The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-02-27
OUR COLONIAL COINAGE.
ISan Francisco Alta.1


 The very earliest coin struck for Amer. ica was brass shilling, for the Bermuda or Summer islands, in I6I2 ca the oo- verse side was bow and the legend, " Summer Island" with the value, XII. On the reverse side was ship under sail firing a gun. In I652 Massachusetts coined the Pine Tree shilling. John Hull was mint master and the mint stood on his land in Boston. The pieces struck were mere pianchets, stamped on one side N E- and on the other with the value Xild. October 10, 1852, just 233 years ago, the Pine Tree money was coined. On the obverse side was pine tree, inclosed by double ring with the legend, "Massschusetts in ;" and on the reverse double ring and "New Eag- land, An. Dom with the date in figures and the denomination occupying the field within the inner circle. Ten years later two-penny piece was added to the list The coinage was discontinued in r686 but strangely, it all bears the date I652 on the shillings. sixpences and three pence, while all the two-pennies are dated I662.
 Virginia in I77z had well executed copper coinage
 In the reign of George l. coinage was issued for America by Great Britain. The pieces were known as "Rosa Amer icans," and were of mixed metal resem- bling brass.
 In I783 a silversmith in Annapolis, sixpences and threepences. The shill- ing had on the obverse two clasped hands and the legend, "I. Chalmers, Annapolis" The field on the reverse had in one part serpent and in another two birds holding branch in their beaks
 During the period of the confederation, I778 I787, the power to coin money was vested not only in the federal congress, but in the several states Many of them took advantage of te issue copper coins. In June, I7Ss. Vermont gave to Reuben Harmon the nghtto make copper money for the state for two years. He started a mint at Rupert and made cents that bore an all-seeing eye and the legend, "Ver- mont enslum Republica
 In I786 Connecticut granted to Hop klns, H,llhouse & Goodnch the right to coin IIo 900 of copper cents and on these appeared female figure, with staff and olive branch, which, modified, ap- peared on later silver coins after the adoption of the constitution.
 New Jersey granted the right to coin to Mould, Goodsby & Cox. The firm quarreled and two of them started another mint, so that two were run, and between them produced 6Io 900 in copper cents These coins bore horses head and a blow.
 October 17, I786, Massachusetts or dered the establishment of mint to coin gold, silver and copper and Joshua With eral was authorized to provide the neces- sary facilities. No gold or silver was is- sued, however. The copper cents and half cents produced bore the first image of the eagle grasping a bunch of arrows
 In I784 Mir. Jefferson made report to the congress which fixed the decimal system and provided for the issue by the federal government of four coins, viz gold piece of ten dollars value, silver dollar, dime or tenth of dollar, silver. and hundredth of dollar in copper The contract for copper coinage was let to MT. Jarvis, to make three hundred tons of the same. This copper cent bore the words "Mind Your Business" which gave it the name of the Franklin cent" These words were not authorized by law.
 The first deposit of gold bullion for coinage at the U 1ited States mint was on February IS, I7S5 It was made by Mo- ses Brown, Boston merchant, aLd amounted to S7 276 P, The fist gold coins made were "A ualf eagles, Jaly 3I I7o5. The first delivery of eagles of 400 pieces on the P of the following September. The first coinage of quarter eagles was delivered in I7o6
 The first deposit of silver bullion was July I8 I7o4. made by the bank of Mary land ana consisted of French coins amounting to $50 7I5o5 The first sill yer coins were deiivete- October I5 of that year, consisting of ST 758 There ~as a small coinage of halt dimes. In I7o6 the dime and quarter dollar were added to the silver coinage. The half dollar ap- peared in 1897.
 The coinage of the silver dollar was suspended in 1894 ard was not resumed until 1886 In 1851 the three.cent piece was added to the coinage. This, with the various nickel coins completes the list of coins issued by the federal hints. The shilling and the six and qIarter-cent pieces were never coined by tue United States. A great many experimental pieces have been issued that were not of the authorized coinage. The shillings and sixpences coined by the states were in circulation, but we have not seen one current for more than thirty years.