). - - -THE MINT ENGRAVERS. - -(Extract from Patterson Du Bois’ Biographical Sketch of “Our Mint -Engravers.”) - -Whatever may be said concerning the peculiar responsibilities of the -officers of the Mint, who are occupied with the various operations of -turning bullion into coin, it must be conceded that none of them occupies -a position so dubious and, in some ways, so unenviable as the Engraver. -In the general transactions of the Mint, he is the most retired—the most -obscure—of its officers; yet his card is in every one’s pocket. - -As to the types of coinage, the standards are as numerous as the eyes -that water for them, and there is no piece but may be said to be outside -of _somebody’s_ tolerance. No other artist undergoes such an ordeal, for -those who do not admire this painting or that statue are not compelled to -hug and hoard it, much less to toil for its possession. The engraver who -can, from his retired window, see the critical millions clutching for his -little _relievos_, is in some sort a hero _ex-officio_, and it has been -well suggested that we look briefly upon the uneventful lives of this -worthy line of officers. - -I. Robert Scot received his appointment as the first Engraver of the -Mint, November 23, 1793. Information is wanting as to his nativity, -but at the time of his appointment he seems to have been turning the -down-hill of life. He is remembered as rather under size, and as an -honorable and agreeable gentleman. - -According to Loubat, Joseph Wright was “appointed first a draughtsman -and die-sinker to the United States Mint, and made the dies of a medal, -the bust on the obverse of which was considered to be the best medallic -profile likeness of Washington.[21] He also made the medal voted by -Congress to Major Lee.” Wright died in 1793. - -II. William Kneass, second of the line, was born in Lancaster, Pa., -September, 1781, and was appointed Engraver January 29, 1824. Mr. Kneass -had been chiefly a plate engraver for book-work. There were some changes -in the coinage during his term, notably in 1834 and 1838, for gold, and -1836, 1837, 1838, and 1840, for silver. But some of this work was done by -Gobrecht as assistant. Kneass appears upon a pattern half dollar of 1838; -but the silver dollar of 1836, as well as a pattern half of 1838, were -the work of his assistant. Prior to his appointment he had an engraving -office on Fourth above Chestnut street, Philadelphia, which was a -well-known rendezvous for the leading wits and men of culture, for which -Philadelphia was then eminent. - -Mr. Kneass died in office, August 27, 1840. A good engraving of him hangs -in the Assayer’s Office, inscribed “to his friend Adam Eckfeldt, Chief -Coiner,”—who had been chiefly instrumental in securing his appointment. - -III. Christian Gobrecht was appointed December 21, 1840, to fill the -vacancy made by the death of Kneass. He was born in Hanover, York Co., -Pa., December 23, 1785. In 1811 he went to Philadelphia, and became an -engraver of bank notes, seals, calico printers’ rolls, bookbinders’ dies, -etc. In 1836 he received an appointment as assistant to Mr. Kneass at -the Mint, in which capacity he executed some important work. Among other -similar performances he was highly commended for his Franklin Institute -Medal. - -Christian Gobrecht continued in office until his death, July 23, 1844. - -IV. James B. Longacre was born August 11, 1794, in Delaware Co., Pa. -He served an apprenticeship as a line engraver with George Murray, -Philadelphia, and did some high class plate-work before he was free, in -1819. He was one of the originators of the _National Portrait Gallery of -Distinguished Americans_, the first volume of which appeared in 1834. -Longacre drew from life and engraved many of the portraits entire. - -Like his predecessors, he died in office—January 1, 1869. During his -term Mr. Longacre was variously assisted by P. F. Cross, William Barber, -Anthony C. Paquet, and William H. Key. Cross was born in Sheffield, -England, served several years in the Mint here, and died in 1856. He -engraved the obverse of the Ingraham medal. Paquet was born in Hamburg, -1814, emigrated 1848, served as assistant 1857 to 1864, died, 1882. -He engraved the medals of Grant, Johnson, Buchanan, Everett, and the -Life Saving Medals, with some others. Key is a native of Brooklyn, was -appointed an assistant, 1864, and is still in the service. He executed -the Kane Expedition and Archbishop Wood Medals. The changes and additions -during the Longacre term were numerous and important, both as to alloys -and denominations. The pattern pieces also record various experiments in -the art of coining. - -V. William Barber, fifth Engraver of the Mint, was born in London, May -2, 1807. He learned his profession from his father, John Barber, and was -employed on silver-plate work, after his emigration to this country. - -He resided in Boston ten years, and was variously employed in his line -of work. His skill in this way came to the knowledge of Mr. Longacre, -then Engraver of the Mint, and he secured his services as an assistant in -1865. - -In January, 1869, upon the death of Mr. Longacre, he was appointed as his -successor, and continued in that position for the remainder of his life. -His death, which resulted from severe chills, brought on by bathing at -the seashore, occurred in Philadelphia, August 31, 1879. - -Besides much original work on pattern coins, he also produced over forty -medals, public and private. The work on all of them was creditable, but -we may specify those of Agassiz, Rittenhouse, and Henry, as very superior -specimens of art. Mr. Barber was assisted by Mr. William H. Key, Mr. -Charles E. Barber, and Mr. George T. Morgan. - -VI. Charles E. Barber, sixth Engraver, is a son of the preceding, and was -born in London in 1840. He was appointed an assistant in 1869, and became -the official head by promotion in 1880, to fill the vacancy caused by his -father’s death. The appointment was not unmerited. One of Mr. Barber’s -latest cards to the public is the new five-cent piece—a successful -venture in very low relief. But his handiwork is more or less visible in -all the principal medals executed since 1869. Since his appointment as -Chief Engraver, the work of his department has been enormously increased -by the number of medal dies demanded for the War Department and from -other Government sources. Mr. Barber’s best work is seen in the medals of -Presidents Garfield, Arthur, Indian Peace, Army Marksmanship, and Great -Seal. He is particularly happy in “catching a likeness.” The head of -Superintendent Snowden is a rare specimen of medallic portraiture.[22] - -Messrs. Key and Morgan are the Engraver’s assistants. The former has -already received notice; the latter, Mr. George T. Morgan, was born in -Birmingham, England, in 1845; he studied at the Art School there, and won -a National Scholarship at the South Kensington, where he was a student -two years. He is best known to the country by the so-called “Bland -dollar,” which is his design and execution. - -We have reason to congratulate both the Government and the people that -the engraving service is well and judiciously furnished. - - -BENJAMIN RUSH, - -An eminent physician and philanthropist, was born near Philadelphia, -December 24, 1745; he graduated from Princeton College in 1760; he -afterwards studied medicine in Edinburgh, London, and Paris; returning -to this country, he was elected Professor of Chemistry in the Medical -College of Philadelphia in 1769. In 1776 he was elected to the -Continental Congress, and was one of the signers of the Declaration -of Independence in the same year; he was afterwards appointed -Surgeon-General of Revolutionary Army, and voted for the adoption of -the Constitution of the United States in 1787. Dr. Rush was a popular -lecturer, and eminently qualified as a teacher of medicine. When the -yellow fever scourged the City, and the public buildings were closed in -1799 and 1800, he was very successful in his treatment of the victims -of that epidemic. It is said that he visited and prescribed for one -hundred patients in a single day. He was treasurer of the first United -States Mint during the last fourteen years of his life. Dr. Rush died in -Philadelphia in April, 1813. Among his nine children was Richard Rush, -the statesman. - -NOTE.—Dr. Rush was the author of the first pamphlet on temperance -published in this country, showing the injurious effects of alcoholic -drinks on the human system, and is justly regarded as the father of the -temperance movement, the Centennial of which has lately been celebrated -throughout the United States, September, 1885. - - -CASHIER. - -MARK H. COBB, the Cashier of the Mint from 1871 until the present time -(1885), was born in Colebrook, Connecticut, in 1828. In 1861, Hon. Simon -Cameron, then Secretary of War, appointed him Chief Clerk in the War -Department, he having previously been his private secretary. After Mr. -Cameron’s resignation as Secretary, Mr. Cobb, at the solicitation of the -late Col. John W. Forney, accepted the position of Enrolling Clerk of the -United States Senate in 1862. In 1871 he was appointed to the responsible -position of Cashier in the United States Mint. - -ALBION COX, first assayer of the Mint was appointed April 4, 1794. His -commission, signed by Washington, until recently, hung upon the walls of -the assay office. But little is known of Mr. Cox, save that he was an -Englishman by birth, and a good officer, as appears from the following -report to the Secretary of the Treasury made by Director Boudinot, under -date, December 3, 1795. He says: “The sudden and unexpected death of the -assayer, Mr. Albion Cox, on Fryday last by an apoplectic fit, deprived -the Mint of an intelligent officer, essentially necessary to the future -progress in the coinage of the precious metals. Until this officer is -replaced, the business at the Mint must be confined to striking cents -only.” - -He therefore held office about a year and eight months. - -Joseph Richardson, second assayer, was appointed December 12, 1795. He -belonged to an old Quaker family distinguished for ability and character. -Mr. Richardson fulfilled the duties of his office with credit and honor. -He died in March, 1831. A water color portrait of him, dressed in plain -Quaker garb, hangs in the assayers’ room. He held office over thirty-five -years. - -John Richardson, son of the preceding, was appointed assayer March 31, -1831. Finding the office not congenial with his tastes, and so subjecting -him to undue responsibilities, he resigned April, 1832, holding office -only a little over a year. - - -CURATOR. - -R. A. MCCLURE, a gentleman skilled in the science of numismatics, was -appointed Assistant Curator of the Coin Cabinet in 1868, and, upon the -death of the Assayer and Chief Curator in 1881, the responsibilities of -the Curatorship fell upon Mr. McClure. - - - - -STANDARD WEIGHTS. - - -The earliest series of standard weights now known, are two sets -discovered by Mr. Layard in the ruins of Nineveh. They are now in the -British Museum. William the Conqueror decreed the continuance, as the -legal standard, of the pound in use by the Saxons. This and other -standards of weight and measure were removed by the King from the City of -Winchester to the Exchequer at Westminster, and placed in a consecrated -building in charge of his chamberlains. The place of deposit is said -to have been the crypt chapel of Edward the Confessor, in Westminster -Abbey. In 1866 the office of Exchequer was abolished, and the Standards -Department of the Board of Trade was established in London, assuming -charge of the standards—an arrangement still in force. - -The old Saxon pound was the earliest standard of England. It was -identical in weight with the old apothecaries’ pound of Germany, -and equal to 5,400 of our later Troy grains. The pound sterling was -determined from this weight in silver. Henry III., in 1266, decreed the -following standards: The sterling, or penny, to weigh equal to thirty-two -wheat corns, taken from the middle of the ear; twenty pence, one ounce; -twelve ounces, one pound; eight pounds, one gallon of wine, which is -the eighth part of a quarter. The idea of the grain was borrowed by the -English from the French, and the Black Prince brought back with him from -France the pound Troye, which was derived from the commercial town of -that name. The use of the Troy standard was adopted by the druggists and -jewelers, on account of its convenient reduction into grains. - -The pound avoirdupois, weighing 7,000 grains Troy, (Fr. _Avoir-du-poids_, -“to have weight”), first appears in use during the reign of Edward III., -and it, as well as the Troy pound, has been employed without change ever -since. In the year 1834 the English standards of weight and measure, -consisting of a yard and pound Troy of brass, were destroyed by fire at -the burning of the Houses of Parliament. A few years later a commission -of scientific men was appointed to determine upon the restoration of -the standards. This resulted in a succession of difficult problems -resultant upon the oxidation to a greater or less extent of duplicates -of the standard still existing, as also of the variation of the cubic -inch of water, as in use in different lands. A cubic inch of distilled -water, weighed in air against brass weights, at a temperature of 62 -degrees Fahr., the barometer being at 30 inches, had been determined by -scientific men to be equal to 252.458 grains, of which the standard Troy -pound contained 5,760. - -As the unit of length was also lost, a series of experiments was made in -the vibration of a pendulum in a vacuum, marking seconds of mean time -in the latitude of London at the level of the sea. These deductions, -however, failed to be satisfactory, and the commission was compelled to -fall back upon the best preserved of the duplicate standards existent. -The Imperial Standard Pound is declared to be the true weight of an -avoirdupois pound in a vacuum. It is a curious fact that the Imperial -standards of platinum (which metal is not subject to oxidation), although -balancing brass weights in a vacuum, weigh in air more than one-half a -grain heavier than the latter. This is due to their greater displacement -of space. - -The unit of weight in the United States is a