Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-12
HALF-CENT MAY Be COINED.

Feminine Passion for Bargains.
A new coin, of the denomination of
half cent, is one OF the possibilities
of the future, says the New York Times
IL it should be coined it will be a
testimonial to the influence of woman
on public affairs, for it will come as a
concession to feminine wants. Man
could make use of half-cent, but the
new coin, If it should he minted, will
come into use as direct result of the
growth Of the bargain counter.
For some time the Treasury officials
have been aware Of q growing popular
demand for half-cent coins. The big
department stores in some sections OF
the country are the chief advocates Of
such an addition to the monetary de-
nominations, and now u bill has been
prepared and is ready to be introduced
into Congress calling such coin into
existence.
The latest and most striking proof
which the Treasury Department has
received of the existence in sume quar-
tiers of demand for five mill coins Is
the fact that they have actually been
coined by business houses, and are In
circulation. Still more surprising to
the Department is the fact that from
the first introduction of such coins by
business houses their use has spread
rapidly from one part Of the country to
another. Director of the Mint Roberts
is not suro in what city the new half
cent originated, but it seems to have
reached its greatest vogue in Chicago.
Since it first appeared other cities have
taken 1t up, and, the prospect Is that
| department stores all over the country
Will soon be using re.inill pieces OF
their own coinage in addition to
government money. 1t is said that the
| demand for government sanction Of the
| five-nIill piece comes largely from the
department stores of Philadelphia.
There Is nothing illegal in. the use OF
such coins by department stores. as
they are now employed. They do not
compete with government money, and
the business houses in question would
be glad to have the government relieve
them CT the necessity of issuing them.
1t has been settled by the courts that
coins made by private individuals
which profess to be redeemable in
money are illegal, but that business
concerns have right to issue coins tc
he used in exchange for merchandise.
The half-cent coins or checks noa
issued by department stores are of value
as an advertisement TO the respective
houses, but it is evident that many o.
them would be willing to forego the
advertisement for the sake of having
the ocin issued by the Cover nment.
The demand for the tive-mill coir
| arises, of course, from the growth O
the bargain business and the cutting o
| prices by department stores. The dit
erence OF cent 10 the price Of good.
has now become an important matter
and large sales doEend upon it. Tbt
bargain appetite has grown so keen tina
merchants now make bargains at
tractive by cutting the price in mills
The advantages OF such bargains ar,
decreased by the lack OF a coin smaller
J than cent, so that women are unabl,
TO profit by them except by buying {
double quantity. The issuing of suci
n coin would give full play to all tn,
advantages of these bargains to tn,
customer,
Half-cent pieces were once issued b,
the government They went out Of us
about half century ago. The one
cent coin then contained twice as mucl
metal as the present coin of that de
nomination. This checks or Coles ISSUED
by the department stores are of copper
and this could, Of course. be the meta
used in the new ccin, should the govern
ment decide to issue it. n