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.

[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.

Endorsed in two places, “Names and Salaries of the Officers, Clerks and Workmen employed in the Mint the 10th Oct. 1795.”

THE PHILADELPHIA MINT.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CASTING INGOTS.

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.

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.

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.

CUTTING MACHINE.

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.

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.

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.

STEAM COINING PRESS.

Dies.

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.

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.

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.

PERFECTED COINING PRESS.

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.”

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; 13a. 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; 26a. Kingdom of Cyprus and Jerusalem, Peter 1, 1361 to 1372, testoon, Kingdom of Jerusalem; 26b. 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; 37a. Gold sovereign of Oliver Cromwell; 38. Crown, and half crown and shilling, Oliver Cromwell, 1658; 38a. 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; 70a. Herod the Great, 37 B C.; 70b. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

PLATE VII.

George Clinton Copper. 1787. Kentucky Token. Immunis Columbia. 1787.

Massachusetts Pine Tree Shilling. 1652. Chain Cent. 1793. Myddelton Token.

See description.

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.”

PLATE IX.

Half Cent. 1802. Wreath Cent. 1793. Half Cent. 1794.

Washington Medal. 1789. Half Cent. 1847. New York Cent.

See description.

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.”

PLATE XI.

Cent. 1809. Half Cent. 1793. Chain Cent. 1793.

Pattern “Two Cent” Piece. Cent. 1799. Small Pattern Cent. 1792.

See description.

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.

PLATE XIII.

Medal of 1776, Commemorative of the Nation’s Independence.

“Kittanning Medal,” one of the earliest Medals executed in America.

PLATE XIV.

1795 Silver Dollar. Obverse and Reverse.

1798 Silver Dollar. Obverse and Reverse.

PLATE XV.

Rosa Americana. Massachusetts Half Cent. Rhode Island Medal.

Pitt Medal. Immunis Columbia. New York Token.

See description.

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.

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.

PLATE XVIII.

Tribute Money. Constantine the Great.

Counterfeit Shekel, of European Manufacture. Jewish. Lepton, B. C. Jewish. Lepton, A. D.

Syrian. Grecian. Maximus Phillipus.

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.

PLATE XX.

Rhodes. Antiochus VII. Sybaris.

Greek Coin. Alexander the Great. 300 B.C. Athens. Heroclea.

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.

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.

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.

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.