The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-09
QUEERING THE COIN
Criminal Operations in DoctoHnI
Uncle Sans Currency.
How skiIlful Manipulators Derive Large
Profits from Clipping. Saving,
Gouging. Boring and Gliding
Gold Pieces.

Drummond- II first came to my atten-
ton early last year, says New York
Herald writer. refer to what was
known as the ''coin Sticher, which
made possible the extraction of. with
out discovery, part of the silver IN
coin The inventor of this com
s:icker," which was an advertisement
printed on paper to be pasted on coins,
sold territorial rights TO print and use
it. The 'coin sticker" cost the govern
meDt great deal OF trouble and ex-
pense TO suppress On fifty cent and
one dollar coins was pasted the adyer-
tisements with paste of glue which
almost defied removal, covering the in
scription on the reverse of the coin,
deadening the resonance and of course
enabling the swindler TO take out part
of the silver and substitute base metal
Spurious coins of very common work
manship also passed readily with the
coin sticker on them.
There is a great increase of late in
the number of skillful men who are
constantly studying ways and means
of stealing part of the genuine metal
from our coins and substituting base
metal One of the most successful
swindlers in this line was man named
Wilcox, who was recently taken into
custody in Chicago by secret service Of
fcers. He made an average income of
from fifty to one hundred dollars day
by clipping gold coins. By cutting a
rim from around the coin, as tire
might be removed from a wheel, he
took away from each twenty-dollar
gold piece an amount of gold not ex-
ceeding twenty-six or twenty-nine
grains in weight, or the value of one
dollar The subsequent rereeding of
the double eagle. done with a machine,
rendered ii as perfect as ever to the eye
of the casual observer.
The apparatus was small and easily
packed. and on reaching fresh locali-
ty all that was required was quiet
room in an obscure street and supply
of gold coin. The latter he secured
from the bank. He would deposit
considerable sum Of money, and after
awhile he would draw it out in gold
The clipped coins were passed by Mrs
Wilcox at dry goods shops mostly.
One of the most interesting processes
consists in saving a double eagle in
two through the edge and gouging out
the inside, SO as to remove about fif-
teen dollars worth of gold. Thus the
piece is reduced to q hollow shell in
halves 1t IS then filed with platinum,
which is nearly as heavy as yellow
metal and costs at the present market
rates, though this varies, somewhat
less than one-haH Lead is too light
for the purpose. The cut edge of the
reconstructed coin is disguised by a
rim OF gold soldered on, and a reeding
machine renews the corrugations of
the minting. The result Is really a
work of art, being a combination of
five different metals Only an expert
can distinguish anything wrong about
it.
A method somewhat similar, though
less artistic, is TO substitute for the in
terror portion of gold piece core in
the shape of planchet of silver. a
better plan, though somewhat labori-
Gus, consists in boring into the coin
from the edge SO as TO remove a consid-
cradle part of its internal substance
In this manner about seven dollars
worth of gold may De conveniently re-
moved from twenty-dollar piece, the
hole being filled up with a metal com
position and soldered at the opening
with gold.
Fortunately for the currency, prac-
tically all the gold in circulation in the
United States passes every few hours |.
through the treasury and subtreas-
uries- Every piece received at those
institutions is weighed, and, II found
light in weight, is stamped with big
81" Such coins are redeemed as /
bullion. The loss TO the government |
by wear and tear on silver coin in 1
is considerable. 1t averages I
three cents on every dollar. Last year /
it amounted TO $3.50, 293.
The people have not all become 1
familiar with the faces of the new .
silver coins. The diverse and reverse .
Of the older coins they have known so 4
long and intimately that the draped 4
figure of Liberty and the majestic pose |
Of the eagle are fixed in their mind and |
a. ULS the Lew tDAlS,
with changed designs, TO which,
puzzling them more, were added the
Columbus souvenirs, have not yet
esta blished their identity.
The manufacturing counterfeiters,
quick to discover and take advantage
IF whatever favors deception. almost
followed the governments
ssue of the coins Of new design with
their fraudulent issue in likeness Of
them, and reaped rich harvest be-
cause the originals were known, but
not well known.
The gilders-counterfei too
saw in the new tyveuty-fve-centc coin, II
yilded, a presentable. beguiling ten
dollar piece, and pocketed a full per
,entage OF profit until discovered The
ack Of weight should, OF course, and
loes make known the fraudulent
character Of the gold coin This last,
he gilders' scheme 70 falsify coin, as II
requires neither skill nor expensive
plant, and promises 50 much for 50
little, is always seductive one 70 the
or weak 81 vyiA
TO PREVENT FIRES.
Dmr.aI Care.zker. .a1 vo~.I Ff,a,rfsI