Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-03-13
AlGxan0rla 0azette
WEDNESDAY EVENING. MARCH 10.
The silver Dollar.


A small but interested crowd Of mint en-.
ployees gathered round the great coming ma.
chine at the mint yesterday afternoon TO wit
ness the turning out of the Grst silver dollar
1t had not been announced, 50 there were only
three or four outsiders who happened to come
in, The dies were finished soon after noon and
the process of adjusting them to the press oc
cupied some little time. After trying half
dozen p'anchets the foreman OF tho coming
ROOM Mr.. Albert Downing, announced that all
was ready. Msjor Bosbyshell, the Chief conner,
appeared with a dozen little envelopes, aga
Governor Pollock. the superintendent ana MI.
Morgan, the eDgraver, stood by to LOOK ou'
Mr.. Downing then took dozen poIlshed pan
chefs and adjusting the michlnc Tor a. single
revolution of the wheel put ono IN. Inc nfst
was slightly defective and was promptly de-
yaced and thrown back. Ten coins were then
slammed and deposited in their respective co.
yelopes numbered 10 the order of coioing. The
eleventh proved faulty planchct and was also
rejected. These twelve coins were reserved
and then steam was turned on and the coming
began ut 8 So, the taking of the trst twelve
having occupied eighteen minutes, each bcing
removed by hand.
When the press is working at full speed 1t
will make eighty coins minute, and there arc
four machines in the mint capable OF making
silver dollars. PresumiDg that these machines
run without stopping, and they will all at
work on Thursday. they can turn out $l5O,OOo
day, but the other departments cannot iur
nish the material az fast as that. The dies used
yesterday afternoon were the first pair struck;
to-day two more pairs will DO ready, and on
Thursday half a dozen more, which WILL prop,
ably be sent to San Francisco and Carson. 1t
is not yet decided whether they shall DO hnlsh-
ed here or not, but ID any case the epgraVers
can furnish ten day by the beginning OF next
week. 10 day the mint will probably make
$4,000, but the first delivery will not be until
Thursday. The first piece struck will 20 to the
President and the second to Secretary Sher-
man. :.
No orders have yet been received tor the dis
tribution OF the coinage. but it is presumed that
it will be for gold at the various sub treasures,
and that whatever gold is received ct the sub.
treasures will be used for the payment OF IN.
tcrest, while the silver will be paid out tor the
purchase of bullion. -Phila. North american
Of the 18TH inst.
TIE director of the mint yesterday received
instructions from the Secretary OF the treasury
that he may pass over the COULTER at the mint
limited surls Of the newly coined dollar 10 ex'
change Tor their full weight 10 gold, these sums
to range from ten 70 one hundred dollars For
this purpose THERE will be deposited with the
Superintendent 10 morrow 500, 900 of tho new
coin. The object of this is to allow all who
may SO desire 10 secure specimens OF tho new
silver dollar. The director expects to see
rush to morrow. The first Of the new coins
was struck off yesterday, and the amount coin.
cd thus lar is $50 600, although only 1913, 900
have been adjusted.