The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-06-26
Issuing the New Cent-The Mint Over.
p by Applicants.

To-day was the period Fixed when the new
cents should make their appearance IN pub
Inc, full ledged AID ready TO take the place
ofthe old, clumsy coin which has 50 long
numbered the pockets Of citizens, and glad
dened the hearts Of candy loving youngsters.
Rumor said that Uncle Sam had in his mar
bic palace up Chestnut stree; near Broad,
untold treasures in the new coin, and, what
was still better, he was willing to exchange
the new pieces, cent per cent, for the old and
discredited coppers which have so long done
good service for the community. And what
was better than all, Uncle sam had announc.
cd through his accredited agents, his will.
ingneSs, ON the 2jth day Of May, 1857, to
give out the new, bright coin in exchange
Tor Spanish fps, leyies and quarters, at their
nominal value.
Nine o'clock this morning was the hour
fixed foT-as Mr.. Tittlebat ntmouso elegant
ly phrascd it" scattering the sinners
bat when the morning sun first reached the
caps of the marble columns Of the Mint,
long before nine o'clock, he east his benig-
nant rays upon numerous crew OF persons
who were gathered under the portico wait
ing for tho doors % open, that they might
get their small silver and their large copper
exchanged for the bright little Strangers
who were so anxiously looked for. Every
man and boy in the crCwd had his pack
age Of coin with him. Some had roleaux
OF spanish coin done up in bits OF newspa-
per or wrapped in handkerchicls, while 9th
crs had carpet bags, baskets, and other car
rying contriyanccs, filed with cOppers-
"Very cheap and filing" like boarding,
house fare.
The officiating priests in the Temple OF
Mammon had anticipated this grand rush
and crush, and every possible PREPARATION
was made IN anticipation Of il. ConSpicu'
Ous among these arrangements was the cree
tiun ol u neat wooden building in the yard
OF the Mint. for the special accommodation
of the great crowd of money changers
This temporary structure was furnished
with two open windows, which faced the
south. Over one OF these windows was in
scribcd the words cents for cents, and
and over the other " coins for silver. In
side the little olicc were scales and other APP
paratus for weighing and testing coin, n
goodly pile Of bags containing the newly
struck compounds of nickel and copper, and
detachment orwcighers, clerks, Sc,
The bags cortainin: the " Nicks " were
neat little canvass arrangements, each OF
which held five hundred of tlro dlSrninutiye
strangers. and each of which bore upon ITS
outside tho pleasant inscription " So
Just rs the State House bell had finished
striking nine o'clock the doors of the Mint
were thrown open, and in rushed the eager
crowd - paper parcels. we'll filled handkcr
chiefs, carpet bags. baskets and all. But
those who thought that there was to be a
great scramble, aud that the bodies: pusher
would b. first served reckoncd without their
host. The invading throns was arrayed IN.
TO lines which led to the respective windows;
those who bore the silver had the post OF
honor assigned them, and went 10 the right,
while those who bore nothing hut vulgar
cOppcrs were constrained to take the left.
These lines soon grew To an uneOnSciOna-
bic length, and 10 economic syacc they
We're wound around and arOgnd like the con-
volutiOus Of u snake OF n whimsical turn Of
mind. The clerks and weighcrs exertcd
themselves 10 the utmost 10 meet the demands
Of all cOmers and 10 deal cut the littlo can
yass bags to all who were entitled to receive
them /; hut the crowd grew apace, and we
estimated that az one time there could not
have been less than one thousand persons in
the zigLag lines, weighed down with small
change, and waiting patiently for their
turn.
Those who were served rushed into the
street with their money bags, and many OF
them were Immediately surrounded by an
outsidc crowd who were willin. to buy out
in email lots nj an advance on first cost
We saw quite number Of persons ON the
steps of the mint dealing out tho new favor
ites at an advance OF iron thirty Ia hun
drcd V,r cent, and some of the oatsidc pur-
chascrs even huckstercd out the coin again
IN smaller lots nj still heavier advance.
The great majority of thosc who came out,
"mado tracks " with their money bags,
and not an omnibus went eastward past the
Mint. for several hours, that did not, like
the California steamers, carry "Specie in the
hands Of the passengers.
Those who made their way homcward
aiOot attracted the attention 1T the rassers
by 10y the display Of specie hags, and we
doubt much whether, IN the history Of the
Mint, there was ever such rush inside Of
the building, or 80 animated scene outside
OF Il. 10 Was in eject ut once the funeral
OF the Oil eoppers and OF the ancient Span.
ish coins, and the giving Of practical
working existence to the new cents.
In the course Of few weeks the new