Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-02-02
From the Farmer and Mechanic.

RELATIVE VALUE OF GOLD AND SILVER.
The following statements and comparisons
in regard 10 the relative value of gold and Gil.
yer, are presented in condensed form for the
convenience of our readers who may be inters
ested in the subject:
Pure GoM-Gold as used in coin, medals,
or manufactures is rarely or never pure. Its
degree of purity is expressed by the number
of parts of that metal, contained in the "a
parts of any mixture. Thus gold, which il
in "a such parts (tesmed carats) contains 81
of the pure metal, is said to be % carats fine.
Absolutely pure gold, using the same Ian.
guage, is "a carats fine.
The American Eagle contains 2471 grains
pure gold, consequently, "a GA grains of pGrs
gold are equivalent in value to one dollar
The value of one ounce, Troy, or $50 grains
of pure gold, is $40 SO 2-5 nearly.
The specific gravity of pure wrought gold
is on the average g-3 compared to water, 10,
and it can be beat into leaves only one 1884,
0O0th of an inch thick.
Standard Gold-The gold coin of Great
Britain is an alloy of 4l parts of gold and one
of copper, one pound troy was formerly COIN
ed into 443 guineas. 1t now produces 46 81.
40 sovereigns. The standard of the U. States
gold coins consists of eleven parts of pure
gold 10 one part of alloy, consists of silver
and copper in any convenient portion, provi-
ded the siveHdoes not exceed the copper.
The eagle of $40 contains 270 grains of
standard gold. of which 2474 grains are pure
gold and 223 grains alloy. The troy pound
of standard gold contains II or. of pure gold
ard one OF. of alloy, and is coined into 81 l.3
eagles of the value of 213 1-3 dollars.
The specific gravity OF standard gold is II.
1877:
NatiUe Gold-The gold from California va.
ries from 6 to 224 carats fine.
The gold dust from BambouIl in Africa is
of 224 carats fine, and some from Morocco is
even 33.
The gold of Olson in New Grenada is OF
234 carats, being the purest of-Ametica.
| The small grains are not fragments broken
| from greater mass, but show from their fiat
| tened ovod shape, and their rounded outline,
that this is their original shape Ii is found
disseminated under the form of spangles or
roundish grains, in silicious, argilaceous, and
| ferruginous sands of certain plains and rivers;
The specific gravity OF native gold varies
! from 10 8 TO 1T.
Pure SitOer.--This metal, like gold, is not
coined in pure state, bat contains a relative
proportion of copper called its alloy.
Independent of this alloy the American dol
( lar contains 37la grains of pure silver.
One ounce troy, or 480 grains of pure silvef
| is contained in $3.50 dollars.
Standard Slrer-The standard silver of
Great Britain consists of II 219 of pure sill
yer and 1920 copper: pound troy therefore
is composed of II OF. 2 dwt pitre silver, and
18 dwts. of copper, and it is coined into &c
English shillings.
| The standard silver of the United States
consists OF 1885 parts OF pure silver 179 parts
of copper.
The dollar contains 416 grains of standard
silver, of which 3714 grains are pure silver
and 443 grains of alloy.
The Troy pound of standard silvet contains
10 or ID dwts 4 Is grains of pttre silyeks
and or, dwts., 10 8.13 grains OF alloy,
and is coined into 10 1113 dollars, or IS OF.
troy of standard silver are coined into Is dol
/ lars.
| Proportional Tulae The proportional VAL
ne of pure gold to pure silver by the laws of
the United States, is as Is to go that one
pound of pure gold is worth is pounds OF
pure silver
The proportional value of the different gold
and silver coins is derived wholly from the
proportion of pure gold in the one TO the pttrs
silver in the other, the alloy in both being dis
regarded
Much of the gold used by manufacturers Is
IS carats fine. or 25 per cent alloy.