Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-05
Where they Circulate and by Whom Most
Used---Places Where 0ne.cent
Pieces are Strangers.
Philadelphia Record


Pennies are scarce, and the Mint
can not turn them out fast enough to
supply the demand. Coins of this de-
nomination are turned only out at the
United States mint in this city, and
from here the whole country is sup
piled. The penny is a most important
factcr in the commerce of the country,
much more than most people imagine.
The mint is six weeks behind in its
orders for the supply of these small
coins, which is part owing to the fact
that all the available machinery is be-
ing used for other purposes, and but a
small part can be put to penny
making.
Where do all the pennies go?'
asked a record reporter Of a mint Off
cial yesterday.
well, the horse-car companies take
a good part of the supply, but we
limit each company to $40 worth per
day. Then they are obliged to patch
out with three-cent pieces, of which
they also secure large quantities. But
the merchants make the heaviest de-
mands upon us, the great retail dry
goods houses taking all they can get,
and then crying for more"
Where are pennies not used p
questioned the reporter.
well, there's no part of the United
States hardly where they are not
used" was the reply; but there are
some sections where they are strangers,
and as a as gold dollars are here.
In the South the penny is almost un-
known, the smallest coin being a FIVE
cent piece. Recently, however, there
has been some demand for them from
merchants in Georgia and Alabama.
In the far West there is but little call
for the penny, but when one gets to
st. Louis, or east of that point, then
the penny becomes a familiar friend.
Wherever there are six cent fares on
the street cars, then there are is a de-
mand from the cityfor pennies. Now,
Louisville seldom, if ever, calls upon
us, while Cincinnati is continually
crying for the one-cent piece. New
York consumes a big lot, and 50 do
the Eastern states. The two-cent
piece was a good help to US for a time,
but none of them have been coined
for ten years; and all that are sent in
and redeemed are recoined into one
cent pieces"
1T is a somewhat remarkable thing,
but such is the fact" continued the
official, that competition in trade in
duces and increases the demand for
pennies. Whenever trade is briskest,
then the penny is needed most-that
is, retail trade. What the banks take
from us, although large, does not
huctuate like the calls from the
tradesmen. The Eastern states are
the great penny centers, and it is only
as the population of the West in
creases hat it wants pennies. The
five-cent piece is the standard coin in
the West, but the penny is making
inroads on it, and great ones, too"
Are you making many Bland dol
lars?' was the next question the re.
porter put to the official.
Don't call them Bland dollars, bu.
standard dollars replied the odicia
in language that could not be mistak
en-. They are not Bland dollars, anC
it is a popular mistake people make t,
call them by that name. Now. pur
shat back of your ear where you vii
remember it. They were not created
by the Bland bill, which was for FIRE,
coinage, but under another act"
This has been one Of the busies
years ever known at the mint, an
Mr.. Snowden has been busy. Mos
ofthe time the machinery has been a
work night and day. The value Of tn
coins turned out for the calendar yea
ending yesterday, a Gold, S9,74
645; silver, $14,8l5 ,235; base coin,
$l65, 003. The number of standar
silver dollars coined was 14,S07, JOG
and the number Of gold n dolla
pieces 5000.