Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-15
OUR URDADDIES'DOLLAR
History of the First Coins Made by
The United States Government
IN THE OLD PHILADELPHIA MINT.
Dimes Coined From General Washington's
Private Plate.
PRESSING NEED FOR A NEW BUILDING
WRITTEN ron THE DrsrArcH.l

/ a
WRITTEN ron THE DIS srArcH.l
A recent article in THE DISPATCH upor
the bill now before Congress providing I
new mint building for Philadelphia has at
tracted considerable notice both there and a
Washington. If this present cramped con.
dition Of the Philadelphia mint, in which
there Is no longer either light or ventila.
tion for the employees, excepting what Is fur.
nished artifcially. establishes q need for O
new condition OF things. Meantime the
history OF the Philadelphia mint has many
points Of interest
The first building for the purpose waS
situated on Seventh street below Arch, O
little brick structure, part Of which Is still
standing In the rear OF one OF the
massive edi6ces put up during the
past few years. II was founded in
1902 under tho personal supervision OF
Washington, who was then President
and Robert Morris, the great Revolution
ary fnanoier, both OF whom resided nj
Che then seat OF Government Washington
was especially interested In the erection OF
watch it, progress, and was eager 10 have
the coins OF the new Republic Issued ~
speedily "a possible. This engsrnsss was
shown by his furnishing silver from his own
private collection OF plate 10 strike some
dimes and half dimes, before the entire com.
pletion OF the buldihgI and there are now
In our mint cabinet several pieces Of this
period that we're struck ut his personal 70.
quest from that material TO satisfy bis laud-
able ambition to see and possess United
States coins. This was In the latter part Of
1872. Together with lew copper pattern
pieces of the half dollar and quarter dollar
these were the only pieces struck before the
gene raj operations Of the mint commenced
In 1898. They may be considered as really
experimental; for Congress was not able to
supply any material for coinage until the
latter year.
BEFORE THE AGE OF GOLD.
1t seems rather strange to say TO this gen.
GRAFTON that only 81 years ago, in the time
OF their grandiathers that this great coun-
try was then so poor and So little developed
that its Congress, which now can appropri.
ate hundreds Of millions yearly for its gen.
eral expenses, could not then furnish the
metals TO manufacture its own coins; and In
the year 1898 nothing but copper came to
hand for this purpose, and that in such linn
tied quantity that only q few cent pieces
could be struck, which fact is evidenced
to-day by the prem ums paid for the cent
issue OF 1898. The silver coins struck for
Washington were the only ones made previ-
Gus to 1894, which gives them additional
value as relics and make them exceptionally
interesting from these associations.
In this little building all the coins were
manufactured tor the United States until
the year 1892 (when the present mint build
ing was erected.) The appliances for the
work 10 be done were very meager when
compared TO those of to-day. The motive
power for driving the machinery which con-
sisted OF pair of upright rolls, was a stout
horse attached to q long lever walking
round circle, dragging the lever after him,
which by its connections at the other ex-
trerhity set the rolls in motion Gust like
the method now used in agricultural regions
to grind apples for cider maSing), and the
metal being introduced between the rolls
was gradually reduced to the proper thick
ness, or thinness would be more proper
probably. This was a work OF considers able
magnitude then as any one may know and
appreciate who has worked at a cider mill
grinding apples and been swearingly pro-
voked at
THE FoUR-JEGGED MOTOR
for getting stuck when particularly hard
core got last in the mill during the grinding
process. 1t required the expenditure of con-
siderable time. The metal, Of course, had
to be first reduced TO the approximate size
on the anvil and the rolls gave II the regu-
larity and finish necessary for the next oper-
alton OF cutting out the blanks or planohets
(a term given 10 the discs Of metal before
stamping) which was done by hand much
like blacksmith punching iron. oaly that
the instruments used for cutting out these
thin blanks were Ia perfect condition and
cut the pie co clean. This done. the blanks
were annealed or softeBed and were ready 10
receive the impression OF the dies.
The press Of that day was screw oper.
ated by q long lever extending eight 10 ten
feet on either side. There were two dies,
the upper and lever, 10 now, the lower one
being securely set In the bass, and the upnar
one In al Iron block fitting above, which
brought the die IN direct contact with the
coin 10 be made. Then one man would take
hold OF either end OF the lever and run
swiftly ~ possible forcing the lever before
them, thus bringing the screw down upon
the upper bloc Is with ~ great an impact ~
he could, which produced the impression Of
both les upon the blank, making II u per.
feet coin. This was o slow process, and
could not probably produce more than one
coin In u minute or more, as the men oper-
aling the lever had 10 reverse their run 10
raise the screw up 10 o sufficient height 10
insert u new blank, but II seemed 10 be gufii-
cient for the times, aud although we ut this
distance laugh at the primitive method, no
doubt the operators Of that period were NJ
proud Of their work na We are now OF tho
beautiful artistic finish TO which we are 90
accustomed as to scarcely notice II.
GROWTH OF THE WORK.
The force OF workmen at that period was
also quite small. A list OF employees then
In the service now hangs In the mint cabinet
and consists OF 10 able-b bodied men and 2
women, with pay ranging from 30 cents TO
81 80 per day. They had adjusters.
They now have nearly 200 Then roller,
now 10; / pressman, now % press women;
annealer, now ~; doorkeeper, now 10 or
l2,and hostler to fire up the motive power;
beside that boy, presu mably to run the
mail, as the allowance OF drink money was
not abolished until 1928.
AS time went on and the increase of popu.
lation and business required, the inventive
genius that has since accom- plished such
wonders was at work. and Improvements
were made in the appliances, and the
output increased until like at the
present time the demand outgrew the source
OF supply. and the remedy was furnished in
the present plant This was N tremendous
leap for the time, and gives evidence of the
i i L IL