New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-08

the r. eight rcaleSl " nsphcel' anu 'h
denomination ia IN Peso comfortably to common usage
The hneness Is no longer expressed IN dneros az
t" f. he rcgretfcd that they dd make Il precisely
goo the standard largely adopted ANA keJ ~ becot
universal In point " fact the great mass of Mexican
dollars Of an dates do not average more than gO These
new pieces bear the dates 1869 and 1870 ana thc MINI
mark Of the city Of Mexico whether me same devices
will be used by the various proVlnclal hls 1u't ut ~
pear. There arc dollars of Chihuahua OF 1909 bearing no
4. We have also new Mexican gold piece Of Ticnfcn
Icsos $40 dating $780, of course intended :" sumrsehe
the timch0nOred douboOn ana apIartnty uoI' luz
ton of the $40 piece Of tho mpcrio Mexcan9 oil lSo
II Is three grains heavier however than me com Oh
Macmillan; that u.s. IL is SO troy grains or Log ounce.
IL hears the usual legend, Rcpu6ed Ntd'cdhd uC w.
and the figures SIS expressive OF the neness, equal 10
q carats, rs formerly Al ihese ratcs u " tP xerV
piece Just now, but may become common u. a.
years. Tie gold pieces Of MAMMALIAN VIII forever oo
curiostcs In cabinets Of rare coins. $50 80
The Mexican dollars, varying rom go 10 ~,
grains, may be said to maintain the usn rn "a
high rs q05 thousands I'm ineness com SO hch uSou
IN commerce ought TO be more steady 49,. .,o,,o, bs
vet appeared in this country, and II proves to be- ~ IN
tended ON par with the French piece Of h'e francs III
DEVICES on COINS.
This might he proper opportunity to say ie" words
in regard to the changing Of devices on coins about
which there is a wide diversity Of opinion
Asto the Mexican dollar IL Is rot exactly In the cato
CORY of national coins II is emnently International
and special favorite in the Asatic ports. There, ts
we'll known face though somewhat rude, makes II IN
stantly receivable. In new dress ana WIN con,
trocted diameter A may object Of suspicion and
i'm that 0n of view il might have been better to- nave
retained the old devices, just as in Austria they sun CON
dollar for the Leyant trade bearing the holu" VI "A
Theresa. and the date 1850. ,-.,
But the question remains whether coins less cohin0po
ian may 6e frequently changed in appearance. Those
Who are fond of making cabinet collections, and the
lovers of art generally clanOrOus for new PICTURES
c woud ike The series of coins 10 be monuments Of
national history witnesses Of events Ike tho cons
al d shall not re cent their dun monotony for long
dos nfy IN il %
01r own coin il particularly liable TO This objection.
In other lands kings and emperors die are displaced
and every body is 10 get the new coin Win tg new
head. But here IL must be, under the law, nSune
ery Of full length head and bust but after al II Is
only an idea, or an abstraction and as past experience
shows very much stereotype. Aud one reason Tor ils
practice is TO be found not only in the rigid requirements
OF the law, hut IN the counter opinion wnch
considers that there ought % be no marked chaIgr
except where there Is a change OF siandards' TINS
being the very proper way TO introduce them IL II ar
sty for explanation. and induces some apprehension
The certificate which q Government stamps upon us
coin very sacred thing, much Ike the great seal on
State whose xedness indicates stability 80 tha Wme
this numismatc party would not lor3ld oc,aslon I
changes, and would always have them 10 indicate new
Mi ts W. t oi, - ,,i "a, If t,,oVyu tvIcs
These remarks not made 10 preface An opinion on
the question, but merely To show how the question
stands, that others may judge for themselves.
MINERAL SPECIMENS.
part Of the almost daily business Of assay de-
mems sent or brought from all par Of the United states
This work Is extra official, Tut is cheeruly performed
as a public benefit. In cases whore chemical trial is
required there moderate charge, which inures to the
II is 10 be regretted however that there IL little dis
cernment among those who fancy they have Hado dis
coycry iuasmuch We are constantly called upon TO
examine stones Of The most ordinary character OF no
greater value than for building ar paving
Cur school teachers country ply scians might AMI
as general RUE perhaps tny 40 drinio tlug y" 'o
principles oi mneilogy ana gtoosy 10 e ol Ieai us ~
their npttcred neighDOrs I'm this respect and save the
expensive transmission OF OF stone long lines
of travel I some cases. the wizard expert Of the min
era rod, or the village blacksmith. has excited mgh
homes which II was our unp duty % dsspate In
other cases. Indian traditions have been confidently re-
lied on and We have been compelled "a contradict the
science the legends of the aboricincs. NIT.
A moderate knowledge Of geological impossimhtles
would quiet any dplrchcnsous OF SILVER o. goh save IA
infinite mai proportions, IN many large eNp1nse % our
country Happily, have other kinds Of riches buried
In the soil everywhere, OF winch We may De ne
proud, and with which may be rs well satisfied as
Table Of Foreign Coins-Thc statement Of the weight
be mac annually, will be found appended to this report
The additions made To annual tables have been no
Medical Depdrtmcnt.- department has been sue
cessiuy operated during the past year large number
| OF medals have been made and cold.
! The Mint CGbiHCL-lhe cabinet ~ CONS ana metals
still continues 10 attract large number Of visitors from
! deserves the fostering care of the Government.
St5tsfcgI l1Jlc,-The statistics relating 10 the de
nosts OF bullon and coinage al the Mint Of the United
States aud branches viii be found ia the tabular state
mens hereto annexed Since the publication OF tAe lr
annual report inaccuracies discovered in the sas
teal tables for year two previous that mahe HOht OF
the latter exhibits practically unreliable. All the tables
have since been carefully cOllated aud compared for
TGveral yrS past and a. now preseuted aTe peheFed
| 10 De correct and Trustworthy;
Very respectfully, your oDedigut servant
Director az the Mint.
Hon GrorGr : BoUfw IL, Secretary cf the rfea'n'!
Washington. II. C. rT--=.-.
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