The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-14
ADJUSTMENTS.
Paris Gaiety Girls Speciality Co.
Next-HYDE'S COMEDIANS.
LIGHr-wEIGHT GOLD COIN.
How the Government Detects Them and
Protects the Public.

Protects the Public.
Boston Tran script
story comes from Chicago to tho effect
that it was discovered by the Assistant
Treasurer of the United States Treasury
in that city that out of ore lot of $500 In
gold sent to the collector Of customs in pay
ment of duties. there had been q loss of
Sl.935 by abrasion. These coins on
their face were apparently ell right.
but the ., firm making the payment y1ss.
ence between the face value and the actual
value. This was remarkable deficiency.
being nearly Ii per cent. and showed that
the coin had been tempered with, but so
cleverly as to defy detection except by the
use of scales 1t is common experience
at the sub-treasury of this city TO find
light-weight COINS. but never to anything
like the extent mentioned above. The
standard of loss in value allowed is one
half of per cent, and any coin failing be,
die withdrawn from circulation and sent
TO the mint tor rec0in8ge.
This method of stopping circulation was
introduced by Assistant Treasurer kennard
during his first term of office in the federal
building He found system In vogue
which threatened to prove ON expensive
one for himself. Gold COINS of short weight
were received by the customs officials In
payment of duties and By them sent TO the
sub-treasury. If the coins were sent to the
u
be made good by the sub-treasury. If, on
the other hand, Mr.. Kennard returned. as
he had right to do. the coin to the custom
house, it would then be returned
to the person who paid II. and
it was almost sure TO got into
circulation again. The process. of
course, could be repeated indefinitely. 1t
occurred to Mr.. Kennard that simple way
- avoid this would be to stamp the coins
that fell below the standard Light"
49, ir Ariu 4 n of
circulation. lie was told that II be did
anything of the kind he would lay himself
liable to prosecution under the law which
imposes severe penalty for the mutilation
of United States coins. But he decided to
made, and stamped as Light" all the light
weight coins that came into the sub-treas-
ury. Aggrieved business tnen reported the
matter to the Treasurer OF the
United States. who. much to their
nard's plan. but ordered it's adoption in all
the sub-treasuries of the United States.
BY this plan the number OF light-weight
COINS are kept down to minimum. Mr:
Kennard believes that to keep the coin OF
the country up to the government stand
ard of value so that the innocent holders
of worn down COINS shall suffer no loss by
their abrasion through long periods OF or
cuiation. the government should call IN all
issues previous to certain date. cay 1860
TEN it ia unavoidable that there must be
many light COINS in circulation, even
though they are not tampered with.
All the gold COINS received at the sub
treasury are carefully weighed. This is
done by taking a coin OF a certain denomi-
nation of the full weight required by law
and using it as weight for testing. the
others of the same denomination. The
CONS that fall short of the oBe-half of l
per cent allowance are stamped as light,
and the others are sealed IN canvas bags,
on which their value Is marked. When
these are paid out the receiver is given an
opportunity to count the contents of one
bag This is then used as u standard for
weighing all the other bags required. which
protects the public from the possl bility OF
q stray light coin.
One of the greatest sources of trouble are
COINS made light by the process of ealvan-
lsm-tbat is. subjecting them 10 an electric
battery for the purpose of gliding or CIV
ing thin coating of gold to another piece
OF metal. This removes the gold from the
coin SO evenly as to defy detection by the
eye of any one but an expert, and still
leaves it so heavy that it cannot be taken
out of circulation. The government is
alert in looking after frauds of this kind
and it Is dangerous business to be en-