Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1906-12-21
FACTS ABOUT COINS
MANY MISTAKEN IMPRESSIONS
HELD BY THE PUBLIC.
Impossible to Test Commences by the
Ring = "Reeding" Prevents"
Any of the Metal Being
Scraped or.

Many persons nave mistaken idea
about throwing n coin to test its
genuineness," says Captain Tom Halls
OF the secret service in the Indiana
polls News. Throwing a coin is not
an absolute test for the reason that
great deal of our good money will
not ring at all, while some of the
bad VIII. There are several things
that Will take the ring out of a genu-
Inc coin. One Of these is n possible
flaw in the metal.
1t sometimes happens that in cut
ting out the dts OF metal from
"hlch the coins are made there will
be flaw or n crack in the sheet. II
this is true, 1t matters not where the
flaw Is, whether 1t be unseen or along
the edge, where it may be discovered
by close inspection, It will destroy
the ring OF the piece. This ring Is
caused by the small crystals or
globules on the inside of the metal,
the vibrations OF which cause the
sound we so like to hear in our
money.
III there is any flaw or small fls-
sure which destroys the connection
between these globules the ring will
cease. There are also other reasons
for coins losing it's sornd. Should
n quantity OF coin be left in n safe
during fire and become heated the
crystals viii melt and the Rhythm will
be stopped. a hearty blow on the
face OF the coin will have the same
effect
AS Is generally known, our coin
Is not absolutely pure and does not
contain the amount of silver repre.
sented by 1t. Should there be n dol
lars worth Of silver put i'll the stand
ard dollar 1t would be almost as large
again as 1t Is now and most incon.
venient to carry, especially in large
quantity. There are 1925 grains of
silver In our standard dollar. which
Is 300 per cent pure. The rest Is
alloy and is put In to harden the coin.
The marks around the edge of tb~
coin called TIE 'reeding' arc put there
TO keep persons from removing any
OF tho metal. Should any attempt he
made to scrape off the silver It could
be detected immediately from the
SCARED 'reeding.' II will also be OBJ.
served that around the edge of n coin
on both faces there Is narrow.
raised rim somewhat higher than tho
engraving. This Is TO protect tho in
scriptiop from being destroyed by tho
friction OF ono coin on another.
The main mint OF the United
stntes Is in Philadelphia, there being
branches Mt San Francisco, New Or
leans and Denver, the last having be-
gun operations in February, 1906.
There was formerly one at Carson
City, but that has been discontinued.
BY examining coin and looking
under the center Of the wreath bc.
low the eagle small letter will be
found, which will be either s, o or
d. This letter indicates Mt which
mint tho coin was made. Whcre there
Is no such letter the coin lias been
made at the main mint in Philadel.
phia.
IA 50.cent coin Of the present issue
should weigh 1929 grains. The
weight Of genuine 25.cent piece OF
the present Issue Is 96.45 grains. The
weight OF our present dino is 3s.5s
grains. These coins are ali OF tho
Same degree OF flnoness--0o0 per cont
pure. Much caro- Is taken to insure
the accurate weight OF coin. AS
soon as the disk is stamped from tho
sheet OF metal II passes through tho
hands of several experienced women,
who examine and weigh 1t. Should
the disk be too heavy II 10 iilod away
until tho required weight is reached.
BY this detailed care tho coins are
kept from varying tho slightest frac-
tlon from the standard"