The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-09-18
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 OFF,

Many persons have mistaken idea
about throwing a coin to test its
genuineness," says Captain Tom Halls /
of the secret service in the Indiana
polls News. Throwing coin is not |
an absolute test for the reason that |
a great deal of our good money will
not ring at all, while some of the
bad will. There are several things
that win take the ring out of genu-
inc coin. One of these is a possible
flaw In the metal.
1T sometimes happens that in cut
ting out the disks of metal from
which the coins are made there viii
be a flaw or a crack in the sheet. II
this is true, it matters not where the
flaw is, whether it 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.
IF there is any flaw or small fis-
l 0ulC Which utSliDyS LuS EO4ACNAACh
between these globules the ring will
cease. There are also other reasons
for a coins losing it's sound. Should
a quantity of coin be left in a safe
during a fire and become heated the
crystals will melt and the rhythm viii
be stopped. A hearty blow on the
face of the coin will have the same
effect
las is generally known. our coin
is not absolutely pure and does not
contain the amount of silver repre-
sented by it. Should there be a dol
lars worth Of silver put in the stand
ard dollar it would be almost as large
again as it is now and most incon-
venient to carry, especially in a large
quantity. There are 412.5 grains of
silver in our standard dollar, which
is 900 per cent pure. The rest is
alloy and is put in to harden the coin.
THE marks around the edge of tbs
coin called the 'reeding' are put there
to keep persons from removing any
of the metal. Should any attempt be
made to scrape of the silver it could
be detected Immediately from the
SCARED 'reeding' It will also