The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-11
From the ~. o. Piedyuns.
Visit 20 the New OrIeun. Mint.

rum Mt Az, ". f'tcuyuHt
Visit TO the New Orleans Mint.
We yesterday passed few hours very agreeably
IN visiting the United States Branch Mint in this
city, and In witnessing many interesting operations
connected with the process OF coming. Since the
discovery OF the gold regions Of California and the
receipt from that vast and far of country of such
immense quantities OF the precious metal public at
tenton has been more particularly called to the
subject OF coinage, and more importance is
tached to the operations OF our mints For the last
month"; in consequence OF the resignation OF the late
Treasurer, Mr.. J. r. Macmurdo, the mint of this
city has been closed for the Of the usual
business of receiving metals or paying out coin.
Mr.. J. Wickes has been appointed 10 the vacant
office, but his bond has not yet been acted on at
Washington and therefore he has yet no com
mission under which TO act. The loss to our bust
ness community by this vacancy has been severely
felt at this particular time, the wealth of Cali
fornia is almost daily pouring in upon us, in the
shape OF gold dust bars, private coins, &c, which
require coming. Returned adventures, mer-
chants, brokers' and all others who in possession
of the precious metal, must either sustain loss by
selling for what they can get, sending IL to the
Philadelphia mint, or wait with patience for the re-
opening Of business at our mint Wcare pleased
to be enabled TO state that there is prospect of
resuming business here in about fifteen or eighteen
days
It may not be out of place here to give short ac-
count OF the different operations gone through with
before the golden dross becomes legal lender.
For some Of our facts indebted to small
pamphlet, published some time since by j. l.. Rid
die, M. D., formerly melter and refner in this
mint; and for others TO Mr.. John Brooks, the coin
er, and DIR. M. F. Bonzano, the present melter and
rehner-both of the latter gentlemen having most
politely shown us every operation connected with
their different departments.
The coinage ut this mint consists of dollars,
halves, quarters, Dimes and half dimes, Of silver;
and double eagles, eagles, half eagles, quarter ca
giles, and dollars, Of gold. Gold was formerly
mostly presented in the form OF foreign coins bars,
dust, and old jewclry; now the unwrought gold is
almost entirely from the hills and valleys of Caor
mia. Mexican dollars constitute the greatest bulk
of the material for silver coinage.
Any person taking good precious metal to this
mint for coinage Is entitled to receive back in
American coins exactly the same amount Of fine
gold fine silver which he brings, without deduc
ton or expense, the United States Government TAX
ing upon itself the expense of coinage. II the bull
lion, containing both gold and silver require the
operation of parting, or if toughenng be required,
then the actual expense of those operations is de-
Quoted from the value OF the bullion in favor of the
Government.
When bullion s received by the treasurer, it is
weighed in the presence of the owner by the wegher
who gives a receipt for the actual weight in troy
ounces and decimals. III consists of mixed coins
various bars, il is sent into the melting depart
ment. Ii is next sent to the essaying department,
where its value is estimated. Since the introduc-
ton into the country aterly of SO much gold, the
melting and refining part of the establishment for
this metal, has been much enlarged, and many i'm
provements introduced by the untiring zeal, inge-
nuity, and skill of DR.. Bonzano, who has charge
of it.
In the melting and refining department all metals
manufactured into ingots for the use of the
coiner 1t would be in vain for US to attempt a de-
scrlpton OF the,difierent processes made ofen
order to separate the gold from the alloy il is too
intricate to describe, but interesting to wit
At one time the pure gold looks like finely
powdered black snuff while the silver, after being
boiled in nitric acid, is dissolved into light col
ored liquid, which, however, soon becomes solid by
being poured into strong brine of salt.
The gold and silver ingots cut and trimmed,
and their quality approved by the assaycr, next
transferred, by weight, through the treasurer's
Office to the coiner. The process heretofore has
been mostly of a chemical nature; it now becomes
mechanical The great share of the work of the
coming department is now done by machinery,
which is driven by powerful steam engine. The
ingots first passed through powerful iron rollers
until by compression they assume the form of long
strips, resembling hoop-iron; thence these strips
pass through drawing machine, where they
made OF the exact thickness required. The strips
are then punched, and fiat pieces out of the size
required for coming, at the rate Of one two hun
dred per minute. The round pieces next pass
through the milling machine, where the edges are
raised. Annealing, bleaching, washing, and drying
next take place, when the pieces ready to re-
ceive the stamp. The actual coming room is per-
haps the most interesting of any in the establish
ment. There are four coming presses, the one of
the most elegant and finest workmanship having
been made in this mint. The coming presses work
on the principle Of the printing press, and some Of
them bring TO bear the coin a pressure Of TWEEN.
ty-fve hundred tons.
We witnessed the coming of some gold double
eagles. They were stamped on both sides and on
the edge at the same moment Two of these presses
when driven turn out about half million of dol
lars per day The letter o. placed usually under the
eagle, is intended to designate the coinage at New
Orleans. The machinery in this department is
under the superintendent, and part Of il has been
constructed under the direction, ofMr. John Brooks
who has added much TO expedite and improve the
coinage The coin is counted by a very simple
process, which never makes any mistakes.
From the present want of a treasurer, no trans-
fer Of material can take place from one department
70 another; and the melter now has on hand in in
gots, $50 900 ounces of silver and 80 900 ounces Of
gold, ready for the work of coinage
There are many other curious things about the
building TO attract attention-such as the scales
vaults, &c, but article is already too much es-
tended.
More workmen very much needed, and we
are pleased 70 that the subject has already been
brought before Congress. The whole establishment
IL now in excellent working order, and never has
been capable Of coming gold fast at the pres
ent moment; advantage having been taken of the
partial rest Of the last month put every thing i'm
line condition. We trust soon TO see the business
resumed in all the various DEPARTMENTS wish
that is participated in by every member Of the
munity.