The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-10-16
Our 0lio.
COINAGE AS AN ART.

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COINAGE AS AN ART.
A correspondent Of the New York Tri-
bune writes to that journal from San Fran
cisco, describing the process Of coming at
the Mint in that city
| went recently 10 the new mint in this
city-an imposing structure Of blush
sandstone on granite foundations, resem-
bling in its general outline the Treasury
building at Washington. II is the largest
and most important in the country, and by
the people here ii is said to be the largest
in the world Not only for my own graft
fcation did want to sec how the crude
gold and silver were converted into coin,
but to follow the precious metals from the
time they left the drifts of the mines,
shapeless portions Of rocks which, to the
untutOred eye, were ordinary in appearance
and valueless in commerce, until they
emerged from the mint and became the
source Of much good and much evil. If
in this letter / should seem to have an
extraordinary knowledge Of coin and coin.
age, and of the workings Of great insti-
tuition like the San Francisco Mint, wish
beforehand to disclaim any credit, and re-
fuse all compliments therefor.
found DIR. Linderman, the Director Of
the Mint, whose Office is in Washington,
and who is the head Of the whole system
In the United States, hard at work on the
accounts Of the bookkecpers. He came
here to supervise the counting and weigh
ing Of the coin and bullion in the mint at
the end of the fiscal year. This officer
has been connected with the coinage sys-
TEN in this country since he began, a young
man, to perform the duties Of an under
clerk in the Philadelphia mint, He grad
ually rose to be chief clerk, and subse-
quently became the Superintendent of the
mint. Two or three years ago, by act of
Congress, Bureau was provided for in
the Treasury Department aud new Office
created, to be known as the Director of the
Mint, To this new Bureau DIR. Linder-
man was called, and whatever credit is due
for its organization should be given to
him, who has done more for the country
in the matter of coinage than all Others.
As often happens to Americans, Dr. Lin.
derman is better appreciated abroad than
at home. He has received many marks of
distinguished E. yor from foreign Govern
ments, and is acknowledged by them as
having no superior iu his profession. From
him, during my visit to the mint, l OBJ
tanned much information of historical
character, and | have also to thank Gen.
lie Grange, the Superintendent, who has
been in Office about six years, and Mr..
Martin, who is at the head Of the Melting
and Refining Department. The latter,
who seems to know more of the mint in
its practical workings than both of the
other gentlemen, came to it as boy in
1861. Both DR.. Linderman and Gen. lie
Grange testify to his superior fitness for
his position There has been less loss
under his management than under that of
any one who has ever occupied similar
position in this county.
A brief history of the coinage of money
for use as circulating medium in trade
aud commerce may not be uninteresting.
The first coinage, SO far as Dr. Linderman
remembers, although he did not participate
In it, was done by the Lydians 800 or 800
years before the Christian era The coins,
according to DIR. Linderman, we're not
very attractive, but they answered the
purpose. A piece of metal of certain
weight and globular form was marked by
hand die which performed its functions
with the aid of mallet and hammer.
The coin thus marked with its value in
rude characters passed current. The ear
liest Grecian coins bore emblems of a sa-
cred character, of rude portraits Of the
protecting deities. The first coin bearing
the name of a king was struck by Alexan-
der |. of Macedon. There is n good deal,
at about this period, that neither DR..
Iinderman nor Mr.. Martin remembers.
It is known, however, that the first silver
coin was struck in Rome about 28l before
Christ The first gold was coined about
200 years later. The Romans, when Bri.
tain was whipped out, introduced their
own money, and a mint was established
for It's coinage.
All coinage, reaching as far down as
Elizabeth's time, was rude, coarse, and
irregular. understand that she introdu-
ced the mill aud screw--of course some
badly paid subordinate ought to have had
the credit, but everything was in the name
of Elizabeth. Improvements in coinage
began from this date, and ut the present
time the SAME general method Of refining
and coming the precious metals is in prac-
tice in all countries issuing their own coins,
the only difference being the machinery
to accomplish tho object Civilization Is
soon followed by metallic currency. 1t
Is only the pretender among nations aud
peoples who has anything but gold basis.
In Port-au- Prince, II remember Alright,
II took 800 In native currency four years
ago to buy me chip hat which / could
have paid for in two American half dollars;
that is 70 say that the hat I paid $50 for
10 the rag money of Hayti could be bought
in the same shop for 81 of American coin.
The Argentine Republic has no mints,
but has law regulating the coins Of other
countries upon which she places a value.
The only coins Of Brazil are piece Of
nicked metal representing about l2l cents,
and one double that value. The general
currency is paper, which nobody expects
will ever be redeemed II is therefore
nearly worthless. Honduras has no coin
OF a,national character. The Sandwich