Troy pound weight obtained -from England, a duplicate of the original standard fixed by the -commission of 1758, and reasserted by the commission of 1838. It is a -bronze weight of 5,760 grains Troy. It is kept in a strong safe at the -United States Mint, in Philadelphia. The President appoints an assay -commission, whose members meet at Philadelphia annually, upon the second -Wednesday in February, open the safe, and compare the copies, or the -working weights, with the original upon the most delicately poised -balances. Working standards of weights and measures are supplied by the -Secretary of State to the State governments, which in turn supply them to -the sealers of weights and measures of the various countries, who must -compare with the State standard once a year. - -[Illustration: TROY STANDARD POUND WEIGHT. - -Fac-simile, exact size.] - -All of the scales and delicate test instruments in use by the government, -not only in Philadelphia Mint, but at the several branch mints, are -manufactured in this country, and as examples of wonderful mechanical -machines of minute accuracy they lead the world. Some of them are the -work of Mr. Henry Troemner, of Philadelphia, to whom, it is proper to -say, the writer is largely indebted for the facts given in this article. -Mr. Troemner, in the capacity of government expert, makes frequent visits -to the most distant points in the Union for the verification of national -standards. The Treasury Department made an especial request of him to -exhibit at the New Orleans Exposition, a line of his fine balances. - - - - -EXTRACT FROM CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. - - - ARTICLE I., Sect. 8. The Congress shall have power ... to coin - money, regulate the value thereof and of foreign coins, and fix - the standard of weights and measures, ... to provide for the - punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of - the United States. - - ARTICLE I. Sect. 2. No State shall ... coin money, emit bills - of credit, make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in - payment of debts, ... - - -Coinage, fiscal year 1887. - - ---------------+------------+--------------- - Description. | Pieces. | Value. - ---------------+------------+--------------- - Gold | 3,724,720 | $22,393,279.00 - Silver | 44,231,288 | 34,366,483.75 - Minor Coins | 50,166,509 | 943,650.65 - ---------------+------------+--------------- - Total | 98,122,517 | $57,703,413.40 - ---------------+------------+---------------- - - -Total number of Coinage Dies made during the year 1887. - - Gold coinage 120 - Silver coinage 359 - Minor coinage 684 - Proof coinage 27 - - -Bullion for the Silver Dollar Coinage, 1887. - - --------------------------------------+---------------+--------------- - | Standard | - Mode of acquisition. | ounces. | Cost. - --------------------------------------+---------------+--------------- - Purchases, Treasury Department, | | - Bureau of the Mint | 29,018,932.12 | $25,624,487.37 - Purchases by mint officers | 282,626.95 | 249,150.73 - Partings, bar charges and fractions | 131,783.20 | 114,982.36 - +---------------+---------------- - Total delivered on purchases | 29,433,342.27 | $25,988,620.46 - Balance on hand July 1, 1886 | 3,258,495.66 | 2,960,969.02 - +---------------+---------------- - Available for coinage of silver | | - dollars during the fiscal year 1887 | 32,691,837.93 | $28,949,589.48 - --------------------------------------+---------------+---------------- - - -Value of the Gold and Silver (not including re-deposits) received at the -Mints and Assay Offices during the fiscal years 1880-1887. - - --------+------------+------------+------------- - Fiscal | | | - years. | Gold. | Silver. | Total. - --------+------------+------------+------------- - 1880 |$ 98,835,096| $34,640,522| $133,475,618 - 1881 | 130,833,102| 30,791,146| 161,624,248 - 1882 | 66,756,652| 33,720,491| 100,477,143 - 1883 | 46,347,106| 36,869,834| 83,216,940 - 1884 | 46,326,678| 36,520,290| 82,846,968 - 1885 | 52,894,075| 36,789,774| 89,683,849 - 1886 | 44,909,749| 35,494,183| 80,403,932 - 1887 | 68,223,072| 47,756,918| 115,979,990 - --------+------------+------------+------------- - - -Silver Coins of the United States. - - ----------------+-------+-------+---------------+--------+--------------- - |Coinage| | Amount coined |Standard|Amount for - Denominations. | com- |Coinage| to June 30, | weight,| which a - |menced.|ceased.| 1884. | grains.|legal tender. - ----------------+-------+-------+---------------+--------+--------------- - Standard dollars| 1878 | |$175,355,829.00| 412.5 | Unlimited. - Trade dollars | 1873 | 1878 | 35,959,360.00| 420. | Not a legal - | | | | | tender. - Dollars | 1793 | 1873 | 8,045,838.00| 412.5 | Unlimited. - Half dollars | 1793 | | 122,765,735.00| 192.9 | Ten dollars. - Quarter dollars | 1796 | | 38,495,918.75| 96.45| Ten dollars. - Twenty cents | 1875 | 1878 | 271,000.00| 77.16| Five dollars. - Dimes | 1796 | | 18,293,172.50| 38.58| Ten dollars. - Half dimes | 1793 | 1873 | 4,906,946.90| 19.29| Five dollars. - Three cents | 1851 | 1873 | 1,281,850.20| 11.52| Five dollars. - ----------------+-------+-------+---------------+--------+--------------- - -[Illustration: FAC-SIMILE REPRODUCTIONS OF CONTINENTAL CURRENCY.] - - -Trade-Dollars Coined, Exported, Imported, Melted, and Redeemed (Act of -March 3, 1887). - - Coined: - Mint at Philadelphia $5,107,024 - Mint at San Francisco 26,647,000 - Mint at Carson 4,211,400 - ----------- - $35,965,924 - Exported 28,778,862 - Imported 1,706,020 - ----------- - Net export 27,072,842 - ----------- - 8,893,082 - Melted: - - { Previous to Redemption - { Act $915,346 - As bullion. { Excluded from - { redemption (mutilated - { pieces, etc.) 4,113 - ---------- 919,459 - { Mint at Philadelphia 3,427,369 - { Mint at San Francisco 764,263 - Redeemed. { Mint at New Orleans 1,871 - { Assay office at New York 3,495,533 - ---------- - Total redeemed 7,689,036 - --------- - Total melted 8,608,495 - --------- - - Not accounted for and not presented for redemption; - employed in the arts; specimen pieces in the hands - of coin collectors, carried out by emigrants, and - in miscellaneous deposits of coin remelted at mints, etc. $284,587 - - -GROSS PROFITS ON SILVER COINAGE IN 1887. - -The seignorage or immediate gross profit on the coinage of silver -dollars—that is, the difference between the cost of the bullion and the -nominal value of the coins—during the fiscal year 1887, was $7,923,558.61. - -The seignorage on subsidiary coin manufactured during the year was -$31,704.94, of which $1,130.65 was gained from the recoinage of old -subsidiary coins in the Treasury. - -The total seignorage on the silver coinage during the fiscal year was -$7,955,263.55. - -As stated in last fiscal report, the balance of silver profits remaining -in the coinage mints on the 1st July, 1886, amounted to $553,201.44. - -Adding to this the seignorage of the year, the total gross silver profits -to be accounted for by the mints is $8,508,464.99. - -Of this there was paid for expenses of distributing silver coin -$35,059.03, and reimbursed for wastage and loss on sale of sweeps -$20,294.88. - -The seignorage on the coinage of silver at the mints of the United States -from July 1, 1878, to the close of the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887, -has amounted to $39,057,566.90. - - -Tabulated Statement of Expenditures of the Mint at Philadelphia, for the -Fiscal Year ended June 30, 1887. - - -----------------------------------------+----------- - Items. | Amount. - -----------------------------------------+----------- - Acids | $7,149.28 - Belting | 315.07 - Charcoal | 1,873.42 - Chemicals | 832.58 - Coal | 16,332.20 - Copper | 13,585.00 - Crucibles, covers, stirrers, and dippers | 3,712.72 - Dry goods | 1,198.97 - Fluxes | 3,560.91 - Freight and drayage | 252.12 - Gas | 4,098.78 - Gloves and gauntlets | 5,930.40 - Hardware | 957.01 - Ice | 613.45 - Iron and steel | 205.91 - Labor and repairs | 3,417.82 - Loss on sale of sweeps | 1,301.15 - Lumber | 2,109.74 - Machinery and appliances | 2,617.49 - Metal work and castings | 1,697.61 - Oil | 1,047.12 - Salt | 117.56 - Stationery, printing and binding | 773.42 - Sundries | 6,230.61 - Telegraphing | 28.87 - Washing | 42.67 - Wood | 5,432.62 - Zinc | 935.57 - Steam-power plant | 11,464.27 - Manufacture of 5-cent nickel blank | 19,498.50 - +----------- - Total |117,332.84 - Salaries | 40,665.69 - Wages of workmen |426,593.93 - +----------- - Aggregate |581,597.46 - -----------------------------------------+----------- - - -Value of the Foreign Gold Coins Deposited at the United States Assay -Office at New York during the Year ended June 30, 1887. - - ----------------------+---------------+-----------------+--------------- - | Denominations | Total of each | Total by - Countries of Coinage. | of coin. | denomination of | countries of - | | coin. | coinage. - ----------------------+---------------+-----------------+--------------- - Costa Rica | Mixed | 257.56 | $257.56 - France | 20 francs | 1,219,351.02 | 1,219,351.02 - Germany | 20 marks | 179,121.67 | 179,121.67 - Great Britain | Sovereigns | 1,018,036.21 | 1,018,036.21 - Japan | Yens | 18,608.37 | 18,608.37 - Mexico | 20 pesos | 388,668.88 | - ” | 10 pesos | 1,341.64 | - ” | Doubloons | 1,178.60 | 391,189.12 - Russia | 5 roubles | 155,237.39 | - ” | Roubles | 2,596.80 | - ” | ½ imperials | 577,223.34 | 735,057.53 - Peru | 20 soles | 999.82 | 999.82 - Spain | Doubloons | 3,101,388.08 | - ” | Isabellines | 98,151.58 | - ” | 25 pesetas | 957,276.17 | - ” | Mixed | 179,863.62 | 4,336,679.45 - U. S. Colombia | Cinco pesos | 709.76 | 709.76 - | +-----------------+--------------- - Total | | $7,900,010.51 | $7,900,010.51 - ----------------------+---------------+-----------------+--------------- - -The total value of both gold and silver deposited and purchased at -the mints of the United States during the fiscal year 1887, not -including redeposits, was $115,979,991.62, and including redeposits, -$131,635,811.34. - -The value of the gold and silver received at the mints and assay offices -during the fiscal year 1887, was greater than any previous year since -1881. - - - - -IMPROVEMENTS MADE AT THE PHILADELPHIA MINT IN 1887, UNDER THE SUPERVISION -OF HON. DANIEL M. FOX. - - -Impairment of the foundation of the old engine, together with the -requirement of increased power, at the mint at Philadelphia led to a -special appropriation by Act of Congress of $54,639.20, in accordance -with specifications for the renewal of the steam motive plant and for its -transfer from the centre of the building to space newly provided near the -northern outer wall. The work, undertaken in July, was, by extraordinary -exertions on the part of all engaged, completed early in September, with -an interruption of less than two months to the regular course of complete -operations. Two new 150-horse-power duplex steam-engines and one of -50-horse-power have been erected in the north basement, along with three -tubular boilers, coal bunkers, etc. - -By this important improvement in plant valuable space has been secured in -the centre basement and ground floor for vaults and other necessities. - -The number of assays made during the year was some 66,000, of which -48,000 were silver and 18,000 gold. - -The melter and refiner of the mint operated upon a larger quantity of -bullion than in any previous year in the history of the institution. The -operations by this officer may be stated as follows: - - Ounces. - Gold deposits 409,326 - Silver deposits 44,239,881 - Parted and refined 721,765 - -As this bullion is handled more than sixteen times in the processes of -melting and preparation for coinage or for manufacture of fine bars, the -combined operations represent a single handling of nearly 25,000 tons. - -The operations of the coiner’s department may be stated as follows: - - Ounces. - Gold 13,574 - Silver 42,924,485 - Minor coinage metal 5,588,897 - ---------- - Total 48,526,956 - -The total coinage was $23,277,600.80, the total number of pieces being -81,532,391. - -In addition to the coinage executed during the year, gold and silver bars -were manufactured as follows: - - Gold $58,188,953.66 - Silver 6,481,611.25 - -------------- - Total $64,670,564.91 - - -Gold and Silver Bullion in the Mints and Assay Offices July 1, 1887. - - --------+------------- - Metal. | Cost. - --------+------------- - Gold | $85,512,270 - Silver | 10,455,650 - |------------ - Total | $95,967,920 - --------+------------ - - -Total Metallic Stock in the United States July 1, 1887, Coin and Bullion -included. - - --------+--------------- - | Value. - --------+--------------- - Gold | $654,520,335 - Silver | 352,993,566 - +--------------- - Total |$1,007,513,901 - --------+--------------- - -At the beginning of the fiscal year 1887 there was on hand at the mints -at Philadelphia, New Orleans and San Francisco, silver bullion purchased -for the silver dollar coinage amounting to $2,960,969.02. There was -delivered at the mints on purchases of all kinds during the year, as -above, 29,433,342.27 standard ounces, at a cost of $25,988,620.46, -making the total amount of silver available during the fiscal year -for the silver dollar coinage 32,691,837.93 standard ounces, costing -$28,949,589.48. - -The price paid by this Bureau on November 1, 1887, for silver purchases -for the silver dollar coinage was $0.9580.80 per ounce fine. - -The production of silver, notwithstanding the large depreciation in the -market value of that metal, has steadily increased from $115,000,000 -in 1883 to $130,000,000 in 1886. The production of the world for the -calendar years 1883, 1884, 1885 and 1886 is exhibited in the following -table: - - -World’s Production of Gold and Silver. - - ---------+-----------------------+------------------------ - | Gold. | Silver. - Calendar +----------+------------+----------+------------- - Years. |Kilograms.| Value.[23] |Kilograms.| Value.