The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-15
.sBi-M|ETALLIC
The Invention Of Johnston Mealey, Of
! Howard Lake, for Composite
Coin
Which Would, In his Relief, Give a
Y True and Exchanging Bi.Aetallie
Standard.

Lake morse raiser. Recently upon the
publication of the scheme for a COM
posite coin, Mr.. Mealy visited the "Pen-
ny Press" office, and informed the paper
that he was the inventor of coin, and
system of making it, which was orig
tnal with him, and which he had long
contemplated, thus being ahead of the
originator of the system which was the
subject of a communication from ex-
Senator Gilbert Pierce in a recent issue
of one of the Minneapolis papers. The
"Pcny Press requested Mr.. Mealy to
describe his system and discovery, which
he consented to do when he received Of
fetal information from Washington as
to whether his designs were patentable
or not. THE following is now received
from Mr.. Mealy:
ITO all whom it may concern:
BE it known that I, Johnston Mealey,
. citizen of the United States, residing
at Howard Lake, Wright county, Mime
sofa, have invented new and useful
Improvement in the method Of circulat-
ing gold and silver coin, SO as to always
maintain the parity of the two coins.
] pray for letters patent on the same for
SH years, and 1 do hereby declare that
the following is q full, clear and exact
description OF the invention which will
enable any nation skilled in the art to
which it appertains, to use the same.
Heretofore gold and silver have been
coined and passed into general circula-
lion In separate coins containing the
ratios of value or quantity, depending
largely on said value or quantity the
finding Of the two mtals. Experience
teaches that they will not always cir
culate at par with each other in any ra-
Ito that might be established by law,
since there seems to be choice in favor
of the most precious metal. BY the use
OF my invention there can be no choice.
My invention consists mainly in the at
taching the two coins together in the
following manner: To make one dollar
stamp into the silver half dollar one half
dollar in gold. Stamp it in circular or
any other form and a little deeper than
level with the surface of the silver
coin. so that in being handled as money
1t Will not wear nor waste. Also stamp
on it's face the number of grains it con-
tains. The coins may bear the usual in
scriptions. but both should indicate the
number of grains they contain so that
they could be used easily in any coun-
try IN the world using gold and silver as
money. They must be stamped or at
tached so they cannot easily be sepa-
rated, and they must express in plain
language not good If detached. This
same rule will apply to all denomina-
lions OF coins made from gold and sill
yer.
ITO carry my invention into effect any
government using it can gradually call in
and change the coin without any injury
to the business interest. Also it might
issue paper / Nney for convenience
based on the ,.Juble standard COIN BY
the old method some OF the coins are
liable at any time to 60 to a premium
, BY the use of my discovery they never
T.
might but never so as to impair the bus
mess of the country. Metal is not money
until 1T is made into money. It's value
then should not change, and my discov-
cry Will prevent any change in value
after the coin is made. Another phase
OF my device is that it will have very
strong tendency to increase the volume
or sound and pure currency in any ma
ton using it, as we'll as the gold that is
hid away in coin or bullion form, would
at once come out and go into the new
double standard coin and never again
could hide away alone. If there
was more silver than gold found in the
ratios established by law in any nation
then the surplus silver would be sold as
q commodity, and a portion of it might
be exchanged for gold in some other
nation to mix with the remainder, and
Increase the double standard. This
would. have strong tendency to force
all nations to the same double standard
i
very soon have the largest volume of
good. sound money that would pay all
debts, even to gold bonds. as if the gov
eminent owed gold bonds, and after
any person received his gold he would
have to buy as much silver before he
could pass it. and if foreign nations
called for gold alone, then the double
standard nation could pay more silver
for said gold than it was worth in any
single standard nation, and before the
ynd fr hn fs,I-
nation and force that nation onto a.
silver standard the two would be glad
to adopt the double standard.
Another striking advantage of my
process is found in that it would un-
doubtedly satisfy the American people.
for there are very few intelligent peo-
pie in the United States who do not
desire to coin money that will always
be and remain at par. Also, if a larger
volume of money is needed, or if paper
money is more convenient, it could be
used and made redcemable in double
standard coin.
Having fully described my invention
what /. claim and desire to secure nv
letters patent is:
'1.-In the method of circulating gold
and silver coin always at par by at
taching them inseparably together, in
circular or other forms, but always set
ting the gold into the silver, so as to
protect 1T from wear or waste when in
use as money, also maintaining the in
dividuality of each coin.
"2.--In stamping the intrinsic value
on each piece of said double standard
coin so 1t can be used conveniently in
any other country. .t-+ts
'3.-That each double standard coin
should have stamped in plain language
(English) on it's face the words, Not
good if detached +~
"4.-That these claims must be con-
sidered a part of the foregoing specifi-
cations and depend on them for further
explanations.
SO. That the gold coin should be
set or stamped into the center of the sill
yer coin in fiat, circular or star FORM
and bear the usual inscriptions in addi-
ton to those set forth in the foregoing
! claims All substatial as set forth"
Mr.. .Mealy says:
"Above specifications and CLAIMS were
blocked out by. me and intended to be
perfected by patent attorney. I have
attorneys two of them say 1 could OBJ
tain patent, one says not all say the
government could use it anyhow and
they might pay me something for it.
but do not feel like spending money on
the chance. Hence give it to the public
cheerfully and submit few functionarv
claims Herewith.
Il Free coinage of both gold and
silver would be needed with my device.
$40. 1t will cause all the gold and sill
yer in the country to assume the most
out of manufacture. into the best and
safest money in the world.
''3. It will relieve the country of its
gold debt embarrassment honorably
"A 1t will adjust all difficulties now
existing between capital and labor and