The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-06-16
THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR COINAGE


heavy pieces popularity known from the
broad band surrounding both diverse
and reverse as ring pence. Of these,
which were struck at the old Soho Mint by
Messrs. Boulton and Watt between the
years l797-l199; lG go to tho pound
avoirdupoisc, and they have certainly worn
remarkably well, although they must have
worn out a vast number of pockets in the
60 years Of their existence. At the close
of 1799 pence, haf.pence, and farthings Of
respectively Is sc, and 70 to the pound
were struck by the same firm; and these
circulated alone with their wcighter brcth-
:cn until sos, when Il further improvement
AS it was deemed, took place In that year
% pence, 4o halfrence 9G farthngs to the
pound weight were considered fair proper
lions for the copper coinage, and, new dies
having been got up fcr the purpose, Boul-
ton and Watt again set to work in produc-
ing these comparatively lis"t coins.
1t will tc seen thus that within Il
space Of eight years three kinds of inferior
coins were stamped into vitality and became
current. This was not however, cons i'd
cred sufficient, and IN Irish coinage of great
extent, and in which the one pound weight
WAS divided into 2G,52, and lO4 pence,
haItpeucc, and f,rtllings respectively, took
place in 1906 and continued to 90 on sim.
utanco usly with the last named English
variety up to 1923. In that year the Irish
coinage WIS abandoned, and, although there
have been distinctive copper tokens struck
since for the Isle of Man and for the States
Of Jersey, Of like proportions to those for
Ireland, yet it may be said that the arrange
mcnt of "a pence, and &c fartl,in@s to The
pound weight has prevailed throughout
Great britain ever since 1929, and is that
Of the present day. 1t will DC admitted
from this record Of facts in connection with
the copper coinage that there is sufficient
medley Of recognised legal pieces Of money
in circulation among Is; but there is,
in addition 10 these as most know to
their cost, 4 very large per centage Of
non recognised and Illegal diccs of copper
of Which the public can make neither head
nor tail, and which are altogether discred-
liable to an enlightened community. Is it
not high time then, We ask that whether
the decimal system be adopted or not, Tic
whole confused umple Of copper coins,
nearly G,000 tons in wei ssht should be sent
once more into tn, foundry there to be
united with some more spiritual, or at least
more valuable metal, and then rc.issued in n
uniform and handsome shape? BY Judi
cous combinations Of metals li.htncss
beauty, and value may be obtained
and these are the dcsIerata for new
coinage.
In the United States Mint experiment
tai pieces have been issued Of nickle and
copper. How these will stand wear time
will reveal, but their dull gray color is not
pleasing to the eye, and they are Of
dumpy form-too thick for their small
dlameter,. Tho bronze coins Of the Napo-
leon III. and those of the Victoria Canada
lnintagcs are, indeed, models in this last
espect. For ourselves, we believe that the
new clay metal aluminium which promised
to revoutionize in other respects the world
Of metals, will be found most excellent
material for admixture with copper for tue
purpose i'll question. 1t is true that its
properties are not yet fully developed, but
enough is known to augur for aluminium
brilliant and useful future. Melted with
copper, in different proportions, any shade
Of color between those of zinc and fine
go Id may be obtained, and we look forward
to the day when Dr. Graham, of the Mint,
fand somc of his scientific ccntrcres shall
arrive, by experiment or otherwise, at an
Of aluminium and copper
from which may he cast new coinage
decimal or duodecimal-that with the rid
of the engrayer's art and the skill Of the
shall surpass in proportions
color, and practical utility, the coinage Of
every other country. This matter has been
dwelt upon at some length, because it is
right that the public should comprehend
it thoroughly, and be thus enabled to bring
the force Of their opinion to bear upon the
government in cffecting wholesome and
necessary reform. Mr.. Dsraeli processes
to bow to pubic opinion, and declares
that it is the most potent Of all agencies
If we can enlist it, therefore, in behalf of
a decimal coinage, the good work in in.
PRODUCING it may be said to be begun
Mechanics Magazine.
Wendell Phillips on the mode of Ma
king Hunkers.-Wendell Phillips, in re
cent address, described the mode of making
a bunker in politics. He linkened it to an
operation he had once witnessed in an
The confirmed bunker is at
l.