[24] - ---------+----------+------------+----------+------------- - 1883 | 143,533 | $95,392,000| 2,769,197| $115,088,000 - 1884 | 153,017 | 101,694,000| 2,804,725| 116,564,000 - 1885 | 154,942 | 102,975,000| 3,062,009| 127,257,000 - 1886 | 147,097 | 97,761,000| 3,137,175| 130,383,000 - ---------+----------+------------+----------+------------- - -The United States still maintains first rank among the nations of the -world as the largest producer of the precious metals, having produced -during the calendar year 1886 gold and silver of the coining value -of $86,000,000. Mexico retains second rank, with a production of -$33,614,000, of which $33,000,000 was silver. Australia has a production -of $27,647,000, of which $26,425,000 was gold. Russia is credited with a -production of $21,046,000, of which $20,518,000 was gold. - - -Circulation of Standard Silver Dollars at the end of each six months, -from July 1, 1885, to July 1, 1887, and on October 1, 1887. - - ----------------+-------------+---------------------------+------------- - | | In the Treasury. | - | +-------------+-------------+ - | | Held for | Held in | - Period. | Total | payments of | excess of | In - | coinage. |certificates |certificates | circulation. - | |outstanding. |outstanding. | - ----------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+------------- - July 1, 1885 |$203,884,381 |$101,530,946 |$63,882,166 | $38,471,269 - January 1, 1886 | 218,259,761 | 93,179,465 | 72,538,725 | 52,541,571 - July 1, 1886 | 233,723,286 | 88,116,225 | 93,137,341 | 52,469,720 - January 1, 1887 | 249,683,647 | 117,246,670 | 71,259,568 | 61,177,409 - July 1, 1887 | 266,990,117 | 142,118,017 | 69,365,953 | 55,506,147 - October 1, 1887 | 273,660,157 | 154,354,826 | 58,688,970 | 60,616,361 - ----------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+------------- - - -Appropriations for the support of Mints and Assay Offices for the fiscal -year 1888. - - ----------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+--------- - Institutions. | Salaries.| Wages of |Contingent|Repairs of| Total. - | | workmen. | expenses.|buildings.| - ----------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+---------- - _Coinage mints._| | | | | - | | | | | - Philadelphia | $41,550 | $293,000 | $100,000 | | $434,550 - San Francisco | 41,900 | 170,000 | 40,000 | | 251,900 - Carson | 29,550 | 60,000 | 25,000 | | 114,550 - New Orleans | 31,950 | 74,000 | 35,000 | | 140,950 - | | | | | - _Assay offices._| | | | | - | | | | | - New York | 39,250 | 25,000 | 10,000 | | 74,250 - Denver | 10,950 | 14,000 | 6,000 | $2,000 | 32,950 - Helena | 7,700 | 12,000 | 6,000 | | 25,700 - Boise City | 3,000 | | 5,000 | 1,000 | 9,000 - Charlotte | 2,750 | | 2,000 | | 4,750 - Saint Louis | 3,500 | | 2,400 | | 5,900 - ----------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------- - Total | $212,100 | $648,000 | $231,400 | $3,000 |$1,094,500 - ----------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------- - - -Comparison of expenditures, years 1886 and 1887. - - -----------------------+--------------+-------------- - Appropriations. | 1886. | 1887. - -----------------------+--------------+-------------- - Salaries |$ 189,331.48 | $192,907.13 - Wages of workmen | 593,865.07 | 601,787.25 - Contingent expenses | 164,183.47 |[25]193,704.93 - Standard silver dollar | 119,976.00 | 200,189.02 - -----------------------+--------------+-------------- - Total |$1,067,356.02 | $1,188,588.33 - -----------------------+--------------+-------------- - - -Production in round numbers of precious metals in United States for 1886. - - -----------------------------+------------+-------------+------------ - State or Territory. | Gold. | Silver. | Total. - -----------------------------+------------+-------------+------------ - Alaska | $446,000 | $2,000 | $448,000 - Arizona | 1,110,000 | 3,400,000 | 4,510,000 - California | 14,725,000 | 1,400,000 | 16,125,000 - Colorado | 4,450,000 | 16,000,000 | 20,450,000 - Dakota | 2,700,000 | 425,000 | 3,125,000 - Georgia | 152,500 | 1,000 | 153,500 - Idaho | 1,800,000 | 3,600,000 | 5,400,000 - Montana | 4,425,000 | 12,400,000 | 16,825,000 - Nevada | 3,090,000 | 5,000,000 | 8,090,000 - New Mexico | 400,000 | 2,300,000 | 2,700,000 - North Carolina | 175,000 | 3,000 | 178,000 - Oregon | 990,000 | 5,000 | 995,000 - South Carolina | 37,500 | 500 | 38,000 - Utah | 216,000 | 6,500,000 | 6,716,000 - Washington | 147,000 | 80,000 | 227,000 - Texas | | 200,000 | 200,000 - Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia,| | | - Vermont, Michigan, | | | - and Wyoming | 5,000 | 5,000 | 10,000 - -----------------------------+------------+-------------+------------ - Total |$34,869,000 | $51,321,500 | $86,190,500 - -----------------------------+------------+-------------+------------ - - -Production of the United States from 1880 to 1886. - - ---------------+-----------+-----------+------------- - Calendar Years.| Gold. | Silver. | Total. - ---------------+-----------+-----------+------------- - 1880 |$36,000,000|$39,200,000|$75,200,000 - 1881 | 34,700,000| 43,000,000| 77,700,000 - 1882 | 32,500,000| 46,800,000| 79,300,000 - 1883 | 30,000,000| 46,200,000| 76,200,000 - 1884 | 30,800,000| 48,800,000| 79,600,000 - 1885 | 31,800,000| 51,600,000| 83,400,000 - 1886 | 35,000,000| 51,000,000| 86,000,000 - ---------------+-----------+-----------+------------- - - -Gold and silver product in the United States and amount coined in 1886. - - GOLD. - - Value of the product of the mines, 1886 $98,000,000 - Coinage executed in 1886 $92,650,000 - Recoinage 9,600,000 - ----------- - Net coinage 1886 83,050,000 - ----------- - Leaving new gold for employment in the arts $14,950,000 - =========== - - SILVER. - - Value of the product of the mines, 1886 $130,000,000 - Coinage executed in 1886 $124,670,000 - Recoinage 13,950,000 - ------------ - Net coinage 1886 110,720,000 - ----------- - Leaving new silver for employment in the arts $19,280,000 - =========== - - -Minor Coins Shipped to the Different States and Territories from the Mint -at Philadelphia during the Fiscal Year 1887. - - --------------------+------------+------------ - | 1-cent | 5-cent - State or Territory. | bronze. | nickel. - --------------------+------------+------------ - Alabama | $25.00 | $5,375.00 - Arkansas | 20.00 | 890.00 - Arizona | 20.00 | - California | 1,215.00 | 11,585.00 - Colorado | 105.00 | 6,090.00 - Connecticut | 6,230.00 | 6,010.00 - Delaware | 385.00 | 950.00 - District of Columbia| 200.00 | 300.00 - Dakota | 1,590.00 | 3,640.00 - Florida | 190.00 | 840.00 - Georgia | 490.00 | 3,020.00 - Indiana | 10,669.37 | 18,710.00 - Iowa | 8,330.00 | 11,970.00 - Illinois | 51,831.00 | 68,355.00 - Idaho | | 80.00 - Kentucky | 1,775.00 | 12,950.00 - Kansas | 4,440.00 | 8,720.00 - Louisiana | 400.00 | 6,510.00 - Michigan | 17,840.00 | 11,786.00 - Massachusetts | 38,815.00 | 39,210.00 - Minnesota | 10,405.00 | 13,615.00 - Maine | 1,325.00 | 1,215.00 - Mississippi | 25.00 | 250.00 - Montana | | 2,020.00 - Maryland | 14,270.00 | 22,070.00 - Missouri | 7,650.00 | $49,490.00 - New York | 128,125.00 | 73,870.00 - North Carolina | 1,035.00 | 1,290.00 - New Jersey | 12,965.00 | 11,835.00 - New Hampshire | 800.00 | 2,600.00 - New Mexico | | 400.00 - Nebraska | 2,710.00 | 14,865.00 - Ohio | 29,015.00 | 34,990.00 - Oregon | 20.00 | 3,510.00 - Pennsylvania | 25,509.00 | 45,045.00 - Rhode Island | 6,951.00 | 3,100.00 - South Carolina | 800.00 | 2,865.00 - Texas | 150.00 | 7,320.00 - Tennessee | 1,280.00 | 15,890.00 - Utah | | 1,320.00 - Virginia | 3,080.00 | 5,540.00 - Vermont | 1,370.00 | 900.00 - West Virginia | 1,235.00 | 2,380.00 - Wisconsin | 7,230.00 | 10,755.00 - Washington Territory| | 500.00 - Wyoming | | 260.00 - +------------+------------ - Total |$400,510.37 |$544,686.00 - --------------------+------------+------------ - - -Minor Coins Struck and Remelted from the Organization of the Mint, and -the Amount Outstanding June 30, 1887. - - ---------------------+---------------+--------------+--------------- - | | | Outstanding, - Denomination. | Coined. | Remelted. | June 30, 1887. - ---------------------+---------------+--------------+--------------- - Copper cents | $1,562,887.44 | $372,741.70 | $1,190,145.74 - Copper half cents | 399,926.11 | | - Copper nickel cents | 2,007,720.00 | 735,616.30 | 1,272,103.70 - Bronze cents | 4,319,275.48 | 24,517.11 | 4,294,758.37 - Bronze 2-cent pieces | 912,020.00 | 292,128.08 | 619,891.92 - Nickel 3-cent pieces | 903,705.00 | 175,541.44 | 728,163.56 - Nickel 5-cent pieces | 8,691,671.75 | 61,934.00 | 8,629,737.75 - +---------------+--------------+--------------- - Total |$18,437,205.78 |$1,662,478.63 |$16,734,801.04 - ---------------------+---------------+--------------+--------------- - -On the 30th June, 1886, the amount of minor coin in the Treasury was -$377,814. Of this amount over $160,000 proved to be in 3-cent nickel -pieces, for which there was no demand, and over $60,000 in uncurrent -minor coins of former issues was transferred for recoinage, confined to -1-cent bronze and 5-cent nickel pieces. The demand for 1-cent bronze -and 5-cent nickel pieces, at first sudden, has since been urgent and -continuous; at times largely beyond the ability of the mint to promptly -meet. - - -Operations Fiscal Year, 1887. - - Bars manufactured: - Gold $58,188,953.66 - Silver 6,481,611.25 - ----------------- - Total 64,670,564.91 - =============== - Coinage executed: - Gold $22,393,279.00 - Silver 34,366,483.75 - Minor 943,650.65 - ---------------- - Total 57,703,413.40 - =============== - Refinery earnings $143,258.52 - - - - -SUMMARY OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE MINTS AND ASSAY OFFICES. - - -The value of the gold and silver deposited at the mints and assay offices -of the United States during the fiscal year 1887 was $131,635,811.34. -This aggregate, however, but partially measures the successive operations -upon the bullion represented by this value. For example, it may be -interesting to show the operations by the melters and refiners of the -four mints and of the assay office at New York, as measured by the value -of the bullion successively operated upon. These may be stated as follows: - - -Bullion Operated upon by the Melters and Refiners, 1887. - - --------------+------------------+-------------- - Metal. | Standard ounces. | Value. - --------------+------------------+-------------- - Gold | 5,919,878 | $110,137,265 - Silver | 70,764,794 | 82,344,487 - +------------------+-------------- - Total value | | $192,481,752 - --------------+------------------+-------------- - -The operations of the coinage departments of the mints were as follows: - - -Operations of Coinage Departments, 1887. - - --------------+------------------+-------------- - Metal. | Standard ounces. | Value. - --------------+------------------+-------------- - Gold | 2,632,005 | $48,967,440 - Silver | 61,896,692 | 72,025,241 - +------------------+-------------- - Total value | | $120,992,681 - --------------+------------------+-------------- - -The 1-cent and 2-cent bronze pieces were recoined into 1-cent bronze -pieces, and the copper nickel 1-cent, and the 3-cent and 5-cent nickel -pieces were used in the coinage of new 5-cent nickel pieces. - - -Form and Location of the Moneys of the United States and the Bullion -awaiting Coinage in the Mints July 1, 1887. - -[Exclusive of Minor Coin and Minor-Coinage Metal.] - - -------------------------+---------------+---------------+-------------- - | | In National |In other Banks - | In Treasury. | Banks.[26] | and General - | | | Circulation. - -------------------------+---------------+---------------+-------------- - METALLIC. | | | - Gold bullion | $85,512,270| | - Silver bullion | 4,091,414| | - Silver bullion (melted | | | - trade dollars) | 6,364,236| | - Gold coin | 192,368,915|[27]$98,137,439| $278,501,711 - Silver dollar | 211,483,970| 6,343,213| 49,162,934 - Subsidiary silver coin | 26,977,493| 2,813,138| 45,757,168 - +---------------+---------------+-------------- - Total | $526,798,298| $107,293,790| $373,421,813 - +===============+===============+============== - REPRESENTATIVE. | | | - Legal-tender notes |[28]$28,783,796| $74,477,342| $243,419,878 - Old demand notes | | | 57,130 - Certificates of deposit | 310,000| 7,810,000| 960,000 - Gold certificates | 30,261,380| 54,274,940| 36,950,497 - Silver certificates | 3,425,133| 3,535,479| 138,582,538 - National bank notes | 197,046| 22,962,737| 256,058,005 - Fractional paper currency| 2,366| 564,266| 6,380,332 - +---------------+---------------+-------------- - Total | $62,979,721| $163,624,764| $682,408,380 - -------------------------+---------------+---------------+-------------- - - -------------------------+--------------- - | - | Total. - | - -------------------------+--------------- - METALLIC. | - Gold bullion | $85,512,270 - Silver bullion | 4,091,414 - Silver bullion (melted | - trade dollars) | 6,364,236 - Gold coin | 569,008,065 - Silver dollar | 266,990,117 - Subsidiary silver coin | 75,547,799 - +--------------- - Total |$1,007,513,901 - +=============== - REPRESENTATIVE. | - Legal-tender notes | $346,681,016 - Old demand notes | 57,130 - Certificates of deposit | 9,080,000 - Gold certificates | 121,486,817 - Silver certificates | 145,543,150 - National bank notes | 279,217,788 - Fractional paper currency| 6,946,964 - +--------------- - Total | $909,012,865 - -------------------------+--------------- - - -Gold and Silver Coin in the United States November 1, 1887. - - ----------------------+------------+------------------------------------- - | | Silver Coin. - | +------------+-----------+------------ - Date. | Gold Coin. | Full Legal |Subsidiary.| Total - | | Tender. | | Silver. - ----------------------+------------+------------+-----------+------------ - Last official | | | | - statement | | | | - July 1, 1887 |$569,008,065|$266,990,117|$75,547,799|$342,537,916 - Gain subsequent to | | | | - above statement | | | | - (estimate) | 5,919,808| 10,120,040| 210,387| 10,330,427 - +------------+------------+-----------+------------ - Estimate for November | | | | - 1, 1887 |$574,927,873|$277,110,157|$75,758,186|$352,868,343 - ----------------------+------------+------------+------------------------ - - ----------------------+------------- - | - | Total Gold - Date. | and Silver - | Coin. - ----------------------+------------- - Last official | - statement | - July 1, 1887 |$911,545,981 - Gain subsequent to | - above statement | - (estimate) | 16,250,235 - +------------- - Estimate for November | - 1, 1887 |$927,796,216 - ----------------------+------------- - - -Estimate of Coin Circulation July 1, 1887. - - ------------------------------+------------+--------------+-------------- - Items. | Gold. | Silver. | Total. - ------------------------------+------------+--------------+-------------- - Estimated circulation July 1, | | | - 1886 |$548,320,031| $308,784,223 | $857,104,254 - Coinage for fiscal year 1887 | 22,393,279| 34,366,483 | 56,759,762 - Net imports | 2,311,739| 409,151 | 2,720,890 - +------------+--------------+-------------- - Total |$573,025,049| $343,559,857 | $916,584,906 - +============+==============+============== - Less deposits of United | | | - States coin | 516,984| 821,941 | 1,338,925 - Used in the arts | 3,500,000| 200,000 | 3,700,000 - +------------+--------------+-------------- - Total | 4,016,984| 1,021,941 | 5,038,925 - +============+==============+============== - Estimated circulation July 1, | | | - 1887 |$569,008,065| $342,537,916 | $911,545,981 - - -Table showing the Total Paper and Specie Circulation in each of the -Principal Countries of the World, and the Amount of Specie in Bank and -National Treasuries, and the Amount of Active Circulation. - -(Officially Reported in 1884.) - - -------------------------+-----------+--------------+------------------ - | |Total metallic| Amount of - Countries. |Population.