The Springdale news., 1889-12-06
GOLD DOLLAR PIECES.
All the Bright Little Coins Used For Keep
 salkes or Ornaments.

salses or Ornaments.
 Almost all our gold dollars are be- ing used for purposes of adornment. and its fate as a medium of exchange has long been doomed,h said an official of the Philadelphia Mint the otker day. We are only coining about 5000 year for monetary circulation, and this small amount is meant by the Treasury Department to be merely for the purpose of keeping enough on hand to make change in paying de- positors Of gold bullion. If it were not for this, probably the coinage of gold dollars would be suspended"
 Nearly all the gold dollars in exist ence 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 it's small size, being so diminutivo that the possessor is continually alarmed lest it might drop through the seams of the pocket. On March 3, 1919, the United States mint was authorized by law to coin $1 gold pieces. The weight fixed for the coin was 25.8 grains, and the degree of fincness 900. Immedia- tely upon the coins introduction to the people it received cold shoulder because of it's inconvenient size.
 The treasury authorities endeav- ored to obviate this unpopularity of the coin in 1885, when it was ordered to be made thinner, and consequently greater in diameter. But this enlarge ment 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 dol- lars 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 coins to jingle from their bracelet.
 Silver dimes had first caught the popular eye. but in very short time silver-bangled bracelets were thought common, and gave place to gold ones.
 The beauty and delieateness of tho almost ostraeized gold dollar was ad- mirably suited to the tapering femi- nine wrist, and it became and is now the favorite bangle When the young man bought q gold dollar at the bank and took it to his jeweler he fled and polished the reverse side Of the coin and engraved the initials of the young '- f1i,. ( Goddess of Liberty upon the obverse side of the dollar was replaced by sentiment and the date upon which tho bangle was given.
 Within the past few years the gold dollar has been branching out in ad- ditional directions. They are being given to old couples, celebrating tho golden anniversary of their marriage, and sent to Americans living in for eign lands, who want them for keep sakes. There has consequently been an enormous demand for the coin, which, on account Of the small number coined yearly, can not be met. Bankers, with an eye for good thing, have brokers in large cities who gather up all tho gold dollars that can be found. One bank in this city is known to have sold 300 gold dollars within the past two years.
 "If we coined 1000, 900 gold dollars yearly,' said an official of the Phila- lelphia Mint yesterday, "the demand would not be satisfied. A few days IO4 living in Cincinnati who wanted one hundred gold dollars. We answered that we could not grant his request. He then wrote to the Secretary of tho Treasury at Washington. and the let Ger was referred to the Director of the Mint James P. kimball, who wrote to he gentleman at Cincinnati that he could not be accommodated. Director fimball has officially notified us by etter that the small coinage of gold lollars should be distributed from the mint here with care, not to allow them 0 pass into the hands of manufactur- ,rs for mutilation incidental to con- version into articles of adornment.
 ''We are, however, allowed to sell IS many proof gold dollars as we please, Each one costs $1.25 They Ire struck from polished. dies on land press, and present a very glossy We sell great many of hese proof gold dollars yearly, but he people do not want to pay $1. D for l sl gold piece when they eau get it or even money."-Philadelphia Rec ,rd.