The historic times., 1891-10-17
UNCLE SANS COINAGE.
Some Interesting Things Not Cen
orally known
sE PIuribus Unum" Never Authorized by
Law-Orfgin of the Motto, 'In God
We Trust" and the "N' on
Liberty's Neck.


The making of the first money in the
United States began. in 1856, but in
stead of the faces of representative
statesmen it bore only the figure Of
Liberty. Some few coins were stamped
with the face of Washington, and of
course are highly valued by collectors
The first coins struck by the United
States mint were some half dimes in
1892: the first dimes were struck IN
France from old silver family plate
furnished by Washington, the coins be-
ing known as Martha Washington
dimes, from the circumstance as noted,
and an adaptation of the Liberty head
to that OF Martha Washington.
The United States mint in San Fran
cisco is said to be the largest of the
kind in the world. The process of
dime making there may not be without
interest. The silver bullion is first
melted and run into two-pound bars.
These in turn are run through i'm
mense rollers and fattened out to the
thickness Of the coin. These strips are
then passed through q machine, which
cuts them into proper size for the
presses, the strips first having been
treated with kind of tallow to pre-
vent their being scrat ched in their pas
sage throug b the cutters.
The silver pieces are then put into
the feeder of the printing presses, and
are fed to the die by automatic ma
chinery at the rate of 100 per minute,
4S, 900 dimes being turned out in
regular working day of II hours.
AS the smoothing pieces are pressed
between the printing dies they receive
the lettered and figured impression; at
the same time the piece is expanded in
a slight degree and the small corruga-
tions are cut in its rim. The machine
drops the completed coin into a re-
ceiver and it is ready for the counters
hands.
The first silver dollar was coined un-
der the act of February -, 1902. and
weighed 416 grains and had fineness
of 1924, which standard was continued
for many years. The first coins struck
for America, however, are supposed to
have been the Sommer Island shilling
and sixpence. The date of coinage, place
and circumstances under which they
were issued are unknown. The Som
mer or Summer islands are the present
Bermudas. The shilling was called
''Hoggs- Penny" composed of copper,
size 10, weight TT grains.
The silver dollar, since the first in
PRODUCTION of the coin, has undergone
many changes, all of which have had
more or less effect in establishing
fixed value among collectors of rare
coins. The issue of 1904 bears the palm
in this respect, and has won for itself
the name of The King of American
Rarities." Only seven or eight of the
1904 dollars are known to be in exist
ence.
The 'legend" Of the scarcity is that a
vessel bound for China had on board
almost the eutire coinage, SO, $40, and
was lost at sea. Another theory con-
cerning this mysterious coin runs as
follows: That the entire issue was
shipped to pay the Yankee tars who
fought in the war with Tripoli. The
sailors drifted around after the war
closed, and many of them went to
Africa, where they spent their money.
The native kings collected all the
coins and buried them as trophies.
Perhaps Stanley might throw some
light on the last version of the 1904
dollar.
The national motto, "E pluribus
unum," on different United States
coins, was never authorized by law to
be so placed. Although the mint was
established in 1892, the use of the mot
to on any Of the gold, silver or copper
coins was not authorized or directed by
any of the provisions of the act estab-
fishing it. None of the coins since 1887
bore the motto until the standard sill
yer dollars were coined.
It remained on the early gold and
silver coins until 1884, when it was
omitted from the gold coins. From
the double eagle in 1866 it was also
omitted. In 1886 it was dropped from
the 25-cent piece and the following
year from all silver coins, the trade
dollar only reviving its use. The mot
to was first used on a half-penny or
cent struck in New1 ersey in 1867.
The motto ''In -od We Trust has a
curious history. Until 1864 no religious
November, 1861. clergyman addressed
q letter to Mr. Chase, the secretary of
the treasury, suggesting recognition
Of the Deity on the coins This letter
was referred to James Pollcc31, an ex-
governor Of Pennsyl ania and director
Of the mint at the time. but it was
found that the notices could not be
changed without authority Of law.
In December. 1853. tho director sub
nitted plans for a new three-ccnt two
cent and onc-cent piece, on which it
was proposed that one of the followi ng
notices beinserted: ''Our Country, Our
Sod" God. Our Trust" Mr.. Chase
suggested in lieu OF these notices the
one In God We Trust" It was upon
the two-cent piece authorized April -,
1864 since abolishedl. the motto of
Secretary Chase first appeared
1t was also stamped on the 1853 issue
Of the double eagle, eagle, half eagle,
silver dollar. half dollar and nickel five
cent piece in lieu OF the loag standing
notto"E Pluribus Cnum-" IN the
trade dollar issue tIST3l both notices