| and paper |specie in national - | | circulation. | treasuries - | | | and banks. - -------------------------+-----------+--------------+------------------ - United States | 50,155,783|$1,745,926,755| $534,033,074 - Great Britain and Ireland| 35,246,562| 876,318,139| 154,182,691 - Dominion of Canada, | | | - including Manitoba | | | - and Newfoundland | 4,506,563| 59,596,084| 9,111,148 - British India |252,541,210| 1,099,383,126| 78,358,000 - Ceylon | 2,758,166| 2,335,300| 1,273,800 - Australia, Tasmania, | | | - and New Zealand | 2,798,898| 96,010,722| 48,737,837 - Cape of Good Hope | 780,757| 38,078,000| 8,092,000 - France | 37,321,186| 1,990,961,912| 402,939,754 - Algiers | 2,867,626| 27,567,000| 5,564,476 - Guadeloupe | 185,460| 1,627,750| 564,935 - Belgium | 5,536,654| 186,326,515| 17,991,450 - Switzerland | 2,846,102| 53,180,731| 11,609,618 - Italy | 28,452,639| 533,548,521| 69,357,358 - Greece | 1,979,423| 29,143,000| 1,800,000 - Spain | 16,625,860| 270,812,440| 27,223,959 - Cuba | 1,394,516| 73,043,543| 14,181,243 - Luzon | 4,450,191| 4,198,000| 3,765,677 - Portugal, including | | | - Azores and Madeira | 4,550,699| 46,367,680| 11,718,874 - Germany | 45,234,061| 825,473,023| 181,706,674 - Austria-Hungary | 35,839,428| 431,646,314| 98,131,401 - Sweden and Norway | 6,479,168| 43,058,443| 12,740,975 - Danish Kingdom | 2,096,400| 39,228,000| 14,070,000 - Netherlands | 4,061,580| 163,847,949| 55,114,112 - Russia | 98,323,000| 646,431,794| 124,008,153 - Turkey | 24,987,000| 83,315,976| 14,520,000 - Roumania | 5,376,000| 27,372,383| 3,995,298 - Mexico | 9,557,279| 52,048,529| 1,763,008 - Central America | 2,891,600| 4,701,861| - Argentine Republic | 2,540,000| 71,371,850| 14,196,461 - Colombia | 3,000,000| 5,097,830| 200,000 - Brazil | 11,108,291| 139,871,255| - Peru | 3,050,000| 14,980,820| 1,882,018 - Venezuela | 2,675,245| 2,682,700| - Chili | 2,420,500| 32,555,341| 2,398,000 - Bolivia | 2,325,000| 6,908,533| 443,597 - Uruguay | 438,245| 11,587,000| 4,601,000 - Hayti | 572,000| 4,780,000| - Japan | 36,700,110| 248,744,805| 28,486,973 - Hawaiian Islands | 66,895| 1,834,900| 808,200 - +-----------+--------------+------------------ - | | 9,991,964,524| 1,959,571,764 - -------------------------+-----------+--------------+------------------ - - -------------------------+--------------+------------- - | | - Countries. | Active | Per capita - | circulation. | of active - | |circulation. - -------------------------+--------------+------------- - United States |$1,211,893,681| $24.16 - Great Britain and Ireland| 722,135,448| 20.49 - Dominion of Canada, | | - including Manitoba | | - and Newfoundland | 50,484,936| 11.22 - British India | 1,021,025,126| 4.05 - Ceylon | 1,061,500| .38 - Australia, Tasmania, | | - and New Zealand | 47,272,885| 16.90 - Cape of Good Hope | 29,986,000| 38.40 - France | 1,588,022,158| 42.55 - Algiers | 22,002,524| 7.67 - Guadeloupe | 1,062,815| 5.73 - Belgium | 168,335,065| 30.40 - Switzerland | 41,571,113| 14.60 - Italy | 464,191,163| 16.31 - Greece | 27,343,000| 13.81 - Spain | 243,588,481| 14.65 - Cuba | 58,862,300| 42.21 - Luzon | 432,323| .10 - Portugal, including | | - Azores and Madeira | 34,648,806| 7.61 - Germany | 643,766,349| 14.23 - Austria-Hungary | 333,514,913| 9.31 - Sweden and Norway | 30,317,468| 4.68 - Danish Kingdom | 25,158,000| 12.00 - Netherlands | 108,733,837| 26.77 - Russia | 522,423,641| 5.31 - Turkey | 68,795,976| 2.75 - Roumania | 23,377,085| 4.35 - Mexico | 50,285,521| 5.26 - Central America | 4,701,861| 1.62 - Argentine Republic | 57,175,389| 22.51 - Colombia | 4,897,830| 1.63 - Brazil | 139,871,255| 12.59 - Peru | 13,098,802| 4.29 - Venezuela | 2,682,700| 1.00 - Chili | 30,157,341| 12.45 - Bolivia | 6,464,936| 2.78 - Uruguay | 6,986,000| 15.94 - Hayti | 4,780,000| 8.35 - Japan | 220,257,832| 6.00 - Hawaiian Islands | 1,026,700| 15.35 - +--------------+------------- - | 8,032,392,760| - -------------------------+--------------+------------- - - -WORLD’S COINAGE. - - ----------------+-----------+------------- - Calendar years. | Gold. | Silver. - ----------------+-----------+------------- - 1884 |$99,432,795| $95,832,084 - 1885 | 94,728,008| 105,105,299 - 1886 | 92,653,400| 124,678,678 - ----------------+-----------+------------- - -The value of the United States gold coin deposited for recoinage, -principally by the Treasurer of the United States, was $516,984.63, -against $393,545.28 in the preceding year. - -In addition to the gold bullion both of domestic and foreign production, -and the foreign and domestic gold coin deposited, old material in the -form of jewelry, bars, old plate, etc., was received containing gold of -the value of $2,265,219.85. - -The marked increase in the deposits of gold was at the assay office at -New York, the value of the foreign gold bullion and coin deposited at -that institution during the year being $30,621,006.95, exclusive of fine -bars of its own manufacture, of the value of $7,933,743.98, imported and -re-deposited. - -The value of the foreign gold bullion deposited was $22,571,328.70, -against $4,317,068.27 in 1886. - -The value of the foreign gold coin received and melted was $9,896,512.28, -against $5,673,565.04 in the year preceding. - -The value of the total deposits of gold during the fiscal year 1887, -including all re-deposits as above cited, was $83,416,779.40, against -$49,606,534.65 in 1886, an excess in the year 1887 of $33,810,244.75. - -The value of silver bullion of foreign extraction deposited at the mints -during the year 1887 was $1,457,406.01. - -The value of foreign silver coin deposited during the year was -$350,598.86, against $812,664.50 in the preceding year. - -The value of the United States silver coin deposited (calculated at -the coining rate in silver dollars), not including trade-dollars, was -$768,739.32, most of which consisted of worn and uncurrent silver coins -transferred from the Treasury of the United States for recoinage. - -Trade-dollars were received mostly by transfer from the Treasury of the -United States and melted. The bullion contained 5,837,791.87 standard -ounces, of the coinage value in standard silver dollars of $6,793,066.89. - - -EARNINGS AND EXPENDITURES OF THE MINTS AND ASSAY OFFICES. - -The total earnings amounted to $8,842,819.70, and the total expenditures -and losses of all kinds to $1,437,442.95. The profits from operations on -bullion during the past year amounted to the large sum of $7,405,386.75. - -A large portion of these earnings consisted of seignorage or profits on -the manufacture of silver and minor coins. - - -Highest and lowest prices of Gold in New York. - -Each month in 1862-1878. - - =========+===========+===========+===========+===========+=========== - Month. | 1862. | 1863. | 1864. | 1865. | 1866. - ---------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------- - | _H._ _L._ | _H._ _L._ | _H._ _L._ | _H._ _L._ | _H._ _L._ - January | 103¾ 101¾ | 160¾ 133⅝ | 159⅜ 151½ | 234⅜ 197¼ | 144¼ 136¾ - February | 104¾ 102⅛ | 172½ 152½ | 161 157⅛ | 216¾ 196⅜ | 140⅝ 135¾ - March | 102½ 101⅛ | 171¾ 139 | 169¾ 159 | 201 148⅛ | 136½ 124⅞ - April | 102¼ 101½ | 157⅞ 145½ | 184¾ 166¼ | 154½ 143½ | 129½ 125¼ - May | 104⅛ 102⅛ | 154¾ 143½ | 190 168 | 145⅛ 128½ | 141½ 125⅛ - June | 109½ 103½ | 148⅜ 140½ | 250 193 | 147⅝ 135¼ | 167¾ 137½ - July | 120⅛ 108¾ | 145 123¼ | 285 222 | 146⅛ 138⅝ | 155¾ 147 - August | 116¼ 112½ | 129¾ 122⅛ | 261¾ 231½ | 145⅛ 140¼ | 152⅛ 146½ - September| 124 116½ | 143⅛ 126⅞ | 254½ 191 | 145 142⅝ | 147⅛ 143½ - October | 133½ 122 | 153¾ 140⅜ | 227¾ 189 | 149 144⅛ | 154⅜ 145½ - November | 133¼ 129 | 154 143 | 260 210 | 148¾ 145½ | 148⅝ 137½ - December | 134 128½ | 152¾ 148½ | 243 212¾ | 148½ 144½ | 141¾ 131¼ - +-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------- - Year | 134 101⅛ | 172½ 122⅛ | 285 151½ | 234⅜ 128½ | 167¾ 125⅛ - ---------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------- - - =========+===========+===========+===========+=========== - Month. | 1867. | 1868. | 1869. | 1870. - ---------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------- - | _H._ _L._ | _H._ _L._ | _H._ _L._ | _H._ _L._ - January | 137⅞ 132⅛ | 142¼ 133¼ | 136⅝ 134⅝ | 123¼ 119⅜ - February | 140⅜ 135⅛ | 144 139¾ | 136¼ 130⅞ | 121½ 115⅛ - March | 140⅜ 133⅝ | 141¼ 137⅞ | 132½ 130⅜ | 116⅜ 110¼ - April | 141⅝ 132⅝ | 140⅜ 137¾ | 134⅝ 131⅜ | 115⅜ 111½ - May | 138⅞ 135 | 140½ 139⅛ | 144¾ 134½ | 115½ 113¾ - June | 138¾ 136⅜ | 141¼ 139⅜ | 139⅝ 136½ | 114¾ 110⅞ - July | 140⅝ 138 | 145¼ 143⅛ | 137¾ 134¼ | 122¾ 111⅛ - August | 142½ 139⅞ | 150 143½ | 136½ 131⅜ | 122 114¾ - September| 146⅜ 141 | 145⅛ 141⅛ | 162½ 129¾ | 116¾ 112¼ - October | 145⅝ 140¼ | 140½ 133¾ | 132 128¼ | 113¾ 111⅛ - November | 141½ 138½ | 137 132 | 128⅜ 121⅛ | 113¾ 110 - December | 137⅞ 133 | 136¾ 134⅜ | 124 119½ | 111⅜ 110⅜ - +-----------+-----------+-----------+----------- - Year | 146⅜ 132⅛ | 150 132 | 162½ 119½ | 123¼ 110 - ---------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------- - - =========+===========+===========+===========+=========== - Month. | 1871. | 1872. | 1873. | 1874. - ---------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------- - | _H._ _L._ | _H._ _L._ | _H._ _L._ | _H._ _L._ - January | 111¼ 110½ | 110⅛ 108½ | 114¼ 111⅝ | 112⅛ 110⅛ - February | 112¼ 110¾ | 111 109½ | 115⅛ 112⅞ | 113 111⅜ - March | 111⅝ 110⅛ | 110⅝ 109¾ | 118½ 114⅝ | 113⅞ 111¼ - April | 111¾ 110⅛ | 113¼ 109⅞ | 119⅛ 116¾ | 114⅜ 111¾ - May | 112¼ 111 | 114⅜ 112⅛ | 118⅝ 116⅝ | 113⅛ 111⅞ - June | 113⅛ 111¾ | 114¾ 113 | 118¼ 115 | 112¼ 110½ - July | 113¾ 111¾ | 115¼ 113½ | 116⅜ 115 | 110⅞ 109 - August | 113⅛ 111⅝ | 115⅝ 112⅛ | 116¼ 114⅜ | 110¼ 109¼ - September| 115⅜ 112¾ | 115⅛ 112⅝ | 116⅛ 110⅞ | 110¼ 109⅜ - October | 115 111½ | 115¼ 112¼ | 111¼ 107¾ | 110⅜ 109¾ - November | 112⅜ 110⅜ | 114¼ 111⅜ | 110½ 106⅛ | 112⅜ 110 - December | 110¼ 108⅜ | 113½ 111⅜ | 112⅝ 108⅜ | 112⅜ 110½ - +-----------+-----------+-----------+----------- - Year | 115⅜ 108⅜ | 115⅝ 108½ | 119 106⅛ | 114⅜ 109 - ---------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------- - - =========+===========+===========+===========+=========== - Month. | 1875. | 1876. | 1877. | 1878. - ---------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------- - | _H._ _L._ | _H._ _L._ | _H._ _L._ | _H._ _L._ - January | 113⅜ 111¾ | 113¼ 112⅜ | 107⅛ 105¼ | 102⅞ 101¼ - February | 115⅜ 113¼ | 114⅛ 112¾ | 106⅛ 104⅝ | 102⅜ 101⅝ - March | 117 114⅜ | 115 113¾ | 105⅜ 104¼ | 102 100¾ - April | 115½ 114 | 113⅞ 112½ | 107⅞ 104¾ | 101¼ 100⅛ - May | 116⅜ 115 | 113¼ 112¼ | 107⅜ 106¼ | 101¼ 100⅜ - June | 117½ 116¼ | 113 111⅞ | 106⅜ 104¾ | 101 100⅝ - July | 117¼ 111¾ | 112⅜ 111⅜ | 106⅛ 105⅛ | 100¾ 100⅜ - August | 114¾ 112⅝ | 112⅛ 109¾ | 105½ 103⅞ | 100¾ 100½ - September| 117⅜ 113¾ | 110⅜ 109¼ | 104 102⅞ | 100½ 100⅛ - October | 117⅝ 114½ | 113¼ 108⅞ | 103⅜ 102½ | 100⅜ 100¼ - November | 116⅜ 114⅛ | 110⅛ 108⅛ | 103⅜ 102½ | 100½ 100⅛ - December | 115¼ 112⅝ | 109 107 | 103⅜ 102½ | 100½ 100 - +-----------+-----------+-----------+----------- - Year | 117⅝ 111¾ | 115 107 | 107⅞ 102½ | 102⅞ 100 - ---------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------- - -NOTE.—Specie payment resumed January 1, 1879, after a suspension of -nearly 18 years. - - -Latest official estimate of the values of foreign coins in the United -States, January, 1887. - - -------------------+------------+-----------------------+---------------- - | | | - COUNTRY. | Standard. | Monetary Unit. | Standard. - -------------------+------------+-----------------------+---------------- - Argentine Republic | Double | Peso | Gold and silver - Austria | S. silver | Florin | Silver - Belgium | Double | Franc | Gold and silver - Bolivia | S. silver | Boliviano | Silver - Brazil | S. gold | Milreis of 1000 reis | Gold - British Possessions| | | - in N. A. | | Dollar | Gold - Chili | Double | Peso | Gold and silver - Cuba | Double | Peso | Gold and silver - Denmark | S. gold | Crown | Gold - Ecuador | S. silver | Peso | Silver - Egypt | S. gold | Piaster | Gold - France | Double | Franc | Gold and silver - German Empire | S. gold | Marc | Gold - Great Britain | S. gold | Pound sterling | Gold - Greece | Double | Drachma | Gold and silver - Hayti | Double | Gourde | Gold and silver - India | S. silver | Rupee of 16 annas | Silver - Italy | Double | Lira | Gold and silver - Japan | Double | Yen | Silver - Liberia | S. gold | Dollar | Gold - Mexico | S. silver | Dollar | Silver - Netherlands | Double | Florin | Gold and silver - Norway | S. gold | Crown | Gold - Peru | S. silver | Sol | Silver - Portugal | S. gold | Milreis of 1000 reis | Gold - Russia | S. silver | Rouble of 100 copecks | Silver - Spain | Double | Peseta of 100 centimes| Gold and silver - Sweden | S. gold | Crown. | Gold - Switzerland | Double | Franc. | Gold and silver - Tripoli | S. silver | Mahbub of 20 piasters | Silver - Turkey | S. gold | Piaster. | Gold - United States of | | | - Colombia | S. silver | Peso. | Silver - Venezuela | Double | Bolivar. | Gold and silver - -------------------+------------+-----------------------+---------------- - - -------------------+--------------+---------------------------------- - | Value in | - COUNTRY. | U. S. Money. | Standard Coin. - -------------------+--------------+---------------------------------- - Argentine Republic | 96.5 | ⅟₂₀, ⅒, ⅕, ½ and 1 peso, ½ - | | argentine. - Austria | 35.9 | - Belgium | 19.3 | 5, 10 and 20 francs. - Bolivia | 72.7 | Boliviano. - Brazil | 54.6 | - British Possessions| | - in N. A. | $1.00 | - Chili | 91.2 | Condor, doubloon and escudo. - Cuba | 93.2 | ⅟₁₆, ⅛, ¼, ½ and 1 doubloon. - Denmark | 26.8 | 10 and 20 crowns. - Ecuador | 72.7 | Peso. - Egypt | 04.943 | 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 piasters. - France | 19.3 | 5,10 and 20 francs. - German Empire | 23.8 | 5, 10 and 20 marks. - Great Britain | 4.86.6½ | ½ sovereign and sovereign. - Greece | 19.3 | 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 drachmas. - Hayti | 96.5 | 1, 2, 5 and 10 gourdes. - India | 34.6 | - Italy | 19.3 | 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 lire. - Japan | 78.4 | 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 yen, gold and - | | silver yen. - Liberia | 1.00 | - Mexico | 07.9 | Peso or dollar, 5, 10, 25 and 50 - | | centavo. - Netherlands | 40.2 | - Norway | 26.8 | 10 and 20 crowns. - Peru | 72.7 | Sol. - Portugal | 1.08 | 2, 5 and 10 milreis. - Russia | 58.2 | ¼, ½ and 1 rouble. - Spain | 19.3 | 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesetas. - Sweden | 26.8 | 10 and 20 crowns. - Switzerland | 19.3 | 5, 10 and 20 francs. - Tripoli | 65.6 | - Turkey | 04.4 | 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 piasters. - United States of | | - Colombia | 72.7 | Peso. - Venezuela | 19.3 | 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 bolivar. - -------------------+--------------+---------------------------------- - -NOTE.