The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-04-17
CHANcINc MEXICAN COINS.
Values and Designs VIII Probably BE
Slightly Altered by the Republic

Values and Designs VIII Probably BE
Slightly Altered by the Republic.
General Pacheco, the Mexican Min
lister of Public Works has recently sub
mitted to the Mexican Congress re-
port ON the proposed changes in the
coinage with a bill to carry them into
effect. The report, says the Chicago
Herald. says that the design on the
Mexican dollar should be much better
as precautlon against counterteiting.
The present design was adopted IN 1923.
and an unsuccessful attempt was made
to improve it in 1867. That failure and
the report that Asiatic countries would
not accept the new coin impelled Con-
gress to re-esta blish the old design, which
was done SO completely that the sub
stitute bore the words ''ocho leight
realesT instead of a decimal subdivision,
while the fineness of the silver was ex-
pressed in ''dinero'' and ''grammes."
In order to improve the current silver
dollar ''un peso lone dollar) are to take
the place of ''ocho reales." Instead of
indicating the fineness in ''dineros" and
''grammes." it viii be expressed by
simple decimal number. To do so a
slight change viii be made in the fine
ness, which viii be O.903 instead of
O.9277- The present design viii be bet
ter executed and rendered more artistic.
General Pacheco says that he would
like to reform the monetary system Of
the Republic and put it on a more scien-
tific basis, but he has decided TO make
only these changes. because the Mex
lean dollar is not only the basis
Of the National coinage, but it is
also quoted in the principal markets
of the world and is current in Asiatic
countries and even in some of the Antil-
les. As regards small currency, il is
proposed TO coin a new piece-2O cents.
The design of the 20, 10 and 5-cent
pieces viii be similar TO that on the dol
lar. The coming of 5O-cent and 25-cent
pieces is TO be discontinued, rs they do
not harmonic with the decimal system
In respect TO gold IL has been deemed
eXpedient to make some important
changes. General Pacheco says: In
the first place it is proposed to raise
the fineness from .S75 to 900, the former
grade being an exception for which
there is no warrant. In the next place
this would place the two metals in the
ratio of l to l5l5, which Is the legal
ratio in several nations. Besides. this
would lessen the depreciation Of silver,
which now stands in the ratio OF I 70
I6lz."
In the interest of silver no smaller
gold piece than - Is TO be coined. The
design Of the gold coin is 10 be improved
and altered. On the diverse 1t viii re-
semble the silver coin, but on the re-
verse win be the bust OF Iidalgo. in
order that no one may mistake Il gold
coin for silver one.
Copper CONS viii bear on the diverse
the National arms. as on the silver dol
lar. The executive Is TO be empowered
to use bronze instead of pure copper.
as il wears better and Is not likely to
be melted down for use in the arts.
The bill which General Pacheco has
prepared declares that the monetary
unit shall be the silver dollar. .9O3 fine
and 27.O13 grammes in weight-that Is,
as at present. The executive Il given
ample authority to carry the bill into
effect.