The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-14
A COIN TALK.
How and When Metal Came to Be
Used as Money.

In very ancient times, commerce was
carried on principally by barter. There
was always a necessity, however, for
common standard, and any COM
modify was said to be worth so many
sheep, oxen. etc. In course of time it
was found much more convenient to
express the value of most commod-
ties by bits of leather, on which GER
tain marks were made, indicating the
number of beasts each place was
worth. These stamped bits of leather
we e the first "Coins."
Z le precious metals were first made
use of as currency in the form of un-
stamped bullion, and values and
amounts were then determined and ex-
pressed by weight; hence the origin
of the terms pound, livre, mark, etc.
The original process Of coming was
indeed simple: A piece of metal, hav-
ing a defined weight, was placed on
die engraved with some national or
religious symbol, and was struck with
Il hammer until it had received the
impression of the die. At the present
day the device is first engraved upon
a plug of forged steel, which. when
finished, is hardened, and is then
called a "matrix."
From this matriX, by means of
powerful fly press, an impression in
relief is taken upon another piece of
soft steel, which, when properly shaped
and hardened, is called the punch"
From this indented impressions are
again taken upon pieces of STEEL ana
these pieces of steel, after being
shaped on a lathe and tempered, are
A pf
sometimes yield two or three hundred
thousand impressions before they be-
come too much worn for use.
The word, mint. is derived from the
Anglo-SaXon "mynet," a word mean
ing money" and a mint is the place
designated by law where money is
coined by authority of the government.
The first mint in the United States
was established at Philadelphia.
THE Father of History" describes
the invention" of coins to the Lyd-
ians, about nine centuries b. c. 1t is
said, however, that more than two
thousand years b. c., the Chinese had
iron coins that were dagger-shaped.
The Persian daric was one of the
most ancient Asiatic coins; it was a
gold coin, and was struck during the
B. =.
The first coinage in Rome was in
the year coo b. c.. the coins were of
brass, brick-shaped, stamped with the
figure of a sheep or an OK, and
weighed 1000 grains. julius Caesar
was the first whose head was stamped
upon coins by order of the senate.
The mite" mentioned in the Bible
~ ai
ly in Rome and Palestine; it weighed
about eighteen grains. Silver was first
coined at Rome 275 b. c., and about
seventy-four years b. c. the first Ro-
man gold coin was issued.
The aureus was the heaviest gold
coin minted by the ancient Romans:
It was worth about S5.O3 in our money.
The first coined money regularly mint
ed, and properly so called among the
Jews, was issued in the time of Judas
Maccabeus. In the year 279 A. D., the
SaXons coined the first British piece.
The first Colonial coins issued in
America were struck in Massachusetts,,
in 1862; they were three, six and twelve
pence pieces. BY act Of congress the
dollar was established July 6, 1885;
prior to that date the English pound
was used in the colonies
The first United States coins bore
the likeness of Martha Washington.
General Washington appreciated the
compliment thus paid TO himself and
his wife. but was much worried be-
cause he was afraid his political op-
ponents would think the image of
Mrs. Washington on coins indicated a
love and desire for royal honors: so
he had the dies changed. ID. w.. F.