Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-08-14
VERMONT COPPER COINAGE.
An Interesting study In Green Mount
ain Numismntics. 1888 to 1888.

America.
Reuben Harmon, ir., of Reuport, Ben
ington $50 spelled in the whereas of the
acD county, Vermont, petitionel the AS
sembly near June 10, 1875, to be allowed
to coin copper money. This was referred
to committee including Ira Allen, treas
urer of the state. On the 18th of June a
bill was proposed and passed 1t granted
to Reuben Harmon, ir., Esq, the sole right
to coin copper in the state for two years
from July l, 1875. The pieces coined by
him were to weigh, troy weight one-third
of an ounce. The devices and notices were
to be left to a committee appointed by the
house. 1t was also enacted that Harmon
before doing anything under the act was to
give the treasurer of the state a bond for
$1,000, with two or more sufficient sureties
that the coins coined by him should be full
weight and of good and genuine metal
Harmon must have been in hurry, as the
bond was signed June 1G 1875. However
a mistake had been made in the weight, as
it was discovered the weight was more than
the current coppers; therefore an additional
act was passed, October p, 1875, reducing
the weight to four pennyweights, fifteen
grains.
The first type of Vermont coinage issued
under the act, had on the diverse for
legend "Nermonts. Res. Publica. 17Sj."
The device was the sun rising to the right
behind range of pine-tree mountains,
with a pillow in the field below. On the
reverse the legend was Stella. Quarta.
Decimal" the device, an eye within ra-
diant circle. Thirteen long and thirteen
short rays issue from the circle. 4 star is
above each short ray, between the ends of
the long ones. In the next type the legend
reads, 'Vermontis. Res. Publica. 17S5."
The reverse is the same as the next preced-
ing The third type legend reads ever
montensium. Res. Publica. 17S6." The
reverse for device has thirteen fine line
rays, a star between each two points. Some
specimens have seven and others have nine
pine trees.
Before the time expired as set forth in the
first act, Harmon petitoned the general
assembly in session at Rutland in which he
showed that the assembly in June. 1875,
at Norwich, granted him the sole right to
coin copper money in the state of Vermont
for two years, but by reason of the great
expense in erecting works and obtaining
genuine copper, and the shortness of the
term, he was unable to indemnify himself
He also claimed that copper coins were
scarce, and if granted a longer term it
would be a benefit to the public. \ com
mittee of three was appointed, October %,
1856. They made a report on the petition
on the oath of October, 1856 Their opin-
ion was that Reuben Harmon, jr, should
have the sole privilege of coming copper
for period of eight years from the expir-
alton of the former act. For the first three
years the privilege was to be free, but for
the last five years of the term he was to pay
twO-and-a-half per cent to the state. The
device on the coins was to be a head on one
side, with the motto "Auctoritate Yer
montensiIm' abridged. On the reverse
was to be woman with the letters "Inde ct
Lib" for Independence and Liberty Ac-
cording to this report bill was brought in
and passed the same day Harmon had to
give a bond for $1,000 under this act. This
bond was perfected Feb. %, 1897. This
enactment changed the types and we now
have for legends vernon Auctori," or
"Auctori Vernon" The device was
head facing either to the right or left. On
/ the reverse the legend reads "Inde ct Lib"
The dates were 1856, 1897, 1888. There
were some fourteen die varieties of this
/ type.
/ 1t is said by some that Reuben Harmon.
/ ir., came from Sufiied, Conn, in 1868, in
company with his father. Others claim
he came from Sandsfeld, Mass, with his
father in 1860. Wherever they came from
they settled in the northeast part of Rupert,
/ VT. 1t is believed that Harmon, jr., was
one of the representatives from Rupert in
/ the convention held by the people of New
Hampshire Grants when they made their
declaration of independence at Dorset
September %, 1916. He was a member of
the Vermont legislature in 1850, and a JUS
tice of the peace from 1880 to 1870. In the
latter year he moved to Weathersfield,
Ohio, and died there in 1906
The mint house was in Rupert, where he
and his father settled in 176S. 1t was on
stream called ATllbrook; this emptied into
Pawlet river. 1t was east of the main road
from Dorset to Pawlet. This house was
moved six or seven times, and finally
was blown down in 1856. The build
ing was a story-and-a-half high and I'M
painted. In one end they rolled the bars
and melted the copper. In the centre they
punched out the planchets. At the other
or west end was the coming press. This
was an iron screw, above which were heavy
tmbers. This screw was swung by ropes
at each end of the bar, one man at each
bar; also man to place the planchets be-
tween the dies. This was three men to
strike the coins. The average was 30 pieces
a minute. However, this could be doubled
if required.
1t is not settled satisfactorily in the
minds of numismatists as to who made the
dies for the Vermont coinage. Some are
inclined to the opinion that Abel Buel of
New Haven, Conn, cut the dies. 1t is ac-
knowledged that he made the dies for the
Franklin cents, or, as usually called, the
"Sun diar' or "AIind your business"
cents of 1887 (made and struck under con-