The sun., 1882-01-08
The Proposed Change of Coins.

The Superintendent OF the Philadelphia
Mint, Col. 4. LoUDoN SNowpES, is anxious
to alter our minor coinage. On general
principles such proposition cXcitcs ap-
prchcnsiun, because no ono can tell what
may result. According to tho account
given, his plan includes designs FOR one,
three, and five cent pieces. The proposed
changes are based on theory of uniform
alloy OF three parts copper to one part
nickel, due proportion of weight and size
in each piece, and uniformity OF device in
all three. o; course. 1t IL not possible to
pass Judgment on this project without see
ing samples OF the suggested coins, or, at
least, OF their composition, sizes, and de-
vices; but public experience of changes in
coinage have taught some things.
The email copper cent is rs good n piece
for its purpose MS any substitute could hope
to be. The present two-cent piece, ir unncc-
essary, is not Objectionable. The thrce-cent
piece IL, and always has been, a nuisance; it
could hardly fail to b. improved by tho de-
vice Of Superintendent SNUwDIN, provided
there were any need Of a three-cent piece Mt
all Tho small fvc-ccnt piece has tho nd.
vantage OF being silver; but the nickel FIVE
cent piece is far better, because OF its less
diminutivc size The silver half dime is the
pretticr but it is too small; and this disad-
vantage is fatal
Why, then. should we discard the small
copper cent, which, as it comes fresh
from the mint, is no less handsome
in material than convenient in size?
Tho nickel alloy cent, with buzz
Zard on IT, shows tho result OF need
lcs5ly seeking novelty in metal and design.
1t is n sckly looking coin, appearing mean
and uncertain in color, without sharp, clear
lines Independently of its wretched device
I he only argument for giving up tho copper
cent and the nickel five-cent piece is uni
formity OF device But OF what usc is uni
.ormity? Why is it better than variety?
WhynOt have variety even for its own sake
Where coins resemble each other in size, va
riety in composition and device gives less
likelihood OF one being passed by mistake,
in haste, for another of different value.
Unsuitable collectors OF displaced coins
welcome frequent revolutions in the cur
rency But there is difference between
the nuluismatic and the public purpose.
mint expert may enjoy experiment and in
yention; but the average citizen looks ut the
coinage for practical uic. There is n metal
lie dollar that meets universal approval;
there is another, the trade dollar, which is
n nuisance, because it will not pass every
where; there is a third. a gold dollar, which
is also nuisance, because it IA too
| small, and too liable to bs lost. There
is fvc-dollar gold piece. which Is all
right; and there are n three-dolar gold
piece ami a Observation-Disclosures gold piece,
| i 9TH ul which are i.uisauces; the former tine
mora So because it is not needed, and
because il is liable To be paid out by
mistake for Il new cent. Tho bulky old cop
per, which, when it occasionally turns up,
everybody Sets rid Of at the earliest oppor-
| tuuity was too generous in the quan-
| tity OF metal the Governmcut gave
for a cont. Take any hundred Intelligent
| ciiil ,Es, ani probably unety-uiue would
agree ~ to which are tho good forms. and
which tho bad, in current coins; and they
would also agree in keeping the good az
| they are, and combining changes T. the lad.