The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-04-25
American Coinage.
METHOD OF COMING AND STANDARD WEIGHT AN
FINENESS.

American Coinage.
METHOD OF COMING AND STANDARD WEIGHT AND
FINENESS.
The fine gold bars are Ie-assayed and de-
livered to the melter and refner to be alleged
and cast into standard ingots." The alloy
consists of silver and copper, and is in the
proportion of onc-tenth of the entire mass,
namely: In given weight of 1000 ounces
of gold and alloy, 900 are pure gold and 100
alloy; of which alloy one-tenth part is silver
and nine-tenths copper. These standard in
gots are then assayed, to determine their
correctness, and are next subjected to the
annealing process that is, tempering them by
heat so as to harden them. The ingots thus
arnealed are rolled out and cut into different
sizes, according to the denomination of coin
wanted. These pieces, called "planchets,
are first cleaned and then put into the hands
Of the "adjusters," who weigh each piece
ii e down to the proper weight; and such
as a e too light being rejected, have to De
re-melted. The pieces thus adjusted are
passed to the coming room to be milled, which
consists in forming the rims. The pieces
having been mlled, are put into tube con-
neeted with the press, the movements of
which, regulated by steam power, force the
pieces into the proper position for receiving
the impressions on both the upper and lower
sides, as well as the indentations on the rims;
all OF which is done by one blow of the
press.
The gold coins thus produced, are then
counted and weighed, and put up into par
GELS OF various values, when they are deliv
cred to the Treasurer to be paid out on a
warrant of the Director. ....
In the preparation of silver cons, the pie
ces are not adjusted separately, as in the
case of the gold Coinage but are adjusted in
masses. The adjustment is therefore less
precise in each coin, though perfectly SO in
masses. The subsequent milling and stamp
ing is the same as IN gold. ,.-....... e.. =.
he charge to the depositor of gold for
coinage, is One-half of one per cent. in ad-
dition to the actual expense for refining or
prating the metals, which is five cents per
ounce, gross.
The coins authorized to be made by law
are of gold:
The Eagle, Of the value of ten dollars or
units, to weigh 25a grains.
The Act Of Congress, January, 1887, es.
tablishes the standard of gold at 900 thou
sandths fine.
OF silver, the dollar, or unit, to weigh
4l23 grains. This denomination has ceased
to circulate, being at premium; the weight
of the lower silver denominations having
been reduced little over seven per cent.
Half Dollars, each to weigh 1872 grains.
Quarter dollars, each to weigh 96 grains.
Dimes, each to weigh one-fifth of the half
dollar, or 80 4-l0 grains.
Half dimes, each to be one-tenth of the
weight of the half dollar, or 10 2-lO grains.
Three cent pieces each to weigh three
fifteths of the weight of the half dollar, or
IL 52-lO0 grains and Of the same standard
of fin.ness.
The standard of silver coin is 900 parts
fine to 100 parts of copper alloy.
The new cent pieces ordered to be coined
under an act of Congress of the recent ses-
sion, have not yet appeared. They are to
consist of 80 parts OF copper, and IL OF
nickel, out of every 100 parts and to weigh
70 grains.
The silver coinage of half dollars, quar-
tiers, dimes and half dimes, are legal tender
to the amount of five dollars only; and three
cent silver pieces to the value of thirty cents
only. Cents are only legal tender to the
extent of fractional parts of dime. Silver
dollars and all gold coins are OF course legal
tender to any amount.
The foreign coins of France, Spain, Ger
many and Great Britain, were formerly le- |
gal tender, at fixed values, according to
weight and purity but now they are Obliged
RI be rp- coined