The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-05

CRANKY, in that state. They were known
as the "Granby coppers" and are famous
because Of the unique devices and legends
upon them. Upon one the device was a
deer IN circle facing to the left and tho
legend is "VAlue Ne as You Please" The
legend Of a second was: II Am Good Cop
per-" and the third, II Cut My Way
Through" Connecticut was active beyond
all the other colonies aud In defiance of
ktngly circumstances in the coming of
money from this date. even continuing to
coin after IL was prohibited by the CONT
mental congress inH1787.
In 1906 a very interesting gold coin was
issued in honor Of William Pitt, through
whose noble efforts in behalf of the colonies
the Ubiquitous stamp act was repealed. The
device was bust of Pitt in citizens dress,
the hair In a queue. Ths legend, ''The
Restorer OF Commerce" and underneath 1t,
No Stamps" Ga the reverse was a ship in
full sail, on the stern of which appeared
America and the legend, Thanks to the
Friends Of Liberty and Trade"
The first coinage under the authority of
the United States government took pluce In
1857. Its first issue, minted in the private
mint OF Abel Buel in New Haven, was
copper cent piece known as the celebrated
FRANKLIN penny" because one of Frank
Inns terse sayings appeared upon 1t. Its de-
vice was chain of thirteen links the Chain
heb Win great opposition by the people be-
cause OF the idea it seemed TO imply. In
side the chain was circle with 1--WE Are
One" in the center. On the reverse was
Franklins phrase, mind Your Own Bush
ness" This was the only coinage attempted
by the government until 1902, on Sept. of
which year the first United States mint was
completed.
The government only procured six pounds
or copper. The price advanced greatly.
or ndA II A. n 4 -lA
cent (ths latter had been issued with the
cent piece in 1851 was consequently re-
duced from 257 and 1913 grants Troy to 1858
and " grains Q6S grams is the weight of
the cent at the present day. Shortly after
this, however, a plentiful supply of all
metals was obtained. and on March 1. 1873,
the first return of coin by the chief coiner of
the United States Mint to the treasurer
took place. The first piece issued was half
| dime. This is memorable coin, first, be-
cause it was struck from the private plate of
Gen. Washington, and secondly, because
| OF an interesting incident attached to the
| device which appears upon 1t. This was
originally the bust of Martha Washington.
| When Washington saw the coin he was pro-
voked and ordered its removal. Accord
| lnRly the features were altered, q cap was
placed on the head and staff put into the
| hand, and the familiar figure, emblamatic
| OF liberty In 80 many American coins was
] produced. In 1875 considerable coming
was done in the new mint, dollars being
coined for the first time, and upon them ap-
! pearing the American eagle. which had
| meanwhile been adopted as the emblem for
the national arms and coins. The
! thirteen stars which appear on these
coins It was originally intended to
increase with each additional State but
this was abandoned in 1898. In this year
| gold pieces were also coined for the first
time. the gold coinage Of the year being 400
eagles and 744 half-eaZles. Upon these the
! familiar phrase "E Pluribus Unum" ap-
peared first, but it was never authorized by
any law and has been dropped from nearly
all later issues. In this year also the objec-
tionable chain which appeared on the cop
per cent of 1887 was replaced by wreath
and zone Cent" substituted for ''We Are
| One"
With some slight variations in standard
and other characteristics the coins issued at
this time continued to be the familiar cur
rency Of the country until 1885, when, with
the establishment of the new mint at Juni-
! per and Chestnut streets, the designs at
| present in vogue were instituted.