The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-02-27
OUR COINAGE.
The Free-and-Easy Old-Time Nrfnts Of the
Republic.

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Republic.
The very earliest coin struck for
America was brass shilling, for the
Burmuda or Summer Islands, in 1912.
On the diverse was bow and the
legend Summer Island" with the
value, Kid. On the reverse was ship
under sail firing gun. In 1852 Massa-
chusetts coined the Pine Tree shilling.
John Hull was mint-master, and the
Mint stood on his land in Boston. The
first pieces struck were mere f,ldnchets,
stamped on one side N. E. and on the
other with the value, Kid, vId, lid.
October 10, 1862, the Pine Tree money
was coined. On the diverse was pine
tree inclosed by double ring, contain
ing the legend: Massachusetts, in;" and
on the reverse double ring and 'New
England, An. Dom.,' with the date in
figures and the denomination occupying
the field within the inner circle. Ten
years later twopenny piece was added
to the list. This coinage was discon-
tinued in 1886, but strangely it all bears
the date 1862 on the shillings, sixpences
and thrippences, while all the two
pennies are dated 1862.
Virginia in 1873 had a well-executed
copper coinage.
In the reign of George I. a coinage
was issued for America by Great
Britain. The pieces were known as
Rosa Americanas," and were of
mixed metal, resembling brass.
In 1888, silversmith in Annapolis,
Md, began the manufacture of shillings,
sixpences and threepences- The
shilling had on the diverse two clasped
hands and the legend II. Chalmers,
Annapolis" The field on the reverse
has in one part serpent and in
another two birds holding branch in
their beaks.
During the period of the Confedera-
ton. 1778-1787, the power to coin
money was vested not only in the
Federal Congress, but in the several
States. Many of them took advantage
of it to issue copper coins. In June,
1885, Vermont gave to Reuben Harmon
the right to make copper money for
that State for two years. He started
mint at Rupert, and made cents that
bore an all-seeing eye and the legend:
vermont ensium Respublica.
In 1885 Connecticut granted to Hop
kins, Hillhouse and Goodrich the right
to coin ten thousand pounds of copper
cents, and on this appeared female
figure, with staff and olive branch,
which, modified, appeared on later
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Constitution.
New Jersey granted the right to coin
to Mould. Goodsby and Cox. The firm
quarreled, and two of them started an
other mint, so that two were run, and
between them produced 10000 in
copper cents. These coins bore
horses head and pillow.
October IL, 1876, Massachusetts, or
dered the establishment of mint to
coin gold, silver and copper, and
Joshua Witheral was authorized to pro-
vide the necessary facilities. No gold
nor silver was issued, however. The
copper cents and half cents produced
bore the first image of the eagle grasp
ing bunch of arrows.
In 1874 Mr.. Jefferson made report
to the Congress which fixed the decimal
system, and provided for the issue by
the Federal government of four coins,
viz: A gold piece of $40 value, a silver
dollar, dime, or tenth of dollar, sill
yer, and hundredth of dollar in
copper. The contract for copper COIN
age was let to Mr.. 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 United States Mint was
on February IL, 1875. 1t was made by
Moses Brown, Boston merchant, and
amounted to 90, 276.22.
The first gold coins made were 744
half-eagles, July 81, 1895. The first
delivery of eagles was Of 400 pieces, on
the ed of the following September.
| The first coinage of quarter eagles was
delivered in 1896. The first deposit of
silver bullion was July Is, 1894, made
| by the Bank of Maryland, and con-
sisted of French coins, amounting to
O,715.O5. The first silver coins were
delivered October 10Th of that year,
consisting of 1,758 dollars. There was
a small coinage of half-dimes. In 1876
the dime and quarter-dollar were added
to the silver coinage. The half-dollaT
appeared in 1907.
The coinage of the silver dollar was
suspended in 1904, and was not re-
sumed 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 MINIS. The shilling and six.
and-a-quarter cent pieces were never
coined by the United States. A great
many experimental pieces have been
issued that were not of the authorized