Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-12
COINS.
or tho Four Not Destroyed Only Two
Known to Re In Existence.
rCorrnarondauca ~ tho New Drlerna Times-

Correspondence OF INC NtN OIicIus lluues-
Democrat.l
LEMON, COSTA RIGA. G. A.. February 22.-
The few Americans. particularly Louisi-
anians. who, from choice or by chance.
have abandoned their ancestral homes for
this tropical region. where perpetual spring
reigns, are delighted to have the pleasure
of occasionally reading your we!l-illed
columns.
In a late No. | find a statement of an in
terview with my valued friend and profess
sional brother. DR.. Smyth, superintendent
of the New Orleans Nint. who refers for
information 10 Mr.. Tracey, chief clerk,
concerning a story of one Mr.. J. ). Ewell;
of Adrian, ILL.,, of q Confederate nickel
coin " from the New Orleans Mint.
From time to time since the war the
stories about Confederate coins that such
and such a one had III their possession
pieces of great value-have been gong the
rounds III many papers both North and
South, and are founded N error.
BULLION on HAND.
Nr. Tracey is mistaken as to the mint
having no bullion to coin after the State
took possession. On the contrary, deposits
were made for coinage and the work con-
tinued for about a month. until the Con-
federate government took charge. when
coinage ceased. In my settlement with
the superintendent | turned over nearly
or about $3.50. 900. principally IN halt-dol-
lars, which were subsequently taken by A..
G.. GuivOt, treasurer (about the period OF
the famous entrance OF General Butler, to
Richmond. and finally were distributed to
the soldiers at Greensboro, \. C., about
the time of the surrender. -,
The statement that had TO scrape mp all
| the metal IN sight TO coin the four pieces
mentioned is entirely unfounded Ill fact.
The history of the mint. and that OF the
officers in those eventfUl times, will be
| found in the History of the War of the
Rebellion and Confederate Records au-
thorized by Congress and edited by Mar
| Gus j. Wright.
As a historical matter, It may be inte-
resting TO your readers 10 recapltulate the
facts connected with the history of the
| first and only coins ever emitted from the
New Orleans Mint under the Confederate
government by one who was the conner
and principal actor, and who remembers
very distinctly the circumstances con-
uected Herewith.
HISTORY OF oUR COINAGE.
When the Confederate Congress was
sitting at Montgomery, Ala. a commune
cation from the Secretary of the Treasury
was received and referred to me. asking
for a design. or designs, for a com suitable
for the new government. A drawing was
made by Mr.. John Brown. my assistant,
and sent to the department, the descrip-
| ton of which is given by MIR. Tracey very
accurately. In the mean time | had a die
engraved by ali engrayer IN Commercial
alley. whose name | have forgotten,
and after preparing the dIe 1t was
put III the press Tor trial, and
1000 pieces were struck off, Mr.. Conrad
Schmidt being the p~ressman-now living.
| beleve-who Will testify 10 the TACT that
/ took four pieces from the box. sucstl-
tutlng tour pieces of like denominations
IN place thereof. the remaining beng cut
| up subsequently,. and remarked that some
dav they would be valuable. The govern
| ment at Montgomery concluded TO BRING
the printing. instead of the coming press,
into requisItiOn, as many of Us know 10 our
| sorrow, and proceeded no farther IN the
matter.
THE FOUR COINS.
One of these pieces was presented to
Professor J. J.. Riddell. Of the University
of Louisiana: one 10 Or. f. Ames, Ihen
| Admlnistrator Of Improvements the re-
naming TWO | kept. Subsequently. how
| ever. about the year 1873, one piece was
missing. and shortly afterward was dis
covered in the hands Of Mr.. Edwin Har-
ris. chief clerk of the Sheriff OF Orleans,
| who received IT III the course OF business.
After diligent inquiry as to the pieces
held by the gentlemen referred TO among
their descendants, no information was
elected therefore the piece of Mr.. Harris
aud that of mine are presumably the only
ones IN existence.
In 1915 a numismatist. Mr.. Mason. of
Philadelphia. wrote me, inquiring whether
OF not any CONS were made under Con-
tederate Jurisdiction. when a correspond
ence occurred. resulting III the transmits
sion Of the original die and coin To HIM.
which was subsequently sold OF a coin sale
in New York for the sun of $40, thus
verifying my prediction when the pieces
were struck of.
B~AsE-METAL.
Seventhly and lastly. "a the good old
parson used to say when be was boring
the congregation with a long-drawn-out,
tedious. and dry ~sermon-for the intorma-
ton of all the world and the rest Of
mankind particularly TO those very
patriotic gentlemen who possess the So
called Confederate coins, | grleye to in
! form them that they are wasting their
patriotism upon mere base metal.