The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-18
GOLD DOLLARS DON'T CIRCULATE.
All the Bright Little Coins Used for
Keepsakes or Ornaments.
From the PhilddeIphiG Record.

From the PhiIddeIphiG Record.
almost all of our gold dollars are being
used for purposes Of adornment, and its
fate as a medium of exchange has long been
doomed" said an official of the Philadelphia
mint yesterday. 1--WE are only coming
! about 5000 per year for monetary circula-
ton, and this small amount is meant by
the treasury department 90 be merely for
the purpose of keeping enough on hand to
make change in paying depositors Of gold
bullion. If it were not for this, probably
the coinage of gold dollars would be sus-
pended
Nearly all of the gold dollars in existence
have been turned into articles of jewelry
or are in private desks or bureaus to be
kept as keepsakes. This disuse of the gold
dollar as a medium of exchange has been
caused by its small size, being so diminutive
that the poSsessor is continually alSrmed
lest 1t might drop through the seams of the
pocket. On March 3, lS49, the United
States mint was authorized by law to coin
81 gold pieces. The weight fixed for the
coin was 25. grains, and the degree of fine
ness 700. Immediately upon the coins in
production to the people it received a cold
shoulder, because Of its inconvenient size.
THE DOLLARS WE'RE FLATTENED OUT.
The treasury authorities endeavored to
1883, when it was ordered to be made thin
ner, and consequently greater in diameter.
| But this enlargement of the surface of the
gold dollar did not suffice to clear away the
] popular opinion that the coin was too small.
After the coinage Of gold dollars was
| virtually stopped then came popular rage
for gold dollar bangles. The young man
In society was obliged, in order to keep on
| good terms with the fair sex, to give them
| colas to jingle from thei: bracelet. Silver
dimes had first caught the popular eye, but
| In very snort time sllver-bangled brace
let's were thought common, and gave place
to gold ones. ..
The beauty and dellcateness OF the almost
ostracised gold dollar was admirably suited
to the tapering feminine wrist, and it be-
came and is now the favorite bangle. When
the young man bought gold dollar at the
bank and took it to his jewelar he filed and
| polished the reverse Iside of the coin and
engraved the initials of the young mars
| fair Dulcina. Very often the goddess of
| liberty upon the diverse side of the dollar
was replaced by q sentiment and the date
on which the bangle was given.
Within the past few years the gold dollar
has been branching out in additional direc-
| lions. They are being given to old luDles,
celebrating the golden anniversary of their
marriage, and sent to Americans living in
| foreign lands, who want them for keepsakeS.
| There has consequently been an enormous
| demand for the com, which, on account Of
the small number coined yearly, cannot be
met. Bankers, with an eye for a good
thing, have brokers in large cities who
gather up all the gold dollars that can be
found. One bank in this city is known to
have sold 5000 gold dollars within the past
two years.
| CAN'T COIN ENOUGH OF THEM.
"If we coined 100000 gold dollars
yearly" said an official of the Philadelphia
mint yesterday, "the demand would not be
satisfied. A few days ago we received q
lie ter from a man living in Cincinnati who
wanted 100 gold dollars. We answered that
we could not grant his request. He then
| wrote to the Secretary of the Treasury at
| Washington, and the letter was referred to
| the director of the mint James 2. Kimball
who wrote the gentleman at Cincinnati
that he could not be accommodated
| Director Kimball has officially notified us by
letter that the small coinage of gold dollars
| should be distributed from the mint here
| with care, not to allow them to pass into
the hands of manufacturers for mutilation
| Incidental to conversion into articles of
| adornment."
| GOLD DOLLARS WORTH 81 25.
We are, however, allowed to sell as many
| proof gold dollars as we please Each one
costs 81 25. They are struck from polished
dies on hand press, and present a very
glossy appearance. We sell great many
of these proof gold dollars yearly, but the
people do not want to pay 81 25 for a 81
gold piece when they can get it for even
|