Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-06-26
THE FIRST COPPER CENTS.


dicate the memory of Andrew Johnson.
THE FIRST COPPER CENTS.
Our copper coins, as we'll as those of other
countries, in numbers exceeding all 9TH
tastic changes Rude everywhere as they
originally appeared, the most extensive
fabrication has added little grace to relieve
them from being everyW here common and
unclean." The copper coins issued in Eng
land, by Charles H., possessed intrinsic val
ue equal to their nominal value-Charles
XII, of Sweden, however made copper
coins of less weight than that of our earliest
copper cent, and then paid them to his ar
my as the value of a silver dollar. 1t is
some qualification to find our treatment of a
SWede.
The earliest American copper coins made
by any State were made at Rupert, in Yer
mont and before Vermont had been ad-
mitted into the Union. A mint was there
established for eight or ten years, having
capacity to stamp sixty coppers per minute,
upon which the so-called 'baby-head" god
dess of liberty appeared !; but truth compels
me to say that this goddess was no more
comely than that on the coins of the pres
ent day, although she was hundred years
Harmon, was bound to pay the State q per
cent. for his privilege. At first these coins
passed two for a penny, then four and then
eight when they no longer paid for their
cost, mainly on account of the sudden COM
petition in other States, and of the large
importations of Birmingham hardware,
CONNOLLY called "Bungtown Coppers."
We had no protective tariff then, and we
have none now, against "Bungtowns,"
whether Of copper or silver.
In 1857, by authority of Congress, con-
tract was made with James Jarvis, for 300
tons of copper coins of the Federal stand
ard, and cents were coined at the New Ha-
ven mint, of the following description: On
one side 13 circles linked together, a small
circle in the middle, with the words, "we
are one :" on the the other side, sun dial,
and below the dial the words, "Mind your
business"
In 1892 Congress authorized the coinage ola
copper cent weighing 264 grains, which was
reduced, in 1893, to 208 grains on which the
so-called "booby head" appears, and in 1857
to y grains, of which SS per cent. was to be
copper and ~ per cent. nickel. In 1864
it was once more reduced, to 4S grains-95
per cent. of copper and per cent of tin
or zinc. Finally, in 1882, the last change
was made, to three-fourths of copper and
one fourth of nickel, but the weight remains
at 4S grains.
The frequent and wide alterations which
have been made in our copper coins show
that intrinsic value has almost vanished,
and they bear almost no proportional value
to other coins; but at the start when copper
bore much higher price, the weight of the
cent was fixed at five and half times what
1t is now. In the southern portion of our
country, and especially on the Pacific coast,
c Ilncnrr6nf
yellow colored Cinnamon, or for long time
they were practically tabooed, and even
now they are unwelcome travellers, much in
need of passport. Wherever not altogeth-
er snubbed, the copper cent must pass, as
Woods notable copper coins must have pass
ed in America or Ireland, far above any
real value, and with little other merit be-
yond that of the dusky color now supplied
on it's face to our recent Indian image of
sumo deeper Ethiopic complexion, and
become petty nuisances-scents as well as
cents-redolent of many cOppery smells,
which are easily transmitted to other coins,
or to anything with which they hold pocket
intercourse. Copper, as a metal is Won
drously useful, daily becoming more so, but
neither Lycurgus nor Hamilton would at
this day think of stamping it as money:
Certainly we can do better. If the cent and
and 2-cent coins were now made wholly Of
nickel, the Government would obtain an
ample seignorage; and nickel, when COM
pared with SWarthy copper, is immaculate,
or clean and bright. The importance of the
cent coinage will be realized, when we find
that over 10000, 900 pieces were coined last
year.
The Chinese and japanese bronze coins
are Of very light weight, of angular form,
with hole in the centre, and some Of
them are quite equal to other exhibitions Of
Oriental art which are now received with
public favor. The specimen of an unau-
thorized cent made by our mint in 1850,
with round hole in the center, suggests
what might be done if not with a nickel
cent, perhaps with half dime Of silver.
The present nickel half dimes are so nearly
of the same diameter and thickness of a
quarter dollar that they are not readily dis
but with a perforatiOn, square
or round, in the centre, all confusion would
be remedied, as we'll by touch as by sight
From Senator Morrilps Speech on the Coinage.
SUICIDE TO AVOID DEATH.-The case of
Charles Ford is very curious one. It was
he who killed Jesse James, the great West
ern robber. Ford belonged to James gang
of thieves, and he was induced to murder
his chief because Of the large reward offer
ed by Governor Crittenden, of Missouri.
Ford was given the money and free par
don. He was then engaged by theatrical
speculator, who exhibited him throughout
the country; but the enterprise was not
pecuniary success. Robbers and murderers
do not make good amusement attraction.
Ford subsequently, lived miserable life.
He was tortured by the fear that some of
his former associates were on his track.
Day and night the spectre of the avenger
haunted him, and life became so greats bur-
den to him that he finally killed himself to
is hard.-Demorest Monthy for
July.