New-York tribune., 1903-02-08
THE PHILADELPHIA MINT.
The Largest Money Factory an the
Worad-InterestsRg Processes.

The recent fire in the Assay Office, in wall
st-. where millions in gold are always stored has
aroused public opinion anew to the fact that
the building is far behind the times, and that
new fireproof structure Is imperatiVely needed.
In strong contrast to New-yorks Assay Office
building is the new Philadelphia Mint, which Is
easily entitled to characterization by such
phrases as largest in the United States and
most perfect of its kind in the world. 1t has
five hundred and fifty employees. and almost ali
highly skilled. and they are scientlhc me-
chanical ana art experts Then, too, IL the
value Of raw material and finished product of
this factory is brought into relative view Win
that of other industrial establishments, Uncle
Sans money making monopoly is seen at once
TO occupy the vantage point, for in round sum
this value at any time foots up the magnificent
total Of S3oo.000,00o,
The oldest coin. if the word of the Chinese is
taken for it, is claimed TO have been issued
in their country a thousand years before the
Christian era. But the oldest authenticated
piece Of money in the Philadelphia Mnts col
lection is little bronze disk, stamped in Greece
about 100 3. C This properly speaking, is the
alpha of the collection, which is arranged in
regular historic sequence. the coins running
through the early Greek period, then through
the Roman that of the Byzantine Empire and
the various nations of the East TO those of Eu-
rope obsolete and living, until find series
OF the current coin Of the realm for each of
the great countries of the present day.
The smallest piece of money among the thou
sands shown is the ''lepton'' uneaning little
thing), having the value Of one-hfth of cent,
and by some supposed to be the widows mite
II is scarcely larger than grain of wheat In
marked contrast are certain bronze or copper
pieces in a case not far away, the largest coins,
If coins they may be called. in the entire cabinet
An interesting exhibit, indicative Of the ad
vancement in the art Of coinage, is the complete
series Of money pieces from 1872 OF this coun-
try when the original mint tstill standing at
Seventh and Filbert sts) was built, down to the
present time.
Away from this part of the mint is the fac
tory end Of the big building. where the prac-
teal work of coin production has its beginning
First Of ALL there is the weighing makeup.
room where ali of the gold and silver grist TO be
ground in this mill is taken in. Here the
bullion bars from the Assay Office and gold and
silver from ali sources first enter The mint
Naturally. in weighing room" scales are IN
evidence There are two, each perhaps the
most perfect OF its kind possible to make The
larger one stands ceiling high, the more deli
cate parts of its mechanism incased IN glass
1t will weigh up TO ten thousand ounces and
down 10 one-tenth of a grain But this is by
transactions at this great money factory. and so
there is All exquisite little scale which will only
weigh a maximum of five hundred ounces, but
will register a minimum down TO the dust that
may fall from fy's feet.
Near at hand is vault for bullion newly &C
auired, or awaiting transfer to the smelling
room There is not much to see in 1t. except
piles and shelves full Of gold and silver bars
and bricks. which. SO far as appearances 60
might as well be brass and lead.
In the great furnace room at the east end Of
the Mint Building is the smelling room. where
the melting pots are drawn and their contents
OF liquid fire are Labelled into the flaming ana
steaming mouds. The bullion is received here
in bars-if Of silver weighing one thousand
ounces each-and TO it is added 10 per cent Of
copper making il 900 fine 1t goes into the
coarse clay pots, urn shaped, and about eigh-
teen inches high, to the amount Of $500 ounces
each tor if it is gold, six thousand ounces), and