Arizona silver belt., 1894-12-22
CROOKED COINS
Criminal Operetiens in Dootoring
 Uncle Sam's Currency.
How skiIlful Msnlpulators Derive Large Profits from Clipping, Saving, Gouging, Boring and Gliding
 Gold Pieces.


 
 One of the many unlawful schemes to prostitute the coin of the nation has recently been suppressed by ex-Chief Drummond. It first came to my atten- tion early last year, says a New York Herald writer. l refer to what was known as the "coin stielSer," whi, | made possible the extraction of, with out discovery, part of the silver in coin. The inventor of this "coin sticlScr,n which was so advertisement printed on paper to be pasted on coins, sold territorial rights to print and use it. The ''coin sticker" cost the govern ncnt great deal of trouble and ex- pense to suppress, on fifty cent and one dollar coins was pasted the adver- tisements with paste of glue which almost dehed removal, covering the in scription on the reverse of the coin, dcadcning the resouahce 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 sticier on them.
 There is a great increase of late in the number Of slillful 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 q man named Wilcox, who was recently taken into custody in Chicago by secret service of ficers. He made an average income of from fifty to one hundred dollars a day by clipping gold coins, By cutting s rim from around the coin, as a tire might be removed from wheel, he took away from each twenty-dollar gold piece an amount of gold not c&H cccding twenty-six or twentysnine grains in weight, or the value of one dollar. The subsequent rereeding Of the double eagle, done with machine, rendered it as perfect as ever to the eye of the casual obsefver,
 The apparatus was small and easily packed, and on reaching fresh locali- ty all that was required was Q quiet room in an obscure street and supply of gold coin. The latter he secured from the bank. He would deposit q considerable sum of money, and after awhile he would draw Ii 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 Q double eagle In two through the edge aud gouging out the inside, 50 as to remoye about fif- teen dollars worth of gold. Thus the piece is reduced to hollow shell in halves. It is then filled with platinum, which is nearly as heavy as yellow metal and costs at the present market rates, though this varies, somewhat less than onc-haf. Lead is too light for the purpose. The cut edge of the reconstructed coin is disguised by Q rim of gold soldered on, and reeding machine renews the corrugatious 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- terior portion of a gold piece Q core in the shape of planchet of silver. A better plan, though somewhat labori- ous, consists in boring into the coin from the edge so as to remove consid- erable part of it's internal substance. In this manner about seven dollars worth of gold may be conveniently re- moved from a twenty-dollar piece, the hole being filled up with metal com' position and soldered at the opening with gold.
 Fortunately for the currency, pracs 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, if found light in weight, is stamped with big IL Such coins are redeemed as bullion. The loss to the government by wear and tear on silver coin in circulation is considerable. It averages three cents on every dollar. Last year it amounted to s239, ,293.
 The people have not all become familiar with the faces of the new silver coins. The obversc and reverse of the older coins they have known so long and intimately that the draped figure of Liberty and the majestic pose of the eagle are fixed in their mind and always recognized, but the new coins, with changed designs, to which, puzzling them more, were added the Columbus souvenirs, have not yet established their identity
 The manufacturing counterfeiters, quick to discover and take advantape of whatever favors deception, almost immediately followed the governments Issue 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--counterfeiters, too saw in the new twenty-fve-centco coin, if gilded, presentable, beguiling ten dollar piece, and pocketed full per centage of profit until discovered. The lack of weight should, of course, and does make known the fraudulent character of the gold coin. This last, the gilders scheme to falsify coin, as it requires neither skill nor expensive plant, and promises so much for 30 little, is always seductive one to the unprincipled or weak of will.
 Prices Century Ago.
 One hundred years ago beef sold in New York city at 3Jzd. to 3sld pound; mutton, 32ld; veal, 5H to 55(d, live pigs, 2]4d.; butter, Is f1Sd.; new milk 311d. to 394d. quart; chickens, 1Od to 1s.; hay, e2 5s, to @ les. Sd. ton;