Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-05
INITIATED COINS.
A Good Joke Played on a Non-COnfid-
ing Wife.

within the past few years mutilated
coins have been slowly but surely retired
from circulation as compared with ten years
ago. and In This connection I will tell you
oil good joke husband played upon his
wife, who. it is unnecessary to add, was not
Washington woman, 1 believe they
have more sense" said a treasury official
to a Star reporter
Last Christmas in another city a man
presented on Christmas eve a nicely pre-
pared ham sandwich to his better half.
She was evidently of a fiery disposition
which partook of the nature of the glowing
Goals in the CRATE of the parlor, which up
to that moment had probably been peaceful
in atmosphere. for, Instead of inserting her
pearly teeth into the wholesome bread and
pungent ham and thanking her stars that
her husband was we'll off and well-dis-
posed enough to give her even ham sand
witch, she gave it a pitchers tWirl into the
fire in the crate.
Then she felt sorry, for it was only then
that her adoring husband informed her that
neatly wedged in the bread between the
sices or nam were five s. gold pieces. which
ne mad intended for a pleasant surprise pre-
scented in an unique form. 1t is an even
money bet that she was the first on her
knees with a poker to rake out of the Goals
what was left of the gold, and when we
y
lump of melted metal. for her husband sent
1t to the treasury for redemption, she'll
know how much she lost.
The government buys mutilated coin at
its bullion value only, and last year bought
a UNCONVENTIONAL value of 81 600 paying
about $1,000 for it. The treaSurer's office
receives about $500 to $500 a month of this
kind of coin. Much of the coin received
for redemption shows evidences of the fire
proving the carelessness of it's owners II,
putting 1t into the stove or in such places
where it may be melted by the flames
The retirement Of mutilated coin so com
pletely has been brought about by the peo-
pie themselves who refused to accept it,
following the rule of the banks, railroads
and other big money-handling concerns.
Elevated railroad ticket sellers used to
place plugged dime, for instance, In the
center of a little pife 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 his now and coin
should always be examined for defective
pieces
while punched or clipped coin will not
be redeemed py the government. pieces that
are stamped. bent or twisted out of shape
or otherwise imperfect, but showing no
ma terial loss of metal, will be redeemed or
exchanged into lawful money if presented
at the treasury or any of the subtreasuries
The government purchases at It's minis
in Philadelphia. San Francisco and New Or
iedlS Hutllateu or nncurrent silver coin in
sums of 81 and upward, at a silver value
fixed by the director of the mint. In this
way the public may dispose of its holdings
If it chooses. The government will also buy
its own mutilated or uncurrent gold coins
at its minis and assay offices at the rate
Of $2O67 per ounce fine or $500 per ounce
standard, Or 900 fine The lady will be
thus paid for her gold-lined sandwich
"Counterfeit coins are often transmitted
under the supposition that they are genu-
Inc, or the remitters may think they will
slip by the treasury experts Vain thought
They are detected at once and Cancelled and
sent to the secret service office. The same
course is pursued with counterfeit notes.
THE public should make it an invariable
rule to refuse mutiated coins no matter
how skillfully the plugging may be done A
rigid general observance of this rule viii
tend to their finding their way into the
melting pot for want of circulation"