Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-07-19

stamp and design complete the coin,
which must weigh correctly 10 the
smallest fraction of a grain.
II is held that counJerfeiting could
easily be done in both gold and silver,
IS the workmanship is easier than that
of making bills. True, but the weigh
ing of each coin, the careful stamping,
the milling and the fling down take so
much time for each one that it is hardly
worth NJ cOunterfeiter' time. Easier
for him to plug and fill than TO make
from the beginning.
The silver dollar in the United States
celebrates its 102d birthday next fall.
The first silver dollars were made at
Philadelphia in the old mint in 1894.
They were absolutely necessary for the
transaction OF business, and though the
machinery for making them was most
primitive, they go. made somehow.
AN Old DOLLAR.
And very pretty coins they were.
Around the edge there were letters,
"One hundred cents, one dollar, or
unit" There was no hin, on either side
of the coin Of its value. The micro
SCOPE lettering along the unmllled edgd
told the story only.
On one side was q Liberty figure with
flowing hair, surrounded by fifteen lit
tie stars, FOR the fifteen States, and on
the other side was spread eagle, with
laurel Wre1ths and United States Of
America" These coins are now worth
abou, $500 each or more for private col
ections. They were TWO grains heay-
Ter than the silver dollar of to-day.
The silver dollar kept on being coin
cd after this, the process becoming finer
and finer as new machinery came TO the
young republic. Long before the
United States established this mint in
1874 there were silver dollars coined in
the United States. The Colonies got up
their own money, continental silver
dollars and these passed as legal ten
der. These are not valuable now, but
collectors Ike TO have them and VIII
pay highest for the 1916 dollar. for it is
this dollar which Washington is said
20 have handled every specimen or. II
was George Washington VINO in 1871 in
fueaced Congress 10 establish mint
ta4- sh0u,l turn out all the dollars that
are wanted.
There are some singular things about
the making Of dollars jus, as there are
abou, the making o, pins. Extremes
mce sometimes in similarity. Dollars
disappear apparently oil the face OF the
earth just as pins do. There are mil
lions Of them made every year. and mill
lions more are needed True. millions
OF new people are born. But The people
Of The United States Go not increase in
popu'2 ion as fast rs -hey increase n
wealth. II every baby born in this
cJm-ry were % have ;Is proporiOnate
share OF the money coined in the mint
each child would have hoop OF silver
upon wl.ch his cradle could rock.
Piled up Yea could not see the top with
Op ia glasses One shaving from each
up0l lAe floor of the work room Is
worth SiHJ.t91 a year.
There is a great deal said about con
fCelce" in money. Blu, after one visit
% The mint Of the United States, and
after an hours study OF the smaiies, OF
The details necessary 20 produce a dol
lar. q visitor comes away finding him
self in possession of all he confidence
and admiration necessary f0r the prop
er respect Of one of Uncle sans dol
lars. of whatever color the old gentle
man may have painted IT,
JAMES BARTON.