Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-09
PICKING OVER METAL MONEY
Counting and Redeeming Old Coins at the
Treasury Department.
How Counterfeit and Mutilnted Pieces
Get to the Treasury and What
is Done With Them.

"a favorite way to get rid of counterfeit
coins is to pass them on car conductors"
said treasury official to a Star reporter.
eve get many such pieces, sent In for re-
demption by the companies. The unthink-
ing passenger does not hesitate to cheat the
corporation-not realizing, Of course, that
the loss falls on the poor employe, who must
make it good
Immense quantities of subsidiary and
minor coins are continually flowing into the
treasury, to be exchanged for notes. The
street car companies of Washington, for
example, do not want to bother their banks
with weighty deposits of small silver, nickel
and copper pieces. They find it more con-
vebient TO deposit the stuff here, receiving
in exchange Sreenhacks, which are much
more convenient to handle. Also we receive
many small coins from railway companies,
express companies. ice companies and
banks.
Fit and Unfit.
1.-The coins which we receive from all over
the country are assorted into fit and 'un-
fit The latter We do not send out again for
circulation At the same time, the standard
of fitness is somewhat variable. If the ap-
preparation for the minis has run short, and
we have no big quantity of new coins to
draw on, we are obliged to pass pieces which
would otherwise be withdrawn and trans
ferred to the melting not
AT all times we pick out for rejection all
coins that are mutilated In any manner
This applies even to pieces which have paper
stuck on them. Within the last three or
four years the practice of FASTING adver-
tisements on one side of silver dollars has
been popular with merchants. particularly
in the west. The paste employed is of so ex-
cellent quality that to remove the stick
ers, as they are called, Is next to impossible
Soaking in warm water has no effect on
them OF course, we haye no time to devote
to such task, and SO we just throw them
out.
Defaced Coins.
1.-The ingenuity exercised by people in the
DETACHMENT of the coins, of the realm is
really remarkable. Shop keepers will stamp
their firm names upon silver pieces with
steel dies. The advertisement is excellently
conceived, but the value of the coin is de-
stroyed except as bullion. Many persons
make practice Of cutting coins with
knife to make sure that they are good. The
test may prove them all right, but it renders
the coin unredeemable. Other persons
scratch the pieces with sharp Instruments
for what purpose am unable to say. The
result however. is the same.
I'VE return all mutilated and counterfeit
coins to the depositor. In every case the
depositor is requested to send them back to
the treasury. II he fails to do so, more
are Returned 10 MIN out OF subsequent con-
signments. Counterfeit coins We mark in
such way that it Is hardly possible to use
them again. They are cut half through
from one edge. AS for mutilated pieces, the
owners can dispose of them only by selling
them for so much metal. The minis will
buy mutilated coins i'm quantities like any
other bullion. los.
Expert Counters.
1--WE have here at the treasury four of
the most expert counters of money in the
world. They, are women, and their names
are Miss Calhoun Miss Rolf, Miss Cocks and
Miss Burns Each of these young ladies is
able to count from 30oD0 to $1,000 pieces
day. throwing oufthe Gounterfeits at sight
They are so clever at the work that it is
hardly possible for bad coin to escape de-
lection by their keen eyes. The pieces are
spread cut on tablea,in' Such a manner as to
lie fat. this being accomplished by two or
three quick movenlentsfef the hands. Then
they are counted two at a time, with two
fingers of the right hand, throwing them
into the left sband. which Is held below the
edge of the table. In this process all badly
worn coins are put aside, to be sent to the
mint in Philadelphia" *