The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-11-01
Report Of the Director Of the Mint.

The report of tho director of the mint of
the operations of the United States mlnts
and assay Offices during the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1882, shows that the imports OF
foreign gold coin and bullion were in the
first half of tho year $50, 100, 23O greater, but
during the last half S2S,S1l,o47 less, than
tho exports, tho net gain for the year being
only 81. 7S9, 1873. The total amount of gold
deposited was $GG, 75G,653, which was
$7t,OO0.0O0 less than the preceding
year, while the silver purchased for
coinage and deposited for bars was about
$4,000 coo greater, and amounted to $685.
72O,491. Notwithstanding the decrease In the
deposits of. gold the coinage was greater
than that of any previous year in the history
of the mint. At the commencement OF tho
year there was on hand $50, ,G57 of an
coined gold bullion, S:32o, sfs,471 of which, in
addition to the deposits of the year, was con-
snmed in coinage. The total coinage was
II ,2GG, COB pieces, OF the value of $99,4l3,-
4i7.50 g, being nearly $11, 0OO, 1000 moro than
in any previous year. About one-ha!f of the
coinage was in eagles, one-third in half
eagles and tho remainder in double eagles.
The silver coinage consisted of S27,7I2,-
O75 in silver dollars and S11,313.75 i'll frac-
tional coin, atotal of $27, 7S3, 3SS.75. Of the
minor or base metal coins 1856, 725 pieces,
OF a value of SG44, 1915 we're struck. Gold
bars of the value of $37, sos, 120.04 were manu-
featured, $12,147, G74.D of which were of fine
gold for dcpositors at the Now York assay
office. Fine silver bars of tho value of ST.
100, 500. Ii were also made, chiefly at the same
institution.
The purchases of silver for coinage during
the year amounted to 23,G27 ,229.37 ounces Of
standard silver, Mt q cost of $2i, 13G, 1929,
an average of S1.O215 per ounce. Of the
coinage of the silver dollar during the year
the minis distributed $751; 1853, leaving in
the minis S35,365,G72. the balance OF this
and previous years coinage.
Tho production of gold for the fiscal year
is estimated at $31, 100000 and of silver $4l,-
100000, q decline of 81, 70, 900 in gold and
an increase of 50, 600, 900 in silver upon the
estimated production for the previous fiscal
year. The consumption of the precious
metals in the United States for use III the
arts during the year is estimated ut Sl2,0N,-
600 of gold and $7,0OO,M of silver, OF which
$7,000,OO0 of gold and SG,0OO,OUO OF silver
was of domestic production.
The total coin of the country is es .imated
to havo been at the beginning of the year
$3.50, 77G, 1853 gold and Sl71,450,7GG silver, a
total of SGll .23G, 519; and at tho close of tho
year 500, 77G, 1853 gold and S199, 459, 7GG sill
YER; total, $70O,23G,5la n gain of S6l,OOO,-
600 in gold coin and $2S,000,000 in silver.
On July l, 1881, the total paper and specie
or Inc country amounted 10 Nl,fooJ't-,Vo",
and on July l, 1882, to $1,5t3,7 no, 432, a gain
of about $74,500,UOO, of which $2o, 100000
was gold coin and bullion. At the close of
the fiscal year the treasury held S3l9,M l,055
in paper and specie, the banks $2O3, S33 500
and the remainder, 81, 1920, 1872, ST., was in &C
tive circulation. Of the total increase of
S74, $780, 900 the treasury received S15.a O 900,
the people gained $71,OOO,M and the banks
lost $11, 100000.
In twenty of the chief mining countries the
production was: Of gold, $107, III, ISL, and
of silver. S97, $50, AGO, which was m increase
of 81, 800, 900 of gold and S3,OOO,O0 20 of silver
over tho production of 1850. The coinage
executed OF the minis of the fifteen principal
countries of the world during the year 1881,
was: Of gold, $780, 1857, 1888, and of silver,
500, 7O5, S24,a total of $2237 ,093, POI, an increase
of about $5,0O0,0O over tho coinage of 1850.
The circulation of thirty-four countries, en-
bracing nearly oil of the civilized portion of
the earth, is given as: Paper, 1926, 22O, O7S;
gold, $3,353,6 73, 743, and silver, $500 69,-
$50; a total specie ejaculation of S5,9I4,443,-
5SH3, and of paper and specie, $780, 53 Gel.
Of the latter 81, Cos, 9S6, 763 was held by banks
and national treasures, leaving in circula-
ton outside of banks and treasures an
active circulating medium of paper and specie
amounting to $751; OO, 67G,s98.