Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-08-24

SILVER COINS.
Postmaster Dunkslbsrgsr Finds out what are
Current and what not,

Current and what not.
Some time ago Postmaster Dun.
kelberRer was not little taken
nbAck to find sixty half dollars re-
turned to him from his last remit
lance to the Branch U. 8. Treasury
At San Francisco with the infor-
nation that the coins were not
receivable. There was not q
counterfeit in the lot, but some
were slightly abraded, others
stained little from contact with
acids or from being carried with
matches or rubber or somebody's
pocket. Every one Of the sixty
coins would have passed current
over the counter of any bank In
Los Angeles. Not satisfied with
this disposition of the matter, the
Postmaster selected thirty three of
the coins as samples and forward
ed them to the Postoffice Depart
ment at Washington for additional
instructions. This request brought
the following response which is
presented In full rs it gives specific
rules, regarding coins, which may
be OF service to the public.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT.-)
OFFICE OF THIRD ASSISTANT
nounrNr cnEu n = NEDAT
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 1881.
/. r. Dunkelberger, p. M, Los An
geles, Los Angeles county. CAL:
SIR: Herewith please find re-
turned the sum of $40 so, in silver
half dollars, and the papers en-
closed in your letter of the 2lst in
slant, "a per your request. The
coin was submitted to the Treas
urer u. g., who returned 1t with
the statement that it was deposit
able. The coin Is not mutilated,
but 0braded; aud the Assistant
Treasurer u. s., at San Francisco,
probably considered some of the
colus as undepositable on account
of such abrasion.
The enclosed circular (30l7)
should be your guide when mutt
lated and abraided coins are offered
you for stamps, etc.
Very respectfully.
A. D. HAzEN,
Third Asst. Postmaster General.
MUTILATED COINS.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT. J
81 nFBI0E TaIR AsaT POsTMABTER GENERAL ,
DIVISION OF FINANCE,
WASHINGTON, D. o., Aug. 8, 1851. I
Postmaster Los Angeles, Los Angeles Coun
ty, CAL:
SIR:-In reply to your letter in relation
to mutilated coins, you are informed iha
they are not held to be 'current and passa
bic money!" and you are not obliged to re
ceive them for stamps or postal dues.
The following extract from the regu'a
tions of the Treasury Department, and
from letter from the Treasurer Of the
On ted States, are hereby published for tht
information of postmasters:
MINOR COINS.
"Mutilated minor coins will not be re
deemed or exchanged. ~ Circular No. Il
page 6, Treasurer's Uf1ice.)
SILVER COINS.
"Silyer coins muti'ated by clipping o
perforating will not be received EXCEPT a
the bullion value, to be ascertalned at tb
Mint" Ibid.)
"there being no provision Of law appli
cable to mutilsttd or abraded silver coin
and such coin being based upon int' in IL
value, to avoid loss this Office is compelle'
to decline to receive mutilated coin for tn
reason that there is no way OF disposing o
it exec Ut at loss" until tn re- is so nj
legal enactment. and some appropriate
to pay the loss upon recoinage OF suef
mutlated pieces, no instructions for tn
relief Of the community can be issued. Fol
any mutilatt silver coins sent to tho y I'M
returns will be made as soon as the bullion
value thereof csn be ascertained, the trans
portation charges to be born by the SCI d
err Letter Of Treasurer OF U. s., Feb
15, 1879
Postmastsfs would do we'll to refuse al
coins (copper-bronze, nickel, silver, ano
gold) which have been punched, bort d. OF
otherwise mutilated, and thus avoit
trouble and loss.
Very respectfully, A. D. HAzFN.
hi. d ss't Postmaster-Ge
The inference from this circular
10 that Mr.. Dunkelberger's stained
coins are good and even the
abraded ones that are not excess
lively worn.