The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-12
More Metallic Money Made in 1900
than in Any Preceding Twelve
Months of Country's History.
ITS VALUE WAS $141,s5l, 1850
ENORMOUS OUTPUT OF SUBSIDIARY
AND MINOR COINS.
Over 1OO,OOO,O0O Pieces of Nickel and
Copper and 57,114,270 Pieces of
Siiver-yalue of Seigniorage.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-George E. Rob-
erts. the director of the mint in his annual
report. shows that the coinage of the past
year was in excess of that executed in any
previous year in the history of the service,
aggregating $141.3 800. as compared with
S136. ,676 in the last fiscal year. The value
of the gold coinage was slightly below that
of the previous year, being s107 1897, no. as
compared with s10S,177 $50. The coinage of
silver dollars was slS,2449S4, as compared
with SIS, 254, 7O9 in the previous year
The chief increase was in the output of
subsidiary and minor coins, which sur
passed all records, and, it is stated, may
doubtless be attributed TO the extra ordi-
nary activity of retail trade throughout
the country. The coinage of subsidiary sill
yer amounted to 57,114,27O pieces, of the
value of S12,s76s49, and of minor coins to
the extraordinary total of 1O1, ,SO1, 1853 pieces,
of the value of s2.2i3Ol7. The seignorage, or
profit, on this coinage was s5, All, ,525.
The deposits of gold bullion at the mints
and assay offices of the United States dur
ing the fiscal year ended June 80. 1900, ex-
elusive of redeposits, were of the value of
s1s3. .92O 119. against s143 49,, 100 reported the
previous year. The total deposits of gold
were not so great as in the previous year,
the imports of bullion showing a decline
but the deposits of domestic bullion again
surpassed all records. amounting to ss7, 49,
SS6. against SIG, 252, 4s7 last year.
The seignorage on the coinage of silver
dollars, subsidiary and minor coins during
the year amounted TO sl0.2S6, ,302.
Including silver contained in gold de-
posits, the deposits and purchases of silver
during the fiscal year ended June 90 1900
exclusive of redeposits, amounted to H.
137 standard ounces. agains. 14073. i54
standard ounces reported for the previous
year.
The fluctuations in the price of silver in
the London market during the twelve
months ending June 80. 1900, were not of
wide range the lowest price being 26ssd and
the highest price IS 9-l6d. For the first nine
months of the fiscal year the market was
sustained mainly by purchases for India
and the Straits Settlements, with small de-
mands on continental account and also for
the domestic coinage of England and her
colonies Early In April. 1900. demand for
silver came from China, which continued
for the remainder of the year. and this
with the demand by the Indian govern
ment. caused the price 70 advance by the
end of June to 2s 9-16d. the highest price of
the year.
The average price of stsver for the year.
based on daily London quotations. wss
% 3750d. equivalent at par of exchange to
50 600l7 per ounce, fine, in United States
money AT the highest market price for
silver during the year the commercial ratio
of silver TO gold was as to 1901; at the
lowest price, 1 to s5.n: at the average
price / TO 34.4f.