—The “standard” of a given country is indicated as follows, namely: -_Double_, where its standard silver coins are unlimited legal tender, the -same as its gold coins; _S. gold_ or _S. silver_, as its standard coins -of one or the other metal are unlimited legal tender. The par of exchange -of the monetary unit of a country with a single gold, or a double, -standard is fixed at the value of the gold unit as compared with the -United States gold unit. In the case of a country with a single silver -standard, the par of exchange is computed at the mean price of silver in -the London market for a period commencing October 1 and ending December -26, 1886, as per daily cable dispatches to the Bureau of the Mint. - - -TREASURY DEPARTMENT. - - WASHINGTON, D. C., JANUARY 1, 1887. - -VALUES OF FOREIGN COINS. - -In accordance with the provisions of section 3564 of the Revised Statutes -of the United States, the value of the standard coins of the various -nations of the world were estimated by the Mint Bureau and proclaimed by -the Department on January 1, 1887. - -These estimates, to be followed at the custom-houses of the United -States on and after January 1, 1887, in determining the values of -invoices expressed in terms of foreign units of account, are shown in the -following table (see opposite page): - -The average price of silver in London for the period embraced between -October 1 and December 26, 1886, was 45.862 pence per ounce, British -standard, equivalent at the par of exchange to $1.00535 per ounce fine. - -The corresponding value of silver for the three months ending December -24, 1885, was $1.038141 per ounce fine, a decline of $0.03279, a little -over three cents a fine ounce. - -The depression in the price of silver occasioned a change in the -estimated values given the following coins: - - -Changes in Values of Foreign Coins from 1886 to 1887. - - ----------------------------------+-------------+------------- - | Value, | Value, - Coins. |Jan. 1, 1886.|Jan. 1, 1887. - ----------------------------------+-------------+------------- - Florin of Austria | $0.371 | $0.359 - Boliviano of Bolivia | .751 | .727 - Sucre of Ecuador | .751 | .727 - Rupee of India | .357 | .346 - Yen of Japan | .810 | .784 - Dollar of Mexico | .816 | .790 - Sol of Peru | .751 | .727 - Rouble of Russia | .601 | .582 - Mahbub of Tripoli | .677 | .656 - Peso of United States of Colombia | .751 | .727 - ----------------------------------+-------------+------------- - -The monetary unit of Egypt has been nominally changed from the piaster to -the pound containing one hundred piasters. - -The monetary unit of Ecuador also has been nominally changed from the -peso to the sucre, but with no change as to weight or fineness. - -In regard to Japan, in the table for 1887 the values of the gold and -silver yen were estimated separately, for the reason that while by law -the standard of Japan is gold, silver is practically the standard of -value, and invoices of merchandise from Japan are generally in terms of -the silver yen. - - -Aggregate Issues of Paper Money in War times. - -The following table exhibits the amount per capita issued of the -Continental money, the French assignats, the Confederate currency, and -the legal-tender greenbacks and National bank notes of the United States. - - --------------------+----------------------------+-------------+--------- - | Population. | | - --------------------+----------------------------+ +--------- - Continental money. | 3,000,000 in 1780 | | $119.84 - French assignats. | 26,500,000 (France in 1790)| | 343.98 - Confederate curr’cy.| 9,103,332 (11 Confederate | | 71.89 - | States, 1860) | | - Greenbacks and | 31,443,321 (United States | | - national | in 1860). | | - bank notes. | |$750,820,228 | 23.87 - --------------------+----------------------------+-------------+--------- - - -Refining (by acids), fiscal year 1887. - - --------------+---------+----------------------+--------------------- - | | Gold. | Silver. - Mint or | Gross +----------+-----------+----------+---------- - Assay Office. | ounces. | Standard | Value. | Standard | Value. - | | ounces. | | ounces. | - --------------+---------+----------+-----------+----------+---------- - Philadelphia. | 721,765| 190,539| $3,554,912| 553,437| $643,999 - San Francisco.|1,506,217| 365,970| 6,808,744| 1,248,071| 1,452,300 - Carson. | 45,447| 3,606| 67,088| 45,665| 53,137 - New Orleans. | 15,544| 4,840| 90,046| 11,167| 12,994 - New York. |3,822,148| 764,676| 14,226,530| 3,005,812| 3,497,672 - --------------+---------+----------+-----------+----------+---------- - Total. |6,111,121| 1,329,631|$24,737,320| 4,864,152|$5,660,102 - --------------+---------+----------+-----------+----------+---------- - - --------------+----------- - | - Mint or | Total - Assay Office. | value. - | - --------------+----------- - Philadelphia. | $4,188,911 - San Francisco.| 8,261,044 - Carson. | 120,225 - New Orleans. | 103,040 - New York. | 17,724,202 - --------------+----------- - Total. |$30,397,422 - --------------+----------- - - -Value in United States Money, of One Ounce Troy of Gold, at different -Degrees of Fineness. - - 500 Fine $10.33.6 - 510 ” 10.54.3 - 520 ” 10.74.9 - 530 ” 10.95.6 - 540 ” 11.16.3 - 550 ” 11.36.9 - 560 ” 11.57.6 - 570 ” 11.78.3 - 580 ” 11.99. - 590 ” 12.19.6 - 600 ” 12.40.3 - 610 ” 12.61. - 620 ” 12.81.7 - 630 ” 13.02.3 - 640 ” 13.23. - 650 ” 13.43.7 - 660 ” 13.64.3 - 670 ” 13.85. - 680 ” 14.05.7 - 690 ” 14.26.3 - 700 ” 14.47. - 710 ” 14.67.7 - 720 ” 14.88.4 - 730 ” 15.09.4 - 740 ” 15.28.7 - 750 ” 15.50.4 - 760 ” 15.71.1 - 770 ” 15.91.7 - 780 ” 16.12.4 - 790 ” 16.33.1 - 800 ” 16.53.8 - 810 ” 16.74.4 - 820 ” 16.95.1 - 830 ” 17.15.8 - 840 ” 17.36.4 - 850 ” 17.57.1 - 860 ” 17.77.8 - 870 ” 17.98.4 - 880 ” 18.19.1 - 890 ” 18.39.8 - 900 ” 18.60.5 - 910 ” 18.81.1 - 920 ” 19.01.8 - 930 ” 19.22.5 - 940 ” 19.43.1 - 950 ” 19.63.8 - 960 ” 19.84.5 - 970 ” 20.05.2 - 980 ” 20.25.8 - 990 ” 20.46.5 - 1000 ” 20.67.2 - -------------------- - -N. B.—When there is an intermediate degree of fineness, a short -calculation is necessary. For every one-thousandth, add 2.07 cents per -ounce for gold. Thus, one ounce of gold at 992 fine—$20.50.6 - - -Comparison of Expressing the Fineness of Gold in Thousandths, and in -Carats.[29] - - 500 Fine 12.00 Carats - 510 ” 12.08 ” - 520 ” 12.15 ” - 530 ” 12.23 ” - 540 ” 12.31 ” - 550 ” 13.07 ” - 560 ” 13.14 ” - 570 ” 13.22 ” - 580 ” 13.29 ” - 590 ” 14.05 ” - 600 ” 14.13 ” - 610 ” 14.20 ” - 620 ” 14.28 ” - 630 ” 15.04 ” - 640 ” 15.11 ” - 650 ” 15.19 ” - 660 ” 15.27 ” - 670 ” 16.03 ” - 680 ” 16.10 ” - 690 ” 16.18 ” - 700 ” 16.25 ” - 710 ” 17.01 ” - 720 ” 17.09 ” - 730 ” 17.17 ” - 740 ” 17.24 ” - 750 ” 18.00 ” - 760 ” 18.08 ” - 770 ” 18.15 ” - 780 ” 18.23 ” - 790 ” 18.31 ” - 800 ” 19.07 ” - 810 ” 19.14 ” - 820 ” 19.22 ” - 830 ” 19.29 ” - 840 ” 20.05 ” - 850 ” 20.13 ” - 860 ” 20.20 ” - 870 ” 20.28 ” - 880 ” 21.04 ” - 890 ” 21.11 ” - 900 ” 21.19 ” - 910 ” 21.27 ” - 920 ” 22.02 ” - 930 ” 22.10 ” - 940 ” 22.18 ” - 950 ” 22.25 ” - 960 ” 23.01 ” - 970 ” 23.09 ” - 980 ” 23.17 ” - 990 ” 23.24 ” - 1000 ” 24.00 ” - -------------------- - - - - -U. S. Mint Test for Gold and Silver. - - -The following is a test for determining whether coin is good or bad. -Use the liquids as near the edge of suspected coin as possible, as that -is the part most worn. A drop of the preparation will have no effect on -genuine coin, while it can be plainly seen on the counterfeit. Coins -should be scraped slightly before using: - -TEST FOR GOLD. - - Strong Nitric Acid (36°), 39 parts. - Muriatic Acid, 1 part. - Water, 20 parts. - -TEST FOR SILVER. - - 24 grains Nitre of Silver. - 30 drops Nitric Acid. - 1 ounce Water. - -The above tests should be taken in conjunction with _Diameter_, -_Thickness_, and _Weight_, the tests used at the Mint. - - - - -GLOSSARY. - -_Terms used in treating of Bullion, Mints, Coinage, and Money._ - - -ASSAYING.—Chemical analysis of metals or ores. This term is employed in -reference to mints and coinage, refers particularly to the process for -determining the component parts and relative proportions of a mixed alloy -of gold and silver, or the various alloys used for the manufacture of -minor coins. - -REFINING.—Extract of base from precious metals; usually performed by the -aid of heat and oxidizing fluxes. - -PARTING.—The separation of gold and silver when the two metals -compose an alloy, either native or artificial, for the purpose of -obtaining the metals, respectively, in the form of fine bars. This is -accomplished, first, by dissolving the silver with acids and subsequently -precipitating; or, second, by converting silver into chloride by heat and -chlorine gas, and then reducing the chloride to a metallic state. - -ALLOYING.—Compounding two or more metals together in suitable or legal -proportions for coinage. Gold and silver are alloyed with copper for -standard coins, and alloys are variously made of nickel and copper, or of -copper, tin, and zinc for minor coins. - -FINE BARS.—Gold and silver bars resulting from the operations of parting -and refining. Bars containing 99 per cent. of pure metal are generally -considered as fine bars. - -UNPARTED BULLION.—Gold containing silver or silver containing gold which -has not been subjected to the parting operation. - -AMALGAM.—Gold and silver extracted from ores or other substances by the -use of mercury and left in a porous or spongy condition, when the mercury -is removed by distillation. - -FINENESS.—A term indicating the proportion of pure metal contained in a -piece of gold or silver. Fineness is expressed in thousandths; that is, -pure metal is 1000. United States coin is ⁹⁰⁰⁄₁₀₀₀ fine, or decimally -.900 fine. Fineness is estimated by jewelers and workers in the precious -metals by “carats,” pure metal being 24 carats. Thus 22 carats, the -British standard for gold coins, is ²²⁄₂₄, or decimally, 916⅔ fine. - -DEPOSIT—MELTING.—The operation of melting a deposit of gold or silver -at the Mint to secure a homogeneity of metals, preliminary to taking a -sample for assaying. - -REMEDY OF THE MINT.—The legal variation allowed from the fineness and -weight prescribed by law for the coins. - -TRIAL OF THE PYX.—The annual test made by special commissioners of the -fineness and weight of coins reserved from each delivery of coin by the -coiner to the superintendent. These coins are known as Pyx coins, because -kept in a pyx or chest. - -REFRACTORY BULLION.—Gold or silver bullion which contains a small -percentage of lead, tin, or antimony, and which is therefore too hard or -brittle to roll, cut, or stamp with facility. - -WASTAGE.—The amount of gold and silver lost in the processes which these -metals undergo preparatory to striking the coins. This “wastage” by law -must not exceed a certain percentage of the gross amount of metals worked. - -SWEEPINGS.—The ashes, fluxes, crucibles, sweepings, and all other refuse -materials from rooms in which the metals are worked, containing a small -amount of gold and silver. - -STANDARD.—The weight and fineness fixed by law for the coins; hence the -term “standard weight” or “standard fineness.” - -BASE BULLION.—Gold or silver bullion not fit for coinage purposes, by -reason of the presence of base metals, until refined. - -MINT MARK.—The letter or mark on the coin, designating the mint at which -it was struck; as “S” for San Francisco, “C C” for Carson City, “O” for -New Orleans.[30] - -MONEY OF ACCOUNT.—The ideal unit, or money term, in which accounts are -stated or transactions made, as the _pound sterling_ of Great Britain, -the _dollar_ of the United States, the _franc_ of France, and the -_reichsmark_ of the German Empire. - -COINS OF STANDARD VALUE.—In modern times a government first establishes -a money of account or ideal unit, and then fixes by law the quantity -of gold or silver which shall, in the form of a coin with unlimited -legal-tender power, represent that ideal unit. Such coins, with their -multiples and divisions, are termed “coins of standard value” or -“standard coins.” - -SUBSIDIARY COINS.—In the United States silver coins of less denomination -than the dollar, which have a nominal value exceeding their intrinsic or -bullion value, and limited as legal tender to sums not exceeding five -dollars. - -MINOR COINS.—Coins of small denominations used for change, and struck -from other metals than gold or silver. - -MINT PRICES OF GOLD AND SILVER (COINING VALUE).