The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-02-16
MIST or THE UNITED STATES,
Philadelphia, Jan. 81, ia


SIR have the honor to present the following report Of
the operations OF the Mint Of the United States and ia
branches including the assay office, for the year 1855
The deposes received and consge executed at the prn
cpal Mint during the year follows Gold deposites
SiO534 1903 "a gold coin struck $1,000 454 fne gold
bars $l6298 a. Silver deposites including silver sepa-
rated from California gold aud silver purchased pursuant
10 the act OF March 81 1853 so 6s0556 rs silver coinage
SL49lT0; copper coinage, Si6030 TO- Total deposites
of gold and silver Sl32l4660 80, Total coinage $l2045-
952 93 The coinage was comprised in l0ss56l9 pieces.
The operations of the Mint except the receiving of de-
postes and melting assayng, and paying the same
suspended the 10th OF July last which time the
pairs Of the Mint building authorized by appropriation
made by the last Congress, commenced The con-
ucon OF these repairs nrusted TO officers designa-
ted by the Treasury Department and they being
peted in the most thorough and substantial manner so as
10 render the Mint edihce in all its departments entirely
freproof Advantage has also been taken OF the oppor-
uny thus offered to introduce useful changes and inn
proyemens in the rooms appropriated to the different
branches of business whereby the efficiency OF the Mint
and the security OF the treasure therein will be greatly
advanced and promoted During the suspension of coin
age deposes received and paid as heretofore SO that
no Inconvenience to depostors has resulted hererom But
the accumulation OF bullion and the necessity oil supply
ing CON- especially TO the treasury Of the United States
have made ii necessary TO resume the coinage operations
Notwithstanding The work upon the repairs IS In an I'M
finished state. The preparation of standard ngos for
coinage commenced the 4h Of the present MONTH
and the delivery Of coins the resumed
the 18th instant The Mint Is in active and efficient
operation although considerable Inconvenience Is expe-
enoed in consequence of the repairs not being fully com
pleled. The OF coinage Tor period
months will sufficiently account for the diminished opera
tons of the principal Mint during the past year.
The deposites received at the branch mint at New Or
leans amounted to So 8525l0 60 of which the of
S43lI56 SO was in gold and S. 42os53 SO in silver The
coinage S45o5oo in gold and Sl9ls0oo in silver
Total coinage, S236s50o the number OF pieces struck
was $3.50, 100 #E
The branch mint at San Francisco received of gold de-
posites the of S2Os763lO 0s of silver the of
$259,Ts7 Az The coinage operations were as follows
Gold coin, $l75983oo fine gold bars, $ss7s2 so
partsi Oru med col
age $64o75. Total coinage operations, S2l 2lT52 a.
comprised in l,47l ,272 pieces.
The depostes received at the branch mint at Dahonega
were in gold $ls6s2 Of the coinage, lgold) $il6,-
178 so the number of pieces struck was 1896
At the branch mint at Charlotte the sum Of $2l6sss So
was deposited for coinage. The coinage comprised in
53268 pieces, amounted to $2l7935 80 The operations
of this branch well as that established at Dahonega
confined to gold.
The assay office at New York received during the year
the of S26,6s77o "a in gold bullion and the further
of S35050 08 in silver of this amount the of
Sl952 A parted from gold and S2oel 81 was de-
rived from the Lake Superior mines The number of fine
gold bars stamped this Office 1872 of the aggregate
value of sl3 49, For the bullion deposited during
the year has been made in fine gold bars to the
amount OF SIT 4624I "a and In coins TO the amount OF
$9,7sl6o3 3d. "t@
The entire amounts received at the int and it's branches
including the assay Office during the year follows:
gold, S5ss62a22 90; silver S57ll44s ls Total S64,-
57+37l 0s M@a af.. #-@ t+-
The coinage operations for the same period were fol-
lows: Gold coins SIS ses fine gold bars, S2o546,
245 copper coins $l6030 10 Total coinage, S56,3l2
1872 99-comprsed in 1887, s07 pieces.
is proper to remark that the aggregate of the depos
ties above presented embraces considerable amount of
deposites-as for example impaired unrefned bars,
made at San Francisco sometimes redepoted at the
other mnng establishments and portion of the fine bars
formed at the assay Office transferred to the Mint for
coinage Deducng these redepostes the actual
of the precious metals brought into the Mint and its
branches during the year was $55,l5l ,902 81.
The amount OF gold of domestic productions deposited
in 1855 SA935l $50 llyiz; from the Pacific side of
the Union including deposite of 5000 from New Mexico,
9S9 439 81 and from the Atlantic States S362349 81
Since the passage OF the act OF March g. 1853 author
ling reduction in the weight Of the silver coinage there
have been issued the following amounts viz: In 1858,
Ss6546l; In 1854, SS6l9270; in 1855, S350l 245; ma
king total of 676 As few, il any, of these coins
have besn exported and but small amount used in the
arts IL will be that large addition has been made 10
the silver coinage in circulation. The Issuing of few
millions of silver coin may be all that may be
aud the small denominations OF the gold coinage in many
OF the States OF the Union by the Of bank Of
low denomination. We shall never, IL is believed, fully
realize the benefits Of sound specie circulation until all
bank notes-at least below the denomination Of twenty
dOlars-sha be excluded from circulation. And il seems
worthy of the consideration of Congressas suggested in
he Mint report for ls53whether provision is not
practicable either by taxation other efficient means 10
remedy the evil in question. .# ..
il may be interesting TO present in view the utre
coinage operations all the minis and the assay Office since
their organization. They as follows;
Mint Of the United States, Philadelphia,
l7o3 ........ S37Ty3s3s0s 81
Branch Mint A New OrIeans m gpg Gg5 90