The Morning herald., 1875-10-16
Something about Specie.

fh1tddctphld l1Sss.
The law that the mints Of the United
States are now working under is designated
the coinage act Of 1873, which went into
effect on the 1st day of April of that year.
The silver bullion, which is being present.
ly received fer parting, is mainly from the
Consolidated Virginia Mine, in Nevada,
and contains forty per cent. of gold, fifty
per cent. of silver, and ten per cent. Of base
metal. This bullion is known as the Dore,
or silver containing gold. The Mint is
supplied with this bullion as rapidly as is
required for coinage purposes. In addition
to the Dore, the Assay Office at New York
supplies the Mint with the silver sufficient
to insure a coinage Of 100000 per
month in subsidiary silver coin. The
standard fneness of the coin is made Of
nine hundred parts of pure silver and one
hundred parts Of pure copper alloy. The
law of 1873 has somewhat increased the
wei sht of the subsidiary coin, so that the
coins at present issued are triae heavier
than the coin Issued prior to the first Of
April, 1873, and are made to correspond
in weight with the French coin. At pres
ent the subsidiary coin now issued are tie
half:dollar, quarter-acllar, twenty-cent
piece, and dime. The twenty-cent piece
was coined under the authority of an act
of Congress approved March 3, 1875. This
piece was issued by the Government to
supply demand created for i! On the Pa
citic coast in consequence Of the abroga-
ton Of the half-dime by the coinage act Of
1873. 1t is intended for convenience in
making change, which, in that section
of the country, is much needed.
The design of this piece is as follows: On
the diverse side is Longacre's sitting
figure Of Liberty with the thirteen stars
surrounding it; on the reverse side is an
eagle with outstretched wings, with a
bunch of arrows in its right talens, and an
olive branch in its left talons, with the
words "United States of America" above
and twenty cents" beneath. To prevent
this coin from being mistaken for the
quarter dollar, it has been made somewhat
smaller in size and has a smooth edge,
whilst the edge Of the other coins are reed
ed. The weight of the different coins as
now made are as follows: F-.-
The halfdollar weighs 1929 grains.
This piece formerly weighed 1o2 grains,
the quarter dollar row weighs o6.45 grains
it formerly weighed 96 grains. The new
lwenty-cent piece weighs 77.l6 grains and
the dime weighs 1888 grains; it formerly
weighed 3s.04 grains. These are the only
silver coins authorized excepting the trade
dollar, which is commercial piece, and
weighs APO grains. Since the lst of last
January there has been issued from the
Mint in this city between four and five
millions Of dollars in subsidiary silver
'oin. This coin has been transferred to
he Assistant Treasurer at Boston; where
t will remain until such time as the Secre.|
ary of the Treasury sees fit to commence
he work of redemption. 1t is stated by
he Chief Coiner, Col. snowden, that if the
Mint was worked to its fullest capacity it
vsuld turn out $50, 900 in small silver coin
'er diem. During last month the mints at ,
San FRANCISCO and Carson coined over one !.
Aillion pieces ofthe twenty-cent coin. The !
argest instalmept Of silver received at the :
dint in this city for some time was O,OO0
unces. This is now being worked, and :
'hen finished up will be duplicated BY
mother large instalment. -. Id II
A Kansas doctor wants to see that grass t