The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-02-12
CROOKED COINS.
Criminal Operations In Doctorin9
Uncle Sans Currency.
How Nkillful Manipalators Dsrive Large
Profits from Clipping. Saving.
GouGing. Boring and Gliding
Gold Pieces.


One of the many unlawful schemes
to prostitute the coin of the nation has
recently been suppressed by ex-Chief
Drummond. It first came to my atten-
tion early last year, says New York
Herald writer. / refer to what was
known as the ''coin sticker," which
made possible the extraction OF, with
out discovery, part of the silver in
coin. The inventor of this "coin
sticker," which was an advertisement
printed on paper to be pasted on coins,
sold territorial rights to print and use
it. The s'coin sticker" cost the govern
mcnt great deal of trouble and ex-
pense to suppress. On fifty cent and
one dollar coins was pasted the adyer-
tisements with paste OF glue which
almost defied removal, covering the in
scription on the reverse OF the coin,
deadening the resonance and OF course
enabling the swindler to take out part
of the silver and substitute base metal
Spurious coins of very common work
manship also passed readily with the
coin sticker on them.
There is great increase of late in
the number of skillful men who are
constantly studying ways and means
of stealing part of the genuine metal
from our coins and substituting base
metal. One of the most successful
swindlers in this line was man named
Wilcox, who was recently taken into
custody in Chicago by secret service Of
ficers. He made an average income OF
from fifty to one hundred dollars day
by clipping gold coins By cutting
rim from around the coin, as tire
might be removed from wheel, he
took away from each twenty-dol]ar
gold piece an amount of gold not ex-
ceeding twenty-six or twenty-nine
grains in weight, Or the value OF one
dollar. The subsequent rereeding OF
the double eagle, done with machine,
rendered it as perfect as ever to the eye
of the casual observer.
The apparatus was small and easily
packed, and on reaching fresh locali-
ty all that was required was a quiet
room in an obscure street and supply
of gold coin. The latter he secured
from the bank. He would deposit a
considerable sum of money, and after
awhile he would draw 1t out in gold.
The clipped coins were passed by Mrs.
Wilcox at dry goods shops mostly.
One of the most interesting processes
consists in saving double eagle in
two through the edge and gouging out
the inside, SO as to remove about ff-
teen dollars worth of gold. Thus the
piece is reduced to q hollow shell in
halves. 1t is then filed with platinum,
which is nearly as heavy as yellow
metal and costs at the present market
rates, though this varies, somewhat
less than one-half. Lead is too light
for the purpose. The cut edge of the
reconstructed coin is disguised by
rim of gola soldered on. and reedinR
machine renews the ,corrugations. OF
the minting. The result is really
work of art, being a combination OF
five different metals. Only an expert
can distinguish anything wrong about
it.
A method somewhat similar, though
less artistic, is to substitute for the in
terror portion of gold piece core in
the shape of planchet OF silver. A
better plan, though somewhat labori-
Gus, consists in boring into the coin
from the edge SO as to remove consid-
erable part of its internal substance
In this manner about seven dollars
worth of gold may be conveniently re-
moved from twenty-dollar piece, the
hole being filed up with n metal COM
position and soldered at the opening
with gold.
Fortunately for the currency, prac-
tically all the gold in circulation in the
United States passes every few hours
through the treasury and subtreas-
uries. Every piece received at those
institutions is weighed, and, it found
light in weight, is stamped with big
H." Such coins are redeemed as
bullion. The loss to the government
by wear and tear on silver coin in
circulation is considerable. 1t averages
three cents on every dollar. Last year
it amounted to $239, ,293.
The people have not all become
familiar with the faces OF the new
silver coins. The diverse and reverse
of the older coins they have known SO
long and intimately that the draped
figure of Liberty and the majestic pose
of the eagle are fixed in their mind and
always recognized, bat the new coins,
with changed designs, to which,
puzzling them more, were added the
Columbus souvenirs, have not yet
established their identity.
The manufacturing countcrfeiters,
Quick to discover and take advantage
of whatever favors deception, almost
Immediately followed the governments
issue of the coins of new design with
their fraudulent issue ii likeness OF
them, and rcaped rich harvest be-
cause the originals were known, but
not we'll known.
The gilders-counterfeitcrs, too
saw in the new twenty-dve-centc coin, il
gilded, q presentable, beguiling ten
dollar piece, and pocketed full per
centage OF profit until discovered. The
lack OF weight should, of course, and
does make known the fraudulent
character of the gold coin. This last
the gilders' scheme to falsify coin, as Il
REQUIRES neither skill nor expensive
plant, and promises so much for &C
little, is always seductive one to the
unprinciplcd or weak OF will.
Modern Andalusia.
Mr.. Carl Luffmanu, the well-knowr
Australian agricultural expert, who
has been for some months studying
viticulture and fruit growing roun6