The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-11
BREAKING THE 1851 MoLDs.
A Precaution That Is Taken at the MINIS o.
the Close of Each Year.

Philadelphia Press.
A little roll of metal red with fire was placed
upon the anvil. sledge-hammer fell twicf
upon it, three tiny sparks shot into the air, ana
the molds of the old years double eagle gold
COINS. and all the happiness and misery the,
brought to people in whose hands they fell
wiped out forever. 1t thousandth
part of work that lasted all day at the mint
yesterday-the destroying of the 1887 dies.
This is novel for destruction that fali
to the lot of the none, .aking establishments
blacksmiths at the end of each calendar year
willy counterfeiter from making spurious con
without regard to date. The dies of the min
the stamps that ir-- upon the coins ali
that fancy business when rubbed off by
time gives the stree conductor a chance tt
insult the holder by = Using to accept 1t For
instance it stamps the dollar the face of the
beautiful lady encircled by stars and makes
strong contrast the other side by printing
game-looking eagle, perched on arrows. under
"In God we trust"
The die is a little round chunk of steel about
three inches long, sloping off at the top, which
makes it look like a miniature m1lkmans can
without handles On the top of it Is cut the
the face of the coin it manufactures, with the
date OF the year, and something to think about
when you look at them is that the die of Jenny
costs the government no less than the die that
makes precious tine $50 gold piece. The conclu-
sion that Uncle Sam. then. might sell his $40
gold pieces cheaper is human and anarchistic.
but does not follow.
1t was o'clock yesterday morning when coin
err Steel of the mint signed the death warrant of
the old years dies. 1t meant the destruction OF
a thousand of 1875 money-makers. Every
stamp, from double eagles to dollars in gold,
from dollars to ten cent pieces in silver. the
fves in nickel, and the pennies in copper, that
bore the date of the year that they tried to give
back the rebel flags, and had big constitutions
al centennial, were doomed.
The four brawny blacksmiths of the mint were
the executioners their anvis the scaffold their
sledges the instruments of death, and Superin-
tendent Fox. Assayer Eckfeld and Press
porter the jury. The place of execution
the gloomy shop in the basement, weir6ly lit
by hungry freight. At 8! o'clock the dies were
thither black. coffin-like pans. Coined gold
jingied on all sides as the procession passed
What regret has gold for the steel that gave it
power to ruin soulss So the dies Of 81 passed
to their fate unwept.
The smthy'S fire was roaring hot and gave
the cold face of Columbia in steel mellow
touch of psthos. The listle coiners of big money
first sacrificed. The dies of gold
lay until the steel grew red, AVID theface Of
Columbia blushed crimson. They not
taken out by hand but with iron tongs, and
placed right end onward the anvilS Then
struck each one full in the face A shower of
sparks smashed sound, and the agony was
over. The ring of the steel had gone, the face
vanished like magic and the die of the past
but crushed. unshapely metal.
In a like manner disappeared the dies that make
the COS of theater seat the cost of nights lodg
ing, and the price of an oyster stew until al
most evening, when the dies of the pennies were
reached. The copper heaps melted in grief
up stairs, for the pennies are the poor mans
friend.
"Philadelphia's mint makes all tie dies used in
the other minis and destroys them ALL" said
coiner Steel II wish you happy New Year.
What do you wish? said the usher, the
THAT they would work the new dies harder
this year,