—The rate per standard -ounce at which the mint converts bullion into legal-tender coins. The -coining rate of an ounce of standard gold bullion, _i. e._, bullion -⁹⁰⁰⁄₁₀₀₀ fine in the United States is $18,604+. The coining rate of the -silver dollar of 412½ grains, discontinued by law April 1, 1873, was -$1.16⁴⁄₁₁ per standard ounce. - -THE BASIS OF THE MONEY SYSTEM of all civilized nations is gold or silver, -or both, in a ratio fixed by law. The relative valuation of the two -metals in the coins of nations using the double standard, is about one of -gold to _fifteen and a half of silver_. - - -_Partial List of Medals in Copper-Bronzed, also, in Gold and Silver, -which may be obtained at the Mint._ - - Size. Price. - ARMY. - - Washington before Boston 42 $2.50 - Colonel William Washington, for Cowpens 28 1.50 - Major-General Harrison, for the Thames 40 1.50 - Major-General Scott, for Chippewa and Niagara 40 1.50 - Major-General Gaines, for Fort Erie 40 1.50 - Major-General Porter, for Chippewa, Niagara, and Erie 40 1.50 - Major-General Macomb, Battle of Plattsburgh 40 1.50 - Major-General Jackson, Battle of New Orleans 40 1.50 - Major-General Taylor, Palo Alto 40 1.50 - Major-General Taylor, for Monterey 40 1.50 - Major-General Taylor, for Buena Vista 56 3.00 - Major-General Scott, for Battles in Mexico 56 3.00 - Major-General Grant 64 8.00 - Colonel Lee, “Light-Horse Harry” 29 1.50 - Count DeFleury, for Stony Point 15 2.25 - - NAVY. - - John Paul Jones, for Serapis 36 2.00 - Captain Hull, for Capture of Guerriere 40 1.50 - Captain Jacob Jones, for Capture of the Frolic 40 1.50 - Captain Decatur, for Capture of the Macedonian 40 1.50 - Captain Bainbridge, for Capture of the Java 40 1.50 - Captain Lawrence, for Capture of the Peacock 40 1.50 - Captain Burrows, for Capture of the Boxer 40 1.50 - Captain Perry, for Capture of British Fleet on Lake Erie 40 1.50 - Captain Elliott, for Capture of British Fleet on Lake Erie 40 1.50 - Captain Warrington, for Capture of the Epervier 40 1.50 - Captain Blakely, for Capture of the Reindeer 40 1.50 - Captain MacDonough, for Capture of the British Fleet on - Lake Champlain 40 1.50 - Captain Henley, Capture of British Fleet on Lake Champlain 40 1.50 - Lieut. Cassin, Capture of British Fleet on Lake Champlain 40 1.50 - Captain Biddle, for Capture of the Penguin 40 1.50 - Captain Stewart, for Capture of the Cyane and Levant 40 1.50 - Captain Edw. Preble before Tripoli 40 1.50 - - PRESIDENTIAL. - - John Adams 32 1.50 - Thomas Jefferson 47 2.50 - James Madison 40 1.50 - James Monroe 40 1.50 - John Q. Adams 40 1.50 - Andrew Jackson 40 1.50 - Martin Van Buren 40 1.50 - John Tyler 40 1.50 - James K. Polk 40 1.50 - Zachary Taylor 40 1.50 - Millard Fillmore 40 1.50 - Franklin Pierce 40 1.50 - James Buchanan 48 2.00 - Abraham Lincoln 48 2.00 - Andrew Johnson 48 2.00 - Ulysses S. Grant 48 2.00 - Rutherford B. Hayes 48 2.00 - James A. Garfield 48 2.00 - Chester A. Arthur 48 2.00 - - SUB-NATIONAL MEDALS. - - Captain Perry (State of Pennsylvania), for Capture of the - British Fleet on Lake Erie 40 1.50 - Pennsylvania Volunteers, Action on Lake Erie 40 1.50 - Major-General Scott (Commonwealth of Virginia) 56 3.00 - - MISCELLANEOUS AMERICAN. - - Professor Agassiz Medal 30 1.50 - Colonel Armstrong, for Destruction of the Indian Village of - Kittanning 27 1.00 - Captains Creighton, Low, and Stouffer, Wreck of Steamer - San Francisco 47 2.00 - Captains Creighton, Low, and Stouffer, Wreck of Steamer - San Francisco, by Congress 50 3.00 - Cornelius Vanderbilt, by Congress 48 2.50 - First Steam Coinage 16 .25 - Commodore M. C. Perry, from Merchants of Boston 40 2.00 - Pacific Railroad Medal 29 1.25 - Emancipation Proclamation Medal 29 1.00 - Cyrus W. Field, Atlantic Cable Medal 64 8.00 - Dr. Joseph Pancoast 48 3.00 - Grant Indian Peace Medal 40 3.00 - Garfield Indian Peace Medal (oblong) 2.00 - Arthur Indian Peace Medal ” 2.00 - “Let Us Have Peace” 29 1.25 - Metis (Shipwreck) Medal 42 1.50 - John Horn (Life Saving) Medal 30 1.00 - U. S. Diplomatic Medal, July 4, 1776 45 2.00 - Valley Forge Centennial 25 .50 - Great Seal Medal 39 1.50 - - DIRECTORS OF THE MINT. - - David Rittenhouse 28 1.25 - Robert M. Patterson 42 1.50 - James Ross Snowden 50 2.50 - James Pollock 29 1.25 - H. R. Linderman 50 2.00 - James P. Kimball - - SUPERINTENDENTS. - - A. Loudon Snowden 50 2.00 - Daniel M. Fox - - FINE GOLD MEDALS. - (_See Rule 3._) - - Time Increases His Fame 16 12.00 - James A. Garfield 16 9.00 - Commencement of Cabinet 12 6.25 - Washington and Jackson 10 4.50 - Lincoln and Garfield 10 4.50 - - FINE SILVER MEDALS. - (_See Rule 3._) - - Cabinet Medal 37 6.00 - Presidency Relinquished 25 3.00 - Allegiance Medal 18 1.00 - Time Increases His Fame 16 .75 - James A. Garfield 16 .60 - Pennsylvania Bi-Centennial 16 .50 - Commencement of Cabinet 12 .35 - Washington and Jackson 10 .25 - Washington and Lincoln 10 .25 - Washington and Grant 10 .25 - Washington Wreath 10 .25 - Lincoln and Grant 10 .25 - Lincoln Broken Column 10 .25 - Lincoln and Garfield 10 .25 - Valley Forge Centennial 25 1.50 - -The diameter of the medals is expressed by numbers, each of which -indicates the sixteenth of an inch. - -Medals struck to order in gold, silver, or bronze, from dies of public -institutions. - - - - -MEDALS AND CABINET COINS. - - -MINT OF THE UNITED STATES. - - Philadelphia, January, 1888. - -_Regulations._ - -1. The price of Medals, Proof Coins, Pattern Pieces, &c., shall be fixed -by the Superintendent of the Mint, with the approval of the Director. - -2. No Coin or Pattern Piece shall be struck after the year of its date, -nor in any other metal or alloy than that in which the Coin was issued -or intended to be issued, except experimental pieces in Copper or other -soft metal to prove the dies, under the direction of the Superintendent. -The dies shall be defaced at the end of each year, and such impressions -as the Engraver may find necessary to take while preparing the dies shall -be destroyed in the presence of the Superintendent when the dies are -finished. - -3. When a Pattern Piece is adopted and used in the regular coinage in -the same year it shall then be issued as a proof, at a price near its -current value; or if it comes out early in the year, it will be placed in -the regular Proof Set. The Superintendent will furnish, without charge, -on application therefor, a Pattern Piece to any incorporated Numismatic -Society in the United States. In such cases, if the pattern is in Gold or -Silver, the value of the metal will be required. - -4. The price of the regular Proof Set of Gold Coins will be Forty-three -Dollars; the Proof Set of Silver and Minor Coins, Three Dollars. Single -Gold Pieces, in proof, are sold at Twenty-five Cents each above their -intrinsic value. Silver Sets are not separated. Proof sets are furnished -of the current year only. The Mint has no Coins or Sets of back dates for -sale. - -5. The Coins of the United States are:— - - GOLD. SILVER. COPPER-NICKEL. - Double-Eagle, Dollar, Five Cents. - Eagle, Half-Dollar, Three Cents. - Half-Eagle, Quarter-Dollar, - Three-Dollar, Dime. BRONZE. - Quarter-Eagle, One Cent. - Dollar. - -The coinage of the Silver Dollar of 412½ grains, the Five and Three-Cent -Silver Pieces and Bronze Two-Cent Pieces was discontinued in 1873, but -the Silver Dollar was restored by the Act of February 28, 1878. - -All orders must be sent to Superintendent of the Mint at Philadelphia. - - DANIEL M. FOX, - _Superintendent_. - - - - -PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON. - - -The frontispiece in the bound volume of this book, is an exact -reproduction, by the Gutekunst phototype process, of the obverse of the -Washington medal executed by Charles C. Wright, about the year 1850, -and particularly described on page 34 of the “Medallic Portraits of -Washington,” by W. S. Baker, lately published (the price of which is -five dollars). The bust was modeled by Wright, after the original by the -celebrated French sculptor, Jean Antoine Houdon, executed from a cast -taken from the face of Washington at Mount Vernon, in October, 1785, -and is considered by good judges to be the best medallic portrait of -Washington yet produced. An impression of the medal is in the Washington -Cabinet of the Mint; the reverse presents an excellent copy of Trumbull’s -well known picture of the Declaration of Independence. - - - - -JANUARY 1888. - -COIN (APPROXIMATE) PRICE CURRENT. - -Prepared by Mason & Co., Coin Dealers, 175 Washington St., Boston. Mass. - - GOLD COLONIAL COINS. - - FINE. GOOD. - 1785, Justice-eye, “Immune Columbia” $600.00 $500.00 - 1787, Sun-eagle, “Nova Eboraca” 300.00 150.00 - - SILVER COLONIALS. - - 1652, N. E. XII, New-England shilling $35.00 $25.00 - 1652, ” VI, ” sixpence 40.00 20.00 - 1652, ” III, ” threepence 100.00 40.00 - 1650, Pinetree XII, “Masathusets” shilling 45.00 30.00 - 1652, ” ” “Massachusets” ” 10.00 5.00 - 1652, ” Smaller and thicker ” 8.00 3.00 - 1652, ” XII, “Masatusets” variety shilling 25.00 15.00 - 1652, ” VI, “Masachusets” sixpence 15.00 5.00 - 1652, ” III, ” threepence 15.00 5.00 - 1652, ” II, ” twopence 15.00 5.00 - 1652, Oaktree XII, ” shilling 5.00 3.00 - 1652, ” VI, ” sixpence 6.00 4.00 - 1652, ” III, ” threepence 8.00 4.00 - 1662, ” II, ” twopence 8.00 4.00 - 1662, ” I, ” penny 30.00 10.00 - 1659, head, shield, Lord Baltimore shilling 15.00 10.00 - 1659, ” ” ” sixpence 20.00 10.00 - 1659, ” ” ” fourpence 20.00 10.00 - 1760, Charles III. rose, Florida half dollar 30.00 20.00 - 1773, George III. shield, Virginia shilling 20.00 15.00 - 1783, U. S. 1000-eye, “Nova Constellatio” 200.00 100.00 - 1783, ” 500-eye, ” ” 150.00 75.00 - 1785, ” Justice-eye, “Nova Constellatio” quarter - dollar 75.00 40.00 - 1783, hands clasped, Annapolis shilling 15.00 5.00 - 1783, ” ” sixpence 15.00 8.00 - 1783, ” ” threepence 15.00 8.00 - 1790, head “Standish Barry” ” 25.00 10.00 - 1796, female head, “Castorland” half dollar 2.00 1.50 - - TIN COLONIAL. - - 1690, horseman-shields, James II. tin piece $3.00 $1.50 - 1776, Sun-dial, “Continental Currency” 15.00 5.00 - - COLONIAL COPPER COINS. - - 1616, hog-ship, “Summer Islands” shilling $300.00 - 1616, ” ” ” sixpence 400.00 - 1694, Elephant, “God preserve Carolina,” half dollar $40.00 20.00 - ” “God preserve New England” 150.00 50.00 - ” “God preserve London” 2.50 1.50 - 1721, 2 L’s, “Col’s Francoises,” Louisiana 2.50 1.00 - 1722, 2 L’s, ” ” ” 2.50 1.00 - 1667, L’s, “Col’s Francoises,” stamped R. F., Louisiana - ha’penny 2.00 1.00 - 1767, L’s, “Col’s Francoises,” without R. F., Louisiana - ha’penny 4.00 1.50 - 1766, head ship, no stamps, Pitt halfpenny 2.50 1.50 - 1773, George III. shield, Virginia halfpenny 1.00 .25 - 1773, ” ” smaller size, Virginia halfpenny .75 .25 - U. S. A., 13 bars, Bar cent 3.50 2.00 - 1722, George I. rose, “Rosa Americana” penny 4.00 1.50 - 1722, ” ” ” ” halfpenny 2.50 1.00 - 1722, ” ” ” ” farthing 3.00 1.50 - 1722, ” ” ” ” farthing 4.00 2.00 - 1723, ” ” not crowned, “Rosa Americana” - farthing 15.00 5.00 - George I. rose, “Rosa sine spina,” halfpenny 30.00 15.00 - 1723, George I. crowned rose, “Rosa Americana,” penny 4.00 2.00 - 1723, George I. crowned rose, “Rosa Americana,” - halfpenny 2.50 1.50 - 1724, George I. crowned rose, “Rosa Americana,” - halfpenny 15.00 10.00 - 1723, George I. crowned rose, “Rosa Americana,” - farthing 2.50 1.50 - 1723, George I. crowned rose, “Rosa Americana,” - halfpenny 5.00 3.00 - 1733, George II. crowned rose, “Rosa Americana” penny 30.00 20.00 - 1737, Three hammers, “Connecticut” cent 40.00 20.00 - 1737, “I am good copper,” cent 40.00 20.00 - 1739, ” ” ” Granby cent 40.00 20.00 - 1737, “Connecticut,” Granby cent 40.00 20.00 - 1737, Axe, “I cut my way through,” Granby cent 40.00 20.00 - No date, axe, “I cut my way through,” Granby cent 40.00 20.00 - 1778, Head Indian, “Non dependens,” cent 25.00 15.00 - 1783, U. S. eye, “Nova Constellatio,” cent 1.00 .40 - 1783, ” ” ” ” ” 1.00 .40 - 1785, U. S. eye, “Nova Constellatio,” cent 1.00 .30 - 1783, Liberty caged, “Georgius Triumpho,” cent 3.00 1.25 - 1787, Indian stars, “Inimica Tyrannis,” cent 40.00 20.00 - 1785, ” in circle, “Inimica Tyrannis,” cent 40.00 20.00 - Scroll-triangle, Kentucky cent, plain edge 3.50 2.00 - ” lettered edge, Kentucky cent 3.50 2.00 - 1796, Britannia-children, British settlements 25.00 15.00 - 1787, Indian-eagle, Massachusetts cent 1.00 .40 - 1787, ” ” half-cent 3.00 1.25 - 1788, ” ” cent 1.00 .50 - 1788, ” ” half-cent 3.00 1.25 - 1787, Sun-dial links, “We are one,” Franklin cent .50 .25 - - NEW YORK CENTS. - - 1786, Head, Justice; “Non vi virtute vici,” $75.00 $40.00 - 1787, Indian-eagle, “Neo Eboracus,” 50.00 30.00 - 1787, ” arms of New York, “Excelsior,” 40.00 20.00 - 1787, George Clinton arms of New York, “Excelsior,” 50.00 25.00 - 1786, Eagle, arms of New York, “Excelsior,” 60.00 30.00 - 1787, ” ” ” ” 60.00 30.00 - 1787, Justice-eagle, “Immunis Columbia,” 8.00 4.00 - 1787, Head, Liberty to right, “Nova Eborac,” 2.00 .50 - 1787, Head, Liberty to left, “Nova Eborac,” 2.00 .75 - - VERMONT CENTS. - - 1785, Head Justice, “Immune Columbia” $15.00 $10.00 - 1785, Justice-eye, “Immune Columbia” 25.00 15.00 - 1785, Sun-eye, “Vermontis Respublica” 3.00 1.00 - 1785, ” “Vermontes-Res-Publica” 5.00 2.00 - 1786, ” “Vermontensium Respublica” 2.50 1.00 - 1786, Head, Britannia “Vermon Auctori” .60 .30 - 1787, ” ” ” ” .50 .25 - 1788, ” ” ” ” .75 .30 - 1786, Baby head, Britannia “Vermon Auctori” 1.50 .50 - 1787, Head, Britannia “Vermon,” “Et lib Inde” 1.00 .50 - 1787, ” ” ” “Britannia,” 1.00 .40 - 1787, ” ” George III., “rex Inde et lib” 2.00 1.00 - - NEW JERSEY CENTS. - - 1786, Horse head, shield, “Nova Cæsarea” $1.00 $0.30 - 1786, Horse head, shield (date under beam), - “Nova Cæsarea” 100.00 75.00 - 1787, Horse head, shield, large size, “Nova Cæsarea” .60 .25 - 1787, ” ” ” smaller, “Nova Cæsarea” .30 .10 - 1787, ” ” ” “E pluribs,” “Nova Cæsarea” 2.00 1.00 - 1788, ” ” ” “Nova Cæsarea” .50 .20 - 1788, ” ” ” Fox type, “Nova Cæsarea” 1.50 .40 - 1788, Horse head to left, shield, “Nova Cæsarea” 4.00 1.00 - 1787, Justice-shield, “Immunis Columbia” 25.00 15.00 - - CONNECTICUT CENTS. - - 1787, Head to right, Britannia “Auctori Connec” $0.25 $0.10 - 1785-6-8, Head to right, Britannia “Auctori Connec” .50 .20 - 1785, (Negro head) Britannia “Auctori Connec” 1.00 .50 - 1785, (Laughing head) Britannia “Auctori Connec” 1.50 .75 - 1785, Head to left, Britannia “Auctori Connec” .50 .20 - 1786-7-8, Head to left, Britannia “Auctori Connec” .50 .25 - 1786-7, ” ” ” “Et lib Inde Connec” 1.00 .50 - 1787-8, ” ” ” “Auctori Connec” 1.00 1.30 - - There are many more minor types of the Connecticut and New - Jersey 5 cents to 25 cents, etc. - - SILVER DOLLARS. - - 1794, flowing hair $125.50 $50.00 - 1795, ” ” 3.00 1.50 - 1795, fillet head 3.50 1.50 - 