The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-10

The Director recommends that provision be
made iOf he reduction and redemption Of the
INFERIOR coins, by creating 1und ior redemo
ilon out of the pfobts OF such coinage. Tue
inferior coinage consists Of two different alloys,
namely, one ana two cent piece of DtoOLe (95
per cent. copper, per cent. tin, per cent.
rc), and a three and i've cent piece OF nicSel
and copper (25 per cent. nickel and 40 per cent.
copper. Tuere is no reason for continuing the
coinage OF the .wo cent piece, and the law au-
tborlZDg its issue should be repealed. The net
profits arisine from the minor coinage aud paid
into the Treasury OF the Uuued States durug the
hs cal year amount TO $l,300,00O. The purchase
Of the nickeIcopper cents, composed OF S8 per
cent copper aud IL per cent. nickel, still con-
tnue., pay u ent beng made in the three an
tive cent. nickel CONS. The amount purchase
TO the close OF the nscal year was S26O 4S2'04.
This operation results IN small pro1t to the
United States, and serves 10 reduce the redun-
da0cy OF cent cons.
On the subject OF international coinage the
Director says:-There Is question In 1t on
which men OF science and men OF business are
totally at variance; it is the main question,
whether there should be uniflc ttlon OF cur
Tency, and there are weig0ty arg uments on each
side. Bat there is one view OF the mater when
has not been duly considered. In ths proposed
unity every country Is called upon To make
couces sion except France aud those already IN
normlty with her III we take part 1t must
be at the expense of great recouage, and so
with England; but France Is supposed to
be right already, because her coin, the 20-tranC
piece, is OF such weight that 1t Caunot
be expressed in oecimals. 1t is precisely l4.3l
grains, "a most in practicable and unscienudc
hgure. Nor would the 25 franc piece, tue cOun.
terpart of the proposed pound sterling, and bait
eagle, make any better snow. 1t Is not TT TO be
measured, either by grams or grains. Toe
history Of this matter, how it came to be 80,
oilers no apology Tor pei LuatIng such an awk
waroness. 1t has Therefore been well suggested
20 take for the proposed 25 franc piece, or hal
eagle, or pound sterling, the neat and concise
standard oil 81 decigrams Tor 81 grams) which
has also the merit OF being exactly equat to llb
grams. This would make SO small a df-
ference from The present French standard, that
1t would probably avoid the necessity OF
Iecoinage there; and so the difference
of value in the British sovereign would be so
slight as 10 obviate recolnage, were 1t not that
the present standard of hneness, eleven twelfths,
Is out of the line OF unidcatlon. This small
change would not affect the earth's quadrant,
nor any point of science; it would certainly tend
to consummate the business; and it is little
enough to ask that France, Belgium, aud Italy
should do something towards simplicity and
uniformity of standards. Indeed, without u
spirit of concession all around, the scheme seems
not likely to be carried through. The British
Commission on International Coinage have
recently made their report to Parliament,
and it is important to note the conclusions
at which they arrive, after care aud
able investigation. They say, 1--WE enter.
tain no doubt tbat uniform system of
co ms, as well as a uniform sys em OF weights
and measures, would be productive OF great
general advantage" And further, 1--WE do II It
consider II necessary that any measures for the
assimilation OF the cdrrencle5 should be post
roned until steps are also taken for the asslmi-
lation OF weights and measures" But upon full
view OF the circumstances they edo not recon-.
mend that this country should merely adopt a
gold coin OF the value OF % francs to be suostl.
tuted for the sovereign" In fine, they think
the whole matter should receive further con-
sheraton in general monetary conference.