The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-01
Coin and Paper Money.

Coin and Paper Money.
1t Is rather curious fact that the
only com now IN current use on this
Continent which is not round, is the
fifty dollar gold piece strucc from
California, which is octagonal in form.
Al! the CONS III Europe are round. In
Japan they have obloug wedges of
silver. 1t is curious. too. that 9c..
many Years Money has been made ont
OF paper. when leather OF cloth would
sealn to be more durable Yet paper.
wlcn representing coin, lasts Il great
wn!le; and not unfrcqlcntly the Bank
o. England received anots of extra
ordinary age, and the Bank of Bengal
III India, recently was called to paw
several thous,tnd pounds of notes SO
old that none of the present genera
ton remembered the pattern
1t is also worthy OF remark that
gems or precious stones have never
been used for money, nor has platinum
or any other metal taken the place of
gold. In Africa q species OF shell
forms the circulating medium, the
value OF which huctuates sometimes
twenty per cent. Al week. But all
civilized countries have gold as the
standard of money value, and all other
circulating media are but representa-
tives of the great standard. Only the
Hindoo has never learned to test coin
by the hand.
OF all gold coin, that of England
IS perhaps the most beautiful. a new,
fresh gold sovereign is probably as
graceful and attractive coin rs exists
Next to it, the American eagle is the
most elegant gold coin The twenty
frank pieces OF the present kingdom
OF Italy are also very neat.
Possibly the smallest gold coin in
use IS the French five frame piece;
although few.half dollar gold pieces
have been struck or in California.
At present there arc current in France.
in every day traffic, coins bearing the
noble face Of the first Napoleon, both
as Consul and Emperor; the heavy
rounds of Charles X and Louis XVIII:
the shrewd comtenancc OF Louis
PHILIPPE, and the similar features of
the present Emperor. In some cases.
Napoleon Iii Is represented with.
and in others without, IL laurelwreath.
A'iN 1A1Coo 'C'titUlLul SILVER coinage IS
that OF Russia, each piece being in it.
self a work OF art, so finely and elabo-
ratcly IS the die c!!t. On the other
hand. the ugliest silver coinage is that
of the free city OF Hambueh Zach
piece, adulterated and poorly cl1t. is
usually found encrusted with dirt and
filth, and looking Like a refuse fr;sy
ment OF tin. The silver coinage of
Germany is also very bad.
In Italy, except the portion subject
to the Pope and the Emperor of Aus
tria. the franc piece is taking the place
OF former coins: though local coin
age OF the former Duchies OF Parma
and Modera still infcsts those portions
Of the country. Naples also retains,
IN retail traffic, the complicated coins
III use under the Bourbon rule.
Perhaps the ncatest paper moneyin
use is that OF Greece, which is mann
featured by American engr:.vers and
worlmen. The old bank currency Of
this country is very often elegant.
The worst and most wrctched paDer
money in the world is the five kreuzer
note OF Austria, printed. on IL soft,
thick, grayish paper, which has the
faculty OF washing and rubbing away
like ordinary blotting paper
More tHnn eighty vessels of h,,rdo,,