Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-09
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH %. 1852
HOW MONEY Is MADE.

There appears to exist considerable
amount OF miscunception ~ Ia the manner In
which money is maic-not in the Barnum
sense. but literally. Many persons imagine,
for instance. that coins are, as 1t were, sol
dcred together in two halves and that the
head is struck at one press and the tail at
another: but this is quite mistake, the mn
pressions being given to plan disc of metal,
or blank" and the edge milling at a single
blow. lngots of gold OF silver are first
thrown into melting pots and reduced t" fu-
iditv After this, they are cast into bars ot
various sizes. proportionate 10 the klnd> Of
coin to be produced from them. These bars
are next passed forward to rolling-mll> of
great power. I'VE speak here OF the Engll>h
mint, and Eliminated. or drawn out by pres
sure, to state of attenuity, marrciously
different to the rigid form i'll which they LETT
the moulds. The bars i'll fact, are now con-
verted into ribbons, flexible as the wand Of
Harlequin; and these. being beautifully adj
iusted in thickness for the pieces to be OBJ
tanned from them are passed to a sctofpunch-
ing presses, where they are pertorated--h-
npv-combed-from end to end
The discs Of metalth obtained arc blank
sovereigns, very much resembling shanklcss
brass buttons, or blank sixpences, Is II may
happen to be sovereign or sixpenny RIB
bons" which are being dealt with, and are
then carried forward to the weighing ma
chimes. These select the sheep from the
goats-1he light and heavy from the medium,
or standard blanks. The accepted candi-
dates for coinage are now taken to the mark
ing-room, whilst the rejected are doomed TO
the purgatory Of the cruciblc again. The
marking machines raise partially the pro
tecting edges of the future COINS, WHICH are
then again Submitted II fiery ordeal in the
shape Of an annealng oven. This operation
softens and tempers them. They are made
as young ladies are said to be--suSceptlblc
TO Impressions, and are then sickled. or
blanched, in weak solution of sulphuric
acid. This gives them bright surface, and
removes all Impurities. Drying is the next
process, and this is performed over hot
iron plata Ia muffin and trumpet. The
blanks are now ready to receive the Image
and superseription" Of the Queen-God bless
her! This finishing touch is given in the
press-room. The pieces are now weighed
out to number of boys, who attend and feed
the presses with them.
On pne II the presses, blanks are put into
tubes, and on the other they are thrown out
coins. They get, however, mighty hard
squeeze in the. middle passage between
two beautifully engraved head and reverse
dies. and are at the same time, prevented
from expanding unduly, by means of a col
lar of steel, Auted or milled, on its inner CIR
conference, which compasses each indivldu-
al piece, ut the moment the dies strike it.
The outer circumference of the piece OF gold
or silver becomes thus serrated, or milled, at
the instant of coinage. The finished sorer-
eign or sixpences, or whatsoever coins may
be in process of manipulation. now tumble
out from the presses in rapid and glistening
succession, and slide down Inclined planes
into trays placed to catch them. They are
examined ON the surfaces and edges to
ascertain if they are perfect, and then sent
out into the wide, wide world" to do their
mission of good or evil; as the good or evil
dispositions Of their possessors may deter
mime London 4rti.an.