The republic., 1851-10-30
From HomGns's Bankers Magazine for October.
Collection OF Specimen Coins at the Mint
philadelphia

From Homans's Bankers M0ga me for October
Collection OF Specimen Coins at the Mint,
Philadelphia
The suite of apartments in the mint appropriate
cd to the exhibition of coins, ores, and national
medals occupies the front of the building in the
second story, and measures sixteen feet wide by
fifty four feet long Originally there were three
rooms, connecting with each other by folding
doors; the removal of these has made one large
loon, with recesses, very commodious and suitable
for the use to which it is applied. The eastern and
western rooms are OF uniform size and construc-
ton; the central one has dome and skyhght,
supported by four columns; with a corresponding
window in it's floor (protected by raiing) 10 light
the hall OF entrance below.
The ancient coins displayed in eight cases,
mtred la pairs, and placed erect against the walls
IN the wide doorways and the middle room. The
modern coins are variously arranged, part Tin
ciuding all those of the United Statcs) being in
nearly level case which surrounds the railing
above mentioned; and part being in upright cases,
disposed along the walls of the middle and west
rooms The ores, minerals. and metallic alloys
are placed Ia the west room; in the eastern are
shown the national and other medals, and the fine
beams used for the adjustment of weights. The
middle room also contains portraits of the directors
OF the mint, beginning with Rtenhouse, the first
director All the cases are froned with glass, and,
besides allowing an inspection of every specimen,
present an agreeable coup d'Gl on entering the
room, especially by the middle door.
Visitors are admitted at prescribed hours, if at
tended by officer conductor of the institution
The collection was commenced in June, 1888.
Long before that date, however, MIR. Adam Eek
feldt, formerly chief coiner, led well by his own
taste as by the expectation that conservatory
would some day be established, took pains TO pre-
coins of the different annual issues Of
the mint, and to retain some of the finest foreign
specimens, as they appeared in deposit for recon
age. As soon as a special annual appropriation
was instituted for this object by Congress, (Which
as il was asked, } the collection took
permanent form, and from the nucleus above men
toned, has gone on in continual course of aug
mcntation ever since. Ii is now nearly as large
as we expect or wish to have it, excepting, how
ever, that specimens of new coinage, domestic or
foreign, must be added as they appear
For efecting this purpose we have had singular
facilities. A great majority of the cons-almost
all of those not three hundred years old-have
been culled from deposits, and consequently have
cost us no more than their bullion value. They
are, moreover, the choicest of their kind; and per
haps, there are few cabinets where SO large pro-
portion of the pieces in fine preservation, as
well the ancient as the modern. We have also,
the advantage of the correspondence and aid of
gentlemen abroad, some of them officially related
TO our Government, and all of them experienced in
this business, and disposed TO respond to
wishes. To specify this assistance (as it descrves)
we have received from j. q Schwarz, esq,, United
States Consul at Vienna, the greater part of our
ancient coins, being private collection, the result
OF twenty years assduity; from John p. Brown,
esq, Dragoman TO the United States embassy at
Constantinoplo, we have very considerable pro-
portion OF the same especially Greek and Byzan.
tine, with a series Of Ottoman coins {thus far at
the usual market prcee;) from the late DR.. Grant,
connected with the American Christian mission to
the HISTORIANS, through his son, small number
OF ancient and rare Persian coins from the honor
able East India Company, aselecton from the very
scarce and curious antiques Of Middle Asia, chiefly
Greek Bactrian, OF which thoy have lately come in
possession, and III which branch they have almost
the monopoly; from G. Stokes esq, of London,
(besides his influence in procuring the parcel last
nentioned,) number Of scarce coins of England
and the American colonies, (thcse in way of
honorary exchange;) from DIR. Huffnagie, of Cal
cutta, an extended series of Asatic coins; parcel
ot scarce Hindu coins was purchased of MIR. Nor
rs, missionary; and from several individuals
mostly of this country, we have promiscuous spe-
simens by donation. The disposition to place curl
osities OF this kind in situation where they will
be the most accessible and, it is hoped, the most
stationary, 10 thankfully commended.
AT the present time the aggregate of specimens
lie about $50 in gold, 3 90 in silver 200 in blon
brass, copper, &c; in ALL $3.50. Ofthese, the an
cient Greek and Roman number so in gold, 500 in
silver and $50 in other metals; in all, ,065. Com
pared with the numismatic cabinets of Europe
collection is, indeed, but dwarf in size, and may
stand second in that respect, to some in this coun
try. But it was not our purpose to amass inn
mense store Of coins, the very multitude of which
might deter from its examination. We are rather
willing TO be the first to set example of modera-
ton in pursuit which has ts temptations to
travagance and excess