The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-30

justing room and II Is here that the
weight OF every planchet IS proven. If
too heavy, few strokes OF n fine file
makes II perfect. but II greatly over
weight II is rejected and returned TO be
remelted.
have a number OF these planchets here
and any who are interested, IL they will
step up TO the secretarys desk at the
close or the meeting. / will be pleased ia
show them.
The large scales are feature In this
experiment They will weigh 1000 pounds
or 10000 ounces OF gold and are so sensi-
tive that loo OF an ounce In weight will
turn them.
Passing on we find ourselves in the mill
ing and coming departments. To the left
we will see the milling machine i'm opera
tlon, which turns the edge Of the plancnet
up slightly higher than the device will be
in relief after the coin Is struck thus pro-
tecting the face OF the finished coin.
The coming room Is certainly interest
ing. 5,re are found different sizes OF ma
chimes adapted TO the different denomlna-
tlons of the coins. and each press Is ca
pable OF turning out from so to 12o coins
per minute. During the process OF minting
the gold is weighed seventeen times and
silver fifteen times. same being checked
up by the heads OF four different depart
ments. These accounts must balance be-
fore the Mint Is closed each day. There
are 825 men and 175 women I'm the employ
Of the Mint. All the sweepings are care
fully preserved The towels. gloves and
aprons of the employees, furnished by the
government are also cared for and even
the water used in cleansing Is made 20
yield up the yellow grains, oyer so 900 be-
Ink annually saved.
The new Philadelphia Mint, without
doubt is the finest in the world, being
hn fat
Many foreign countries take advantage OF
orr superior work. by having their coins
mndc by us We have just completed an
order for 225.OO0 gold pieces, OF the value
OF $S490l4 for the government of Costa
Rica
Coinage operations were conducted dur
ing the year IN the Philadelphia, San
Francisco and New Orleans mints A new
mint Is now building at Denver COL the
appropriation for same being $3.50, 900.
The operatio Of tho mint service for
the last year placed the coinage 30 H..
99g 1872 pieces Of the value OF t134.340, 7Sl.
OF this sos. O65. 7l5 was I'm gold. $24 .29S $50
in silver dollars and s2.o09,5ss in minor
coin
I should not forget to make few re-
marks about the governments collec-
tion of coins contained here.
The official existence Of the cabinet
began I'm June. 1888 but for years the
chief coiner had made n n practice 20
preserve choice specimens OF this and
other countries. so that very considerable
and valuable material was on hand at
that time.
However. t was very noticeable 10 the
writer that many OF the earlier speci-
mems could be bettered. and from n year
ly appropriation they very wisely secure
new pieces when offered by numlsmatists.
Choice examples OF the colonial coinage.
and In every variety are shown and like
tho entire collection s. exhibited In glass
cases around and against the walls OF the
room. In the center Of the room YOU
will find the ancient Greek and Roman
coins. Also other examples from the old
world. IL is here that my attention was
called 20 the widows mite" known
10 every reader OF the Bible and member
OF this association.
little 20 the right I find the Siege
money. fashioned during those trying
times. examples OF which should adorn
every numismatists cabinet The gov
crnment's collection Is especially rich IN
lts line of pattern pieces aud is well
worthy the attention Of the advanced
numismatlst
A complete line Of proof sets are