The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-31
MINT'S PENNY
MACHINES ARE BUSY
OneCent Pieces, Now in General
Demand, Were Rare Ten
Years Ago.

The United States Treasury during the
fiscal year which has just ended manufao-
tured 79,6ll 143 cents and 26. 213 nickels-
Massachusetts, took 100000 cents, Penns
syivania 100000. Illinois 10000 and NeY
York nearly 100000 These are the great
confusing States and stand IN the sama
order as to consumption of nickels.
Ten years ago pennies were little used
in California and the South, and were un-
known things IN Nevada, Wyoming and
Arizona
The cent-making machines in the mint at
Philadelphia are constantly turning QUA
pennies all the year round.
Up to date Uncle Sam has turned out
1.10ooo0,000 cents. 100000 nickels, 1Oo.-
10000 dimes. 29oo0COO quarters and 15o.
0Oo,O0o half dollars.
Somewhere in the world are 1le. .Ooo. 900 big
copper pennies. What has become of them
is a mystery, for. barring a few in the
hands of collectors. they have disappeared,
no one knows where.
Many years ago the Government issued
$4,000 bronze 2-cent pieces. and OF these
over 100000 are still outstanding.
The same is trus Of the nickel s-cent
pieces. Of which nearly 100000 are unac-
counted for.
demand for coppers. and 50 also have the
penny newspapers and the odd prices made
popular IN dry gOOdS SHOPS
Cents and nickels wear out pretty rap
idly, because they are passing constantly
from hand TO hand, and the immense num-
bers of them that pour into the Treasury
at Washington are carefully sorted over for
the purpose of sorting out those which arc
too much damaged to be fit for further use.
The life OF a cent is only four five
years. because II changes hands ten times
for once that 4 half dollar Is moved from
one persons pocket to "a anotheIs. Others
age, and on every $1,000 thus remitted the
Government loses nearly SO
Cents are subject to more accidents than
any other coins Being of such small value
very little care is taken of them, and that
is why the Treasury has to go on turning
out new ones ct the rate or oo,OOo,uOO to &.-
o0O.Oo0 per annUm-
At the Treasury they say that the cent
Is a barometer OF business conditions A
heavy storm Or a sudden coming of cold
in short. that keeps
the penny--spending part of the population
falling off of the cents coming to the sub
treasures for exchange. During periods or
1ullness cents accumulate at subtreasurfes
but when trade reyiyeS they begin to circu-
late rapidly again.
Anybody who wants cents may get them
oy sending check to the superintendent OF
the mint. who will ship them at the ex-
oense of the Government
Not day passes that good many coun-
erfeit cents and nickels do not turn up at
he Treasury. most of them coming from
lew York and Philadelphia, where the bus
ness of making such small coins occupies
he attention Of many Italians and Polish
ews- The profits of the industry small,
nut the pieces. being Of such small value,
ire easy to pass.
Eventually the counterfeits go TO the bu-
eau of the secret service. under the direc- \
ion of which they are melted in a furnace,<
o be sold finally old metal
The pieces that are too much worn to be
Il further use are thrown into a receptacle,
md every few weeks large consignment
4 them is sent to Philadelphia, where they
ire melted for recoinage. Quite frequently
oreign coppers turn up, and they likewise
20 TO the melting pot.