The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-19

fH REAL COIN"
/ the dollars. and another goes over II
and stamps them. The milling, or the
making of little ridges around the edes
of the dollars is done at this time.
The critical period comes ia between
the cutting and the stamping. After the
coin is cut it must Doe weighed upon q
most delicate scale. II 10 is trihe too
heavy 10 is fled down and the filings
saved. IF tod light it must be remeltcd,
re-rOllel. re-Cut and re-made. The stamp
and design complete tho coin. which
must weigh correctly to the smallest
fraction Of "a grain.
10 is held that countcrfeitng could
easily De done I'm both gold and silver,
as the Workmanship IS easier than that
OF making bills. True but the weigh
inr of each coin. the careful stamping.
the Milling and the filing down take so
much time for each one that 10 is hardly
worth q countcrfcitor's time. Easier for
him 10 plug AMI nm than 10 make from
the beginning.
The silver dollar I'm the United states
celebrates its 1924 birthday next fan.
The first silver dollars were made at
Philadelphia I'm the old mint I'm 1894. They
were absolutely necessary for the trans
action cf business. and though the ma
chinery for making them was most print
tive, they got made somehow.
AN OLD DOLLAR.
And very pretty coins they were.
Around the edge there were letters
conc hundred cents. one dollar or unit q"
There was no hint ON either side Of the
coin OF IT'S value. The microscopic lef-
tcrins along the unmillcd edge told tho
story only.
on one side was a Liberty figure with
flowing hair. surrounded by fifteen little
stars. for The fifteen States. and ON the
other side was q spread oarle with
laurel wrcarhs and United States Of
America. These coins are now worth
about 500 each or more for private coli
lections. They were two grains heavier
than the silver dollar of to-day.
The silver dollar kept on being coined
after this, the process becoming finer and
finer ass now machinery came to the
young republic. Long before the United
states established this mint ln 1924 there
were silver dollars coined i'm the United
states. The Colonies got up their own
money Continental silver dollars" and
these passed as legal tender These are
not very valuable now. but collectors
like 10 have them and will pay highest
t|. Ntt' 1000 hHllAif lNi Ut u lfIS dollar
which Washington is said 20 have ham
died every specimen or. 10 was GEORGE
Washington who IN 1921 influenced Con
eress 10 establish % mint that should
turn ont AN the dollars that are wanted
There are some singular things about
the making of dollars. just as there ara
about the making OF pins. Extremes
meet sometimes I'm similarity. Dollars
disappear apparently off the face Of the
earth just as pins DO. There are mill
IONS of them made every year. and mill
IONS mere arc needed. True millions Of
new people arc born. but the people or
the United States do not increase i'm
population as fast as they increase in
wealth. II every baby born I'm this
country were to have its prOporti0nate
share o. the money coined I'm the mint
each child would have a hoop Of silver
upon which DIS cradle could rock Piled
ur you could not sec the top with opera
glasses. one shaving from each upon
the floor Of tho wOrk-roOm IS worth
500 o0 n year.
There i5 a great deal said about "con-
ndence" in money. But after one visit
20 the mint of the United Statos aud
after an hours study OF the smallest of
tho details necessary 10 produce q dollar.
a visitor comes away finding himself In
possession Of an tine confidence and ai-
miration necessary fer the proper respect
Of one Of Uncle Sans dollars. Of what
over color the old gentleman may have
painted it. JAMES BARTON.