Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-23
FEWER MUTILATED COINS.

Within the past few years Elutil- ated coins have been slowly but surely retired from circulation as compared with ten years ago, and ip this connec- ton l will tell you of Q good joke q husband played upon his wife, who, It Is unnecessary to add, was not Washington woman. as l believe the Washington women have more seEse," said a treasury official.
 Last Christmas in another city man presented on Christmas eve nicely prepared ham sandwich to, his better half. She was evidently of a fiery disposition, which partook of the nature of the glowing cOals in the grate of the parlor, which up to that moment had probably been peaceful in atmosphere, for, istead of inserting her pearly teeth into the wholesome bread and pungent ham and thanking her stars that he husband was well off and we'll disposed enough to give her even ham sandwich, she gave it pitchers twirl into the fire in the grate.
 "Then she felt sorry, for it was only then that her adoring husband in formed her that neatly wedged in the bread between the slices of ham were five five-dollar gold pieces, which he had intended for pleasant surprise presented in q unique form. It is an even money bet that she was the first on her knees with a poker to rake out of the coalS what was left of the gold, and when she got through examining the lump of melted metal, for her hus- band sent 1t to the treasury for re- demption, she'll know how much she lost.
 "The government buys mutilated P0tn q fife hI111i0r vo1,, To, year bought denominational value of $2,OOO. paying about $1.OOO for it. The l. treasurer's office receives about $4Oo | to 5000 month of this kind of coin. Much of the coin received for retiemp- tion shows evidences of the fire prov ing the carelessness of its owners in putting 1t into the stove or in such i places where it may be melted by the | flames.
 "The retirement of mutilated coin 1 so completely has been brought about by the people themselves, who re- l fused to accept it. following the rule 1 of the banks, railroads and other big money handling concerns. Elevated i railroad ticket sellers used to place q l plugged dime. for instance. in the cen l ter of q little pile of nine dimes and a nickel In change for dollar bill, and the passenger, would be on the train
 before he'd discover the cheat. Some street car conductors will attempt this now, and coin should always be exam | ined for defective pieces.
 s y'While punched or clipped coin will { z 1t be redeemed by the government, sl sl r.eces that are stamped, bent or twist ed out of shape or otherwise imper-
 feet, but showing no material loss of metal, will be redeemed or exchanged
 into lawful money if presented at the
 terasury or any of the sub-treasuries ''The government purchases at its
 hints. in Philadelphia, San Francisco and New Orleans mutiiated or uncur- l rent silver coin in sums of S3 and up- 1 ward, at a silver value fixed by the
 director of the mint. In this way the l public may dispose of its holdings if
 it chooses. The government will also
 buy it's own mutilated or uncurrent gold coins at its hints and assay of l fees at the rate of $2O.67 per onncs | fine. or $1S.6O per ounce standard, or
 300 fine. The lady will be thus pajt
 for her gold-lined sandwich.
 Counterfeit coins are often trans
 mitted under the supposition tkat they
 are genuine, or tie remitters may
 think they will slip by the treasury
 experts. Vain thought. They are de l tected at once and cancelled and sent 1 to the secret service office. The same
 course is pursued with counterfeit | notes.
 t.The public should make 1t an in
 variable rule to refuse mutilated coins eno matter how sklllfully the plugging may be done. A rigid general observ ance of this rule will tend 10 theil
 finding their way into the melting DO
 for want of circulation."-Was tor l q