The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1896-08-06
Data That is Particularly Appropriate
For These Political Days.
FACTS AND FIGURES FOR PlNANCIGRS
A Library OF Useful Information
stripped OF verbiagc and nrIiied
Into Two Columns OF space-An
Encyclopaedia For Every Man

ness eighty-thousandths of an inch.
Jefferson is said to have been the first
American statesman to suggest the dollar
as the financial unit OF our currency.
The standard dollar was authorized by
act OF congress, February 2s, 1873, and
coinage was begun in the same year.
The common nickel Csc piece) was au,
thorized by act of congress May 10, 1886,
and its coinage was begun the same year.
In 1856 congress provided for the issu.
ing OF four coins: A $40 gold piece, a
dollar OF silver, l0c piece and copper
cent.
The old fashioned copper cent was au-
thori2ed by act OF congress April 2z, 1902,
and its coinage was begun the following
year.
The Be nickel piece received the al
thorization of congress by law passed
April 8, 1865, and its coinage WAS 5egun
the same year.
The eagle, being the national bird, ap-
pears on many of our coins. and its name
has been appropriated to the golden ten
dollar piece from that fact.
The decimal system proposed by Nor
ris was this: Ten quarters, one penny !;
ten pence, one bit or one bill; ten bits,
one dollar. and ten dollars, one crown.
The bronze &c piece was first coined In
1864, being authorized by act OF congress
in the same year. The issuance OF this
coin was discontinued February IL, 1873.
Our coinage once comprised IS
gold piece. The authorized act for this
coin was passed February 81, 1858, and
it's coinage was begun ia 1854. It is said
that very few of these pieces are now in
existence.
A United States historian says that
"the first coins struck by the United
States mint were some half dimes, in
1902; the first dimes were struck in
France from old silver family plate
furnished by Washington, the coins being
known as Martha Washington dimes,
from an adaptation Of the liberty head to
that OF Martha Washington"
The sc silver piece, familiar TO our faith
ers, was authorized by congress April 2,
1892, und its coinage Was begun the same
year. its coinage was discontinued FEB
ruary IL, 1873.
The first step taken by our government
in the direction OF coinage was in 1881,
when Robert Morris was intrusted with
the duty of investigating the subject and
making report.
The mint report says that "the nickel
sc piece furnishes key to the metric
system of measures and weights. The
diameter Of this coin is two centimeters,
and it's weight is five grammes.
The trade dollar was originally coined
for foreign use, particularly in our eastern
trade. 1t was authorized by act OF con-
gress, passed February IL, 1873, and its
coinage was begun in 1874.
A pleasant guess is to name how
many dollar bills would be required =
weigh as a 500 gold piece. Answers
fuctuate between 800 as the lowest and
1000; the correct number being thirty
four.
The silver &c piece, once familiar at the
counters OF post offices, was authorized
by act OF congress March 8, 1851, and its
coinage was begun the same year. It's
coinage was discontinued February II,
1873.
The purpose OF Going Sc piece was to
furnish proper equivalent for the Sc
postage stamp when that stamp was in
use for letters. This coin was composed
OF rs per cent of silver and % per cent Of
copper.
The "Fugio" coins were struck in New
York and were socalled from the device
employed on the reverse of the coin. this
among the other things being dial with
the word, "Fugio," and inscription,
mind your business"
The first law OF congress on the subject
of coinage provided that the coins should
be dated according to the year in which
they were issued, and accordingly the
coins issued under the law of 1886 we're
dated in the following year.
The first United. States coins bore the
likeness of Martha Washington. The
general was greatly annoyed and had the
die altered, fearing that his political OPP
ponenis would construe the immage on
the coin as indicating desire for royal
honors.
1t is said that the $40 and So gold pieces
and the BLAND dollar are the only
coins perpetuating the designers name.
Underneath the lower line of the medal
lion on the diverse OF the gold piece is