Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-11
COINAGE AT THE MINIS
Important Points in the Annual Report Of
Director Roberts
Largest Domestic Deposits Ever
Known - Demand for Subsidiary
Coins-Chnnges In Gold Stock.

| Coins-Chnnges In Gold Stock.
| Mr.. Roberts. the director of the mint, in
| his annual report. says:
| The minis and assay offices operated
! upon more bullion in the aggregate and a
| greater coinage was executed during the
last fiscal year than il any previous year.
| Original deposits OF gold were slightly less
| than during the previous year. amounting
in value to s143, 1877 100 against s147 500, 1914
| in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1898. Do
mestic deposits We're the largest in our his
| tory. amounting to SIC 252. 4S7, against $751;
Ss1, 100 in the preceding year. but there was
| a falling off in foreign coin and bars.
The coinage of gold was the greatest in
our history. amounting to s10S.117 $50,
| against sG4. 634. S65 in the preceding year,
and might have been considerably larger
| if the capacity of the mints had been
greater. The stock of gold bullion on hand
] increased from sos 6SS, 49, on July l, 1898.
| to Sl19,ss2.7 72 on July l, 1879.
The coinage Of silver dollars from bui-
| lion purchased under the act of July II,
| 1890, was SIS, 254. 100. against $1,000. 100 in
| the preceding year and the coinage of sub
sidary silver s9,466S 77.65. against s6,4S2-
S04.
The mints have been hard pressed
| throughout the year to meet the demands
| upon them, the institutions at New Or
| leans and Philadelphia running overtime
| for the greater part of the year. The pres
| sure at the San Francisco mint was not
| so great because the stock of silver bullion
| az that institution was exhausted in Au-
| gust. 1898. An arrangement was effected
| with the house of j. & w. Seiigman &
| Co.. New York, by which 3.193613 fine
| ounces of silver at Philadelphia were eX-
| changed for an equal amount delivered to
the mint at San Francisco.
l This exchange enabled the latter iOStitn-
| ton to coin the supply of subsidiary silver
| required on the Pacific coast and to assist
| in the coinage of the required number of
| silver dollars. This mint also converted in
| to coin the full amount of its very large
| receipts of gold bullion. its gold output be-
| ing $JS,25SO00,'
Charges for Refining.
! The report suggests that the charges for
| refining silver bullion be reduced to
! put the government equal footing
| with private concerns in the business to
| such an extent will bring the moderate
| amount of silver bullion they require for
the treatment Of gold deposits. The total
amount of silver bullion refined in the
| United States last y=ar was, in round num-
| berS. ~ DuI 600 ounces
| The superintendent of the New York
| assay Office the report says, has called
attention to the fact that although about
SSUnO,pOD in United States coin ex-
| ported last year. no bars were taken for
| export. and suggests that the export
charge of oue-tenth of per cent, which is
| exacted, is operating to our disadvantage.
| Commerce in Gold and silver.
THE total gold imports of the year
| amounted to $Ss 97s,s So and exports to s37.-
| 500 Is3.
| The total silver imports were $31 .12O, J1S
| commercial value, and silver exports $780,
| 65iJ.:Ss325
The stock of bullion in the mints and as
| say offices on July l, 1899. was follows:
Gold, Sll3. So, TI2 silver tcosO, $50, 80 S9S.
The stock of Gold.
THE most notable change in gold stocks
| during the year in the United States
| The stock of coin in the country, including
| bullion in the minis January /, 1888,
was estimated at s745, 2t5 o53, and on Janu-
| AIRY l, 1859. at s945, 79s, 7SS. gain of $500
| 552. $50. This gain appears in the follow
| ing items:
Stock January /, 1898 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 953
| Net imports of United States coin. 33Os2 us
Gain i'll bullion in mints. .......... 94.ITo, 1876
Total. 1901 ,0Si, 500
| L. $ coin remrlted at minis. 81 33O, 7i1
Taken by paymastrrS TO Cuba
Porto Rico and Philippines. 2+5i $3.50
Used in manufactures. l5DOOOO
Stock. January l, 1899 .s945 1875. IS
| of the increased stock shown by the
above statement, $50 g., $40 appears in the
| reports of the national banks and the gov
| eminent treasury. The holdings of the
| former must be taken for December 10.
| 1897, and December l. 1898. their nearest
statements to January l being on those
| dates. They show holdings as below:
| Treasury. January /. 1898. .$ly7, 767 1i2
\ National banks December
| Ii. 1897. Observation-Disclosures. 1s7, sos 644
| --$ 3S5. 375, SO
I Treasury. January /. 1889 .S2s1, 119 ss1
| National banks December
| /, 1885. ............... 263. SIS, 745
-- 545 COS, G2g
Gain in treasury and national banks .S159 t32, $40
| ..,rhn difference. hnl uten this and th.. IL