1796 4.00 2.00 - 1797, 6 stars facing 5.00 2.50 - 1797, 7 ” ” 4.00 2.50 - 1798, 13 ” small eagle 6.00 4.00 - 1798, 15 ” ” ” 12.00 8.00 - 1798, 13 ” large eagle 2.50 2.00 - 1799, 5 ” facing 7.00 5.00 - 1799, 6 ” ” 2.00 1.60 - 1800, spread eagle 3.00 1.50 - 1801 5.00 2.00 - 1802 4.00 1.50 - 1803 3.00 2.00 - 1804 1000.00 500.00 - 1836, name in field 40.00 23.00 - 1836, flying eagle 10.00 6.00 - 1838, ” ” 50.00 25.00 - 1839, ” ” 30.00 20.00 - 1840, Liberty seated 2.25 1.60 - 1841 2.00 1.60 - 1842 2.00 1.60 - 1843 2.25 1.60 - 1844 2.00 1.00 - 1845 2.50 1.00 - 1846 2.00 1.00 - 1847 1.75 1.00 - 1848 3.00 1.25 - 1849 1.75 1.00 - 1850 2.00 1.10 - 1851 40.00 30.00 - 1852 50.00 30.00 - 1853 2.00 1.50 - 1854 8.00 6.00 - 1855 6.00 4.00 - 1856 2.50 1.75 - 1857 4.00 2.00 - 1858 40.00 30.00 - 1859 1.50 1.40 - 1860 1.80 1.50 - 1861 1.80 1.50 - 1862 1.80 1.50 - 1863 1.80 1.50 - 1864 1.80 1.50 - 1865 1.80 1.50 - 1866 2.00 1.60 - 1867 1.80 1.50 - 1868 2.00 1.75 - 1869 1.50 1.40 - 1870 1.50 1.40 - 1871 1.50 1.40 - 1872 1.30 1.25 - 1873 2.00 1.60 - 1873, trade dollar 2.00 1.50 - 1874, ” ” 1.75 1.40 - 1875, ” ” 1.50 1.40 - 1876, ” ” 1.20 1.15 - 1877, ” ” 1.20 1.10 - 1878, ” ” 1.20 1.15 - 1879-1884, proof 2.00 1.75 - - HALF DOLLARS. - - 1794, flowing hair $8.00 $5.00 - 1795, ” ” 2.50 1.50 - 1796, 15 stars 75.00 50.00 - 1796, 16 ” 100.00 60.00 - 1797, 15 ” 75.00 40.00 - 1801, fillet head 8.00 5.00 - 1802 10.00 8.00 - 1803 3.00 1.50 - 1805 3.00 1.50 - 1806 1.50 1.25 - 1807 1.50 1.25 - 1807, head to left 2.00 1.50 - 1808 2.00 1.00 - 1809 1.00 .75 - 1810 1.00 .75 - 1811 1.25 .75 - 1812 1.00 .75 - 1813 1.00 .75 - 1814 1.00 .75 - 1815 8.00 5.00 - - Half dollars from 1817 to 1885, inclusive (excepting 1851 and - 1852, worth from $2.50 to $5.00), from 75c. to $1.00. - - QUARTER DOLLARS. - - 1796, fillet head $8.00 $4.00 - 1804 7.00 3.00 - 1805 3.00 1.50 - 1806 2.00 1.00 - 1807 2.50 1.25 - 1815, head to left 2.00 .50 - 1818 1.00 .75 - 1819 1.50 1.00 - 1820 1.00 0.75 - 1821 1.00 .75 - 1822 2.00 1.00 - 1823 75.00 30.00 - 1824 2.00 1.00 - 1825 1.00 .75 - 1827 100.00 .50 - - Quarter dollars, from 1827 to 1885, inclusive (excepting that - of 1853, without arrow heads, worth from $6.00 to $10.00), - worth 30c. to 50c. - - TWENTY-CENT PIECES. - - 1875, Liberty seated $0.40 $0.30 - 1876, ” ” .60 .50 - 1877, ” ” 5.00 4.00 - 1878, ” ” 5.00 4.00 - - DIMES. - - 1796, fillet head $4.00 $2.00 - 1797, 13 stars 6.00 3.00 - 1797, 16 ” 8.00 4.00 - 1798, fillet head 6.00 3.00 - 1800 8.00 5.00 - 1801 6.00 4.50 - 1802 10.00 6.00 - 1803 4.00 2.50 - 1804 12.00 10.00 - 1805 1.50 .75 - 1807 2.00 1.00 - 1809, head to left 3.00 2.00 - 1811 3.00 2.00 - - Dimes, from 1811 to 1885, inclusive (excepting that of 1846, - worth $1.00 to $2.50), from 20c. to 35c. - - HALF DIMES. - - 1794, flowing hair $6.00 $4.00 - 1795, ” ” 2.00 1.00 - 1796, 15 stars 6.00 4.00 - 1797, 15 ” 5.00 3.00 - 1797, 16 ” 4.00 2.00 - 1800, fillet head 2.00 1.50 - 1801 5.00 3.00 - 1802 125.00 80.00 - 1803 5.00 3.00 - 1805 15.00 5.00 - - Half dimes, from 1805 to 1873, inclusive (excepting 1846, worth - from $1.00 to $2.50), from 10 to 30 cents. - - SILVER THREE-CENT PIECES. - - From 1851 to 1872, inclusive, worth from 5 to 50 cents, - according to condition. - - 1873 $2.00 $1.50 - - NICKEL FIVE-CENT PIECES. - - PROOFS. FINE. - 1866 $0.15 $0.10 - 1867, with rays 2.50 .50 - 1867, without rays .15 .10 - 1868 .15 .10 - 1869 .15 .10 - 1870 .15 .10 - 1871 .15 .10 - 1872 .15 .10 - 1873 .15 .10 - 1874 .15 .10 - 1875 .20 .15 - 1876 .15 .10 - 1877 2.00 1.00 - 1878 .40 .25 - 1879 .12 .10 - - NICKEL THREE-CENT PIECES. - - 1865 $0.15 $0.08 - 1866 .15 .08 - 1867 .15 .08 - 1868 .15 .08 - 1869 .15 .08 - 1870 .15 .08 - 1871 .15 .08 - 1872 .15 .08 - 1873 .15 .08 - 1874 .15 .08 - 1875 .20 .15 - 1876 .10 .08 - 1877 2.00 1.00 - 1878 .25 .20 - 1879-1888, proofs .25 .05 - - TWO-CENT PIECES. - - 1864 $0.40 $0.10 - 1865 .40 .10 - 1866 .40 .10 - 1867 .40 .10 - 1868 .40 .10 - 1869 .40 .08 - 1870 .40 .08 - 1871 .25 .15 - 1872 .50 .40 - 1873 1.25 .75 - - COPPER CENTS. - - FINE. GOOD. - 1793, chain America $20.00 $10.00 - 1793, ” ” 10.00 6.00 - 1793, wreath 8.00 5.00 - 1793, lettered edge 9.00 6.00 - 1793, liberty cap 25.00 8.00 - 1794, ” ” 1.50 .75 - 1795, ” lettered edge 4.50 1.50 - 1795, liberty, thin die 1.50 .50 - 1796, ” ” ” 2.00 .75 - 1796, fillet head 2.00 1.00 - 1797 1.50 .40 - 1798 1.00 .10 - 1799 35.00 15.00 - 1800 1.00 .50 - 1801 1.00 .50 - 1802 .50 .25 - 1803 .50 .20 - 1804 10.50 6.00 - 1805 1.50 .50 - 1806 1.25 .75 - 1807 1.10 .40 - 1808, head to left 2.00 .75 - 1809 4.00 1.50 - - From 1810 to 1857, inclusive, worth from 2c. to $3, according - to condition. - - NICKEL AND BRONZE CENTS. - - 1856, eagle nickel $5.00 $3.50 - 1857 .50 .01 - 1858 .50 .01 - 1859, Indian head .50 .01 - 1860 .25 .01 - 1861 .25 .01 - 1862 .25 .01 - 1863 .25 .01 - 1864 .25 .01 - 1864, bronze .10 .01 - 1865 .10 .01 - 1866 .10 .01 - 1867 .10 .01 - 1868 .05 .01 - 1869 .05 .01 - 1870 .05 .01 - 1871 .05 .01 - 1872 .05 .01 - 1873 .05 .01 - 1874 .05 .01 - 1875 .05 .01 - 1876 .05 .01 - 1877 .50 .05 - 1878 .05 .01 - 1879-1887 .05 .01 - - HALF CENTS. - - 1793, liberty cap $5.00 $2.50 - 1794, ” ” 2.50 1.50 - 1795, ” lettered edge 3.00 1.50 - 1795, liberty, thin die 2.00 1.00 - 1796, ” cap 40.00 20.00 - 1797, ” ” 2.00 1.00 - 1797, ” lettered edge 5.00 3.00 - 1800, fillet head 1.00 .50 - 1802 5.00 3.00 - 1803 .50 .25 - 1804 .25 .10 - 1805 .50 .25 - 1806 .50 .25 - 1807 .50 .25 - 1808 .50 .25 - 1809, head to left .25 .15 - 1810 2.50 1.00 - 1811 3.00 1.50 - 1825 .40 .20 - 1826 .25 .15 - 1828, 12 stars .40 .20 - 1828, 13 ” .20 .10 - 1829 .30 .20 - 1831 (proof) 12.00 - 1832 .20 .15 - 1833 .20 .10 - 1834 .20 .10 - 1835 .20 .10 - 1836 (proof) 12.00 - 1840 ” 8.00 - 1841 ” 8.00 - 1842 ” 15.00 - 1843 ” 10.00 - 1844 ” 10.00 - 1845 ” 10.00 - 1846 ” 10.00 - 1847 ” 10.00 - 1848 ” 8.00 - 1849 ” small date 8.00 - 1849, large date .40 .25 - 1850 .30 .20 - 1851 .25 .10 - 1852 (proof) 10.00 - 1853 .15 .10 - 1854 .25 .15 - 1855 .25 .15 - 1856 .20 .15 - 1857 .30 .25 - - GOLD DOUBLE EAGLES. - - 1849 $1000.00 - 1850, head to left 25.00 $20.00 - 1851 25.00 20.00 - 1852 25.00 20.00 - 1853 21.00 20.00 - 1854 21.00 20.00 - 1855-79, consecutive 21.00 20.00 - - GOLD EAGLES. - - 1795, head to left $15.00 $13.00 - 1796, 16 stars 20.00 15.00 - 1797, 16 spread eagle 15.00 13.00 - 1798, 13 stars 16.00 14.00 - 1799, 13 spread eagle 14.00 12.00 - 1800 14.00 13.00 - 1801 14.00 13.00 - 1803 15.00 13.00 - 1804 15.00 13.00 - 1838, head to left 15.00 13.00 - 1839 15.00 12.00 - 1840-68, only proofs worth premium. - - GOLD HALF EAGLES. - - 1795, head to right $10.00 $8.00 - 1796, 16 stars 15.00 10.00 - 1797, 16 spread eagle 12.00 10.00 - 1798, 13 stars, ” 8.00 7.00 - 1799, ” ” 10.00 8.00 - 1800 10.00 8.00 - 1801 30.00 20.00 - 1802 10.00 8.00 - 1803 8.00 7.00 - 1804 8.00 7.00 - 1805 8.00 7.00 - 1806 8.00 7.00 - 1807 8.00 7.00 - 1808, head to left 8.00 7.00 - 1809 8.00 7.00 - 1810 8.00 7.00 - 1811 8.00 7.00 - 1812 8.00 7.00 - 1813 8.00 7.00 - 1814 8.00 7.00 - 1815 100.00 50.00 - 1818 8.00 7.00 - 1819 8.00 7.00 - 1820 8.00 7.00 - 1821 8.00 7.00 - 1822 8.00 7.00 - 1823-54, consecutive. 6.00 5.75 - 1855-79, only proofs worth premium. - - GOLD THREE DOLLARS. - - 1854, head to left $4.00 $3.75 - 1855 3.75 3.50 - 1856 4.00 3.75 - 1857-87, consecutive 3.25 3.00 - 1875 40.00 25.00 - - GOLD QUARTER EAGLES. - - 1796, without stars $8.00 $6.00 - 1796, 16 stars 10.00 6.00 - 1797, 16 ” 7.00 5.00 - 1798, 13 ” 5.00 4.00 - 1802 6.00 5.00 - 1804 5.00 4.00 - 1805 5.00 4.00 - 1806 5.00 4.00 - 1807 5.00 4.00 - 1808, head to left 5.00 4.00 - 1821 5.00 4.00 - 1824 5.00 4.00 - 1825 5.00 4.00 - 1826 8.00 6.00 - 1827-49, consecutive 4.00 3.50 - 1850 3.25 3.00 - 1851 3.25 3.00 - 1852 3.25 3.00 - 1853-87, consecutive 3.00 2.50 - - GOLD DOLLARS. - - 1848, head to left $1.50 $1.30 - 1850 1.50 1.30 - 1851 1.40 1.25 - 1852 1.40 1.25 - 1853-87, consecutive 1.40 1.25 - - CALIFORNIA GOLD. - - $50 1851, octagon and round $65.00 - $20 (Territorial), varieties 30.00 - Eagle, ” ” 15.00 - Half eagle, ” ” 10.00 - Quarter ” ” ” 5.00 - Dollar (California), octagon 1.25 - Dollar (California), circular 1.25 - Half doll., octagon, diff. dates .55 - ” ” circular, ” .55 - Quar. ” ” ” .35 - ” ” octagon, ” .35 - Bechtler dollar (N. Carolina) 1.50 - Bechtler ¼ eagle ” 3.50 - -NOTE.—Persons who wish to buy or sell rare coins, or to ascertain their -present value are recommended to write to Mason & Co., coin dealers, 175 -Washington street, Boston, Mass.—EDITOR MINT BOOK. - - - - -NOTE TO THE VISITORS OF THE PHILADELPHIA MINT. - - -As there are many places of interest in “=Penn’s Favorite City=,” the -publisher of this work would respectfully suggest that visitors, who have -the leisure, should see some of the well-known institutions of “The City -of Brotherly Love.” Among the rare places of interest, after the United -States Mint, is 1st.—=THE NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS= (in same square), known -as the =NEW CITY HALL, the Largest and Finest in the World=, surpassing -even the =Capitol at Washington=. 2d.—=FAIRMOUNT PARK=, the largest and -most beautiful public pleasure ground in the United States, embracing -nearly three thousand acres, on both sides of the Schuylkill River, -from Fairmount Water Works to Indian Rock, on the romantic Wissahickon. -3d.—=GIRARD COLLEGE=, where eleven hundred and fifty Orphan Boys are -maintained, clothed and educated through the bountiful munificence of -Philadelphia’s great benefactor, STEPHEN GIRARD. 4th.—=WANAMAKER’S GREAT -STORE=, East of and almost adjoining the Mint. This immense establishment -(the largest of the kind in the World) has grown to such vast proportions -during the past decade that we feel compelled to give it a brief notice, -as it has become one of the features of our city, and an object of -interest to our visitors. The building itself is unique; it occupies -an entire square, viz:—from Thirteenth to Juniper and from Market to -Chestnut Streets—entrance on each of the four streets. The flooring space -occupied in the interior, including first floor, basement and galleries, -embraces more than twelve acres, and all this immense space is occupied -with such goods as everybody, at some time in life, feels the necessity -of purchasing. The general arrangement and classification of goods from -all nations (there being over fifty separate and distinct departments), -suggests a reproduction of the =Main Building of our late great -Centennial Exposition=, with the =Department of Public Comfort= added. -One of the great features of this Mammoth Bazaar is that visitors are -made to feel at home, every provision being made for their convenience. -There are commodious Retiring and Reading Rooms on either floor. One’s -Satchel and Parcels are checked without cost, and no one is importuned to -purchase. Visitors will find it hard to resist the =Tempting Offers= and -=Low Prices= marked on the goods. 5th.—=INDEPENDENCE HALL=, (The Nation’s -Birth-place) Chestnut Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets; =National -Museum=, in same building, containing many interesting relics of the -Revolution and of Washington’s Camp Life; The =Old Liberty Bell= hanging -in the hallway leading to =Independence Square=, where the Declaration -of Independence was read to the people, July 4th, 1776. 6th.—=ACADEMY -OF FINE ARTS=, Broad Street (west side) between Arch and Race Streets, -should be visited by all lovers of the Fine Arts. 7th.—The =NEW MASONIC -TEMPLE=, Northeast corner Broad and Filbert Streets. Visiting days every -Thursday. 8th.—The =NEW POST OFFICE= and =U. S. COURT BUILDING=. This -is one of the finest buildings of the kind in the country, and well -worthy of a visit; also, the =NEW “RECORD” BUILDING=, adjoining. 9th.—The -=BURIAL PLACES OF BENJAMIN and DEBORA FRANKLIN= can be seen at South-east -corner Fifth and Arch Streets. 10th.—There are other notable places of -interest in the City Of “Brotherly Love,” among which may be mentioned -=CARPENTERS’ HALL, UNION LEAGUE, DEAF AND DUMB AND BLIND ASYLUMS, LAUREL -HILL CEMETERY, PENNSYLVANIA AND WILL’S HOSPITALS=, and the hundred and -one other benevolent institutions for which Philadelphia is justly -celebrated. - - - - -FOOTNOTES - - -[1] Collectors estimate the loss to numismatography as very great by -reason of the temptation the gold possesses for hoarding, and they are -possibly the only class of people who have any apology to offer for the -miser. Yet the world is debtor to this despised habit for some of its -most invaluable specimens of art, and important corroborative history of -the old world. - -[2] Robert Morris was born in England, and came to America when he was -thirteen years old, (Sparks’ life of Governeur Morris.) - -[3] During the Confederation the different States had the unquestioned -right to coin money, but only according to the standard of fineness, -weight, and value, prescribed by the central government. - -[4] The following, from the Morris Papers, serve to illustrate this -subject: - -“1.—ROBT. MORRIS TO RICHARD YATES. - - “PHILAD’A, Jan. 23, 1782. - -“SIR, - -“At the request of a very honest Man who seems much distressed for -the welfare of his wife, now in London, I beg to trouble you with the -enclosed Letter, praying that you will forward it, and if in consequence -thereof Mrs. Dudley should come to New York, I beg of you to procure -Liberty for her to come to her Husband at this place. The money for her -Passage and reasonable expenses in New York, which must be reasonable -as possible, she may draw upon her Husband, Mr. Benjamin Dudley, and I -engage that the Draft shall be paid. I shall thank you for your attention -to this poor Lady when she arrives, and remain Sir, - - “your most obedient and humble servant - - ROBERT MORRIS.” - -“2.—ROBT. MORRIS TO THE COMMISSARY GENERAL OF PRISONERS. - - “PHILAD’A, Jan. 23, 1782. - -“SIR, - -“I send herewith an open letter for Mr. Richard Yates containing one for -Mrs. Dudley in London, from her Husband now here. I wish these may be -safely delivered to Mr. Yates, and therefore pray you to send them into -New York, by some person that will not only promise, but perform the -delivery of them. I am Sir, - - “your most obedient and humble servant - - ROBERT MORRIS.” - -[5] This letter will illustrate this subject: - -ROBERT MORRIS TO THE REV. WILLIAM GORDON, D. D. - -[From the Morris Papers.] - - “PHILAD’A 20th July, 1782. - -“SIR, - -“In consequence of your Letter of the nineteenth of June, I sent for -Mr. Dudley, told him the information you had so kindly given to me, -and assured him of my desire to make him easy and happy. The business -in which he is intended to be employed, is like many other important -matters, retarded by the tediousness of the States in supplying the -Continental Treasury. - -“The Hon’ble Secretary at War has commenced a correspondence with General -Gates at my request, which I think, will produce what he wishes. Be -assured that I take particular pleasure in promoting the interest and -happiness of worthy men, and that I am with great esteem Sir, - - your most obedient and humble Servant, - - ROBERT MORRIS.” - -[6] This letter will illustrate this matter: - -ROBERT MORRIS TO BENJAMIN DUDLEY. - -[From the Morris Papers.] - - OFFICE OF FINANCE, 29 Novr., 1782. - -“SIR, - -“You will herewith receive the Form for making a particular kind of -Paper—You are to proceed to the Paper Mill of Mr. Mark Wilcox, in Ash -Town Chester County, who has the Stuff prepared, and there to superintend -the making of sundry reams of Paper upon this Form—in doing of which -you are to be particularly careful not to leave it in the power of any -person or persons to make any paper upon this Form without your immediate -Inspection. - -“You are to attend the Workmen constantly whilst they are at work, and -when you retire from the Mill upon any occasion, you are to take the Form -with you. You are to count the Paper as it is made sheet by sheet and -when you have finished the whole, you are to bring it to me together with -the Form. I am Sir, - - “Your most obedient servant, - - “ROBERT MORRIS.” - -[7] The building is still standing (March, 1888) Nos. 37 and 39 North -Seventh street, and is occupied for various purposes. - -[8] For the various duties of the Mint there are over three hundred -persons employed as clerks, workmen, etc.—say about two-thirds men and -one-third women—the number depending, of course, upon the amount of work -to be done. - -[9] Adam Eckfeldt’s portrait, by Samuel Du Bois, hangs in the Cabinet. A -short sketch of him will be found in the list of Coiners. - -[10] The exchange at the present time (1885) is made at the Sub-Treasury -in the Custom House. - -[11] Horace says that Alexander the Great ordained that no one should -take his portrait on _gems_ but Pyrgoteles; no one should paint -him but Apelles; and no one should stamp his head on _coins_ but -Lysippus.—_American Bibliopolist._ - -[12] “In box, three pictures (miniatures), _two half joes_, two small -pieces of gold.” Dec. 26, 1780.—Martha Washington. These were sent to be -used in the manufacture of the miniature cases for the above pictures. -This letter is in the possession of K. Coulton Davis, Ph. G., of this -city. - -[13] This issue being made at Sommer Islands, gave the name of “Sommer -money.” - -[14] The old story of the weighing of John Hall’s daughter on her -marriage-day is recalled in seeing these coins. Her dowry was her -weight in “pine-tree” shillings; and the suggestion is allowable that -these specimens formed a part of the portion of the blushing bride two -centuries ago. - -[15] This is the coin which caused such excitement and so much feeling in -Ireland, and which Dean Swift attacked from the pulpit. - -[16] From Chapman’s Collection Catalogue, May 14-15, pp. 24-25. - -[17] From the proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, reported -by Wm. E. Du Bois, in October, 1845. - -[18] Considered unique, one recently sold for $640.00 at a public sale in -New York. - -[19] After the resignation of ex-Governor Pollock the title of Director -was changed to Superintendent. The Director of all the Mints is now -located at Washington. - -[20] Dr. Linderman’s widow and only son, Henry R. Linderman (named for -him), a prominent lawyer of Stroudsburg, Penna., are the only survivors -of his family. - -[21] The Phototype of Washington’s Profile likeness in the bound edition -of this book, is from this Medal, known as the Houdon Medal. - -[22] Mr. Barber has lately completed a large and very fine medallic -likeness of President Cleveland. - -[23] Kilogram of gold valued at $634.60. - -[24] Kilogram of silver valued at $41.56. - -[25] Includes $11,464.27 expended from appropriation for renewal of -steam-power plant at Philadelphia. - -[26] The statement of the amounts in National Banks is of date August 1. - -[27] Includes $24,044,000 Clearing-house gold certificates. - -[28] Includes $8,770,000 held for the redemption of certificates of -deposit for legal-tender notes under Act June 8, 1872. - -[29] The Carat is sub-divided into thirty-two parts. - -[30] The coins struck at the parent mint in Philadelphia bear no mint -mark. - - * * * * * - -THE REAL ESTATE TRUST COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA - -1340 Chestnut Street. - -[Illustration] - -Capital,—$500,000. - -OFFICERS: - - FRANK K. HIPPLE, President. - WILLIAM R. PHILLER, Secretary. - WILLIAM F. NORTH, Treasurer. - THOMAS B. PROSSER, Real Estate Officer. - -DIRECTORS: - - FRANK K. HIPPLE, - HENRY C. GIBSON, - LEMUEL COFFIN, - BEAUVEAU BORIE, - WILLIAM M. SINGERLY, - JOHN WANAMAKER, - GEORGE PHILLER, - EDWARD T. STEEL, - CHARLES W. HENRY, - JOHN F. BETZ, - THOMAS DOLAN, - R. DALE BENSON. - -GEORGE JUNKIN, Solicitor. - -This Company transacts a general Real Estate business, acting as agent or -attorney for buying, holding, leasing and selling property in the City -of Philadelphia and its vicinity. Negotiates Mortgages and places Ground -Rents. - -Gives especial attention to the Renting of Properties and the Collection -of Rents, to the payment of Taxes and Water Rents, and to the making -of needful repairs on such properties; in all respects taking the same -charge and management of, and giving the same attention to, Real Estate -as the owner could do. - -Collects Ground Rents, Interest on Mortgages, Dividends and Income of all -kinds whatsoever. - -Receives Deposits of Money, payable by Check on demand, and allows -Interest thereon. Issues Negotiable Certificates of Special Deposits -bearing Interest. - -Acts as Trustee, Guardian, Executor, Administrator, Assignee, Receiver, -Committee, Attorney, etc. - -Receives and executes Trusts of every description, under the appointment -of Courts, Corporations and Individuals. - -Becomes surety for the faithful performance of any Trust or Office; acts -as Transfer Agent or Registrar of Stocks and Bonds of Corporations or -Municipalities. - -All Trust Funds and Investments are kept separate and apart from those of -the Company. - -Issues Policies of Title Insurance to Real Estate and Real Estate -Securities, in Philadelphia and adjoining counties, thereby affording -absolute security to Purchasers and their Heirs, at a nominal cost. - -Also issues Policies of Special Insurance against Decedents’ Debts, -Mechanics’ Liens, Judgments, Old Ground Rents, etc. - -Receives for safe-keeping Securities, Plate, Jewelry, Deeds, Mortgages, -and other Valuables, at reasonable rates. - -Rents Safe Deposit Boxes in the Company’s Burglar-proof Vaults, affording -security against loss by Robbery, Fire or Accident. These Boxes are -rented according to size and location, at from Five to Fifty Dollars per -annum. - -Agents for the sale of the reliable Six Per Cent. Mortgages and -Debentures of “The New England Loan and Trust Co. of Des Moines, Iowa;” -and of “The New England Trust Co. of Kansas City, Missouri;” both -Principal and Interest guaranteed, and Interest payable semi-annually, by -coupon, in either New York or Philadelphia. - - * * * * * - -WILLIAM GROVES. ALEXANDER WILSON. WILLIAM GROVES, JR. - -GROVES, WILSON & GROVES, - -IMPORTERS, MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS OF CABINET FURNITURE, UPHOLSTERY -AND BEDDING, Furniture and Decorations, LACE CURTAINS AND DRAPERIES. - -☞ _VERANDA AND WINDOW AWNINGS A SPECIALTY._ - -=Nos. 1022-24 Market Street,= - -PHILADELPHIA, PA. - - * * * * * - -THE - -Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company - -OF PHILADELPHIA. - - Assets, $12,750,000.00 - Surplus to Members, 2,500,000.00 - -=A PURELY MUTUAL COMPANY= conducted solely in the interest of members, -and with the object of furnishing the =Best= Life Insurance at the -=Least= cost. - -=40 YEARS’ SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.= - -All approved forms of Life and Endowment Policies issued, which become -=INCONTESTABLE= after two years, and are absolutely =NON-FORFEITABLE= for -“reserve” value. - -Members who discontinue their payments, have the option of an =Extension= -of the original sum insured or a =Paid-up= policy. - -HOME OFFICE—No. 921 CHESTNUT ST., PHILADELPHIA. - - EDWARD M. NEEDLES, President. - HORATIO S. STEPHENS, Vice-Pres’t. - HENRY C. BROWN, Sec’y and Treas. - JESSE J. BARKER, Actuary. - - * * * * * - -SPRINGFIELD GAS MACHINE - -Improved under twenty years’ manufacture and experience—maintains the -lead. - -=FOR COUNTRY RESIDENCES= it has proved to be a necessity and a luxury. - -=FOR HOTELS= and other buildings, in connection with our Mixing -Regulator, it produces gas of uniform quality, free from smoke, used -through plain open burners. - -=FOR MECHANICAL ARTS= it furnishes gas for heating purposes, at 40 to 50 -cents per thousand feet. - -Best quality GASOLINE, for Gas Machines, constantly on hand. Send for -quotations. - -Among the Hotels lighted by the Springfield Gas Machine, with Mixing -Regulator attached, would mention the following: Glen Summit Hotel, Glen -Summit, Pa; Devon Inn, Devon, Pa.; Engleside, Beach Haven, N. J.; Avon -Inn, Key East, N. J.; Luray Inn, Luray, Va. - -For further particulars, address, - - GEORGE W. HULME, - 12 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, Pa. - - Cooking Stoves for use with Gas Machines. - SEND FOR CATALOGUE. - - * * * * * - -FURNITURE AND DECORATIONS - - _CURTAINS AND UPHOLSTERY,_ - _FINE CABINET WORK,_ - _INTERIOR WOOD WORK._ - -ORIGINAL DRAWINGS AND ESTIMATES SUBMITTED. - -TRYMBY, HUNT & CO. - -=IMPORTERS AND MANUFACTURERS,= - -NOS. 1217 TO 1221 MARKET STREET, PHILADELPHIA. - - * * * * * - -TENTH EDITION OF EVANS’ ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE U. S. MINT - -EXTRACTS FROM PRESS NOTICES. - -_DAILY HERALD._ - -A very interesting History of the United States Mint is published by -the author, George G. Evans, of this city. The introduction gives an -account of the money of the past and the present, showing what formed -the circulatory medium in ancient times and in all countries. This is -followed by a history of coinage in this country, with biographical -sketches of the past and present officers of our Mint. The whole process -of melting, assaying, refining and coining gold and silver is very -lucidly explained; it is also fully illustrated with engravings as a -further explanation of the text. There are a large number of phototypes -of ancient and modern coins, Continental money, etc., etc., the whole -forming a very readable book, and one which fills a gap in our country’s -history. - -_PHILADELPHIA TIMES._ - -It is the only complete and authentic History of the Mint and Coinage -Manual that is to be had, and is a valuable contribution to our national -as well as our local history. It embraces everything that one could -expect to find in such a volume, and a good deal which agreeably -surprises the reader. - -_EVENING TELEGRAPH._ - -Mr. Evans’ book gives a complete history of American coinage, describing -the obverse and reverse of each piece struck at the Mint since its -establishment in 1792. The work is finely gotten up in every respect. - -Copies of the above sent post-paid on receipt of price. _A Handsome Gift_ -will accompany each book. - - Paper Covered Edition, price $ .50 - Cloth, Gold Side Stamp 1.00 - Half Morocco, Marbled Edge 2.00 - -N. B.—Any book published, the retail price of which is 50 cents or -more, will be promptly sent post-paid, with a gift, on receipt of the -advertised price. - - Address, =GEO. G. EVANS, Publisher=, - _1227 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa._ - - * * * * * - -Established 1860. - - MASON & CO., COIN DEALERS, - 175 Washington St., Boston, Mass. - -Just out, “Coin Price Book,” showing our buying and selling prices for -all Coins. Mailed for 25 cents. Send Stamp for information. - - * * * * * - -[Illustration: DAVID F. CONOVER. B. FRANK WILLIAMS. - -WHOLESALE AGENTS FOR ROGERS & BROS.’ FLAT _and_ HOLLOW WARE - -WHOLESALE AGENTS FOR T. A. WILLSON & CO.’S OPTICAL GOODS] - -DAVID F. CONOVER & CO. - -(Successors to WM. B. WARNE & CO.) - -Manufacturers and Wholesale Dealers in WATCHES _AND_ JEWELRY, American -Watch Wholesale Salesroom: - -Corner Chestnut and Seventh Streets, (FIRST FLOOR,) PHILADELPHIA. - - * * * * * - -MRS. M. C. CASSIDY, - -AGENT DEALER IN - -Human Hair, - -AND EVERY ARTICLE BELONGING TO THE TRADE, - -No. 9 South Eighth Street, PHILADELPHIA. - - * * * * * - -E. O. THOMPSON, - -Merchant Tailor AND IMPORTER OF ENGLISH CLOTHING, - -1338 Chestnut Street (Opposite the U. S. MINT,) - -PHILADELPHIA. - -_Thirty-three years experience in_ - -“Finest Merchant Tailoring,” - -_has won for us a “national reputation,” and our customers extend from -Maine to California_. - -_In addition to the finest Merchant Tailoring, we are now introducing an -entirely new idea, viz._: - -“London Ready-Made Clothing,” - -_which every visitor to the Mint is invited to call at our store and -examine_. - -_=Our Claim is=: They are =equal= in =style=, =fit=, =make= and -=appearance= to the finest “made to order” garments, and at half the cost -of the same._ - -_Should you not be ready to purchase now, we shall be pleased to take -your measure for reference, and will send you samples and prices on -request =FREE OF CHARGE=._ - -_Our “MAIL ORDER DEPARTMENT” offers special advantages for obtaining our -clothing without calling at our store, and our Self-Measuring System -secures a fit._ - -_Write for particulars and samples._ - -_Address all Mail Orders_, E. O. THOMPSON, P. O. Box 418, PHILADELPHIA. - -=OUR STORES:= - -No. 1338 Chestnut Street, (Opposite the Mint,) - -No. 908 Walnut Street, PHILADELPHIA. - -No. 245 Broadway, NEW YORK. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE -UNITED STATES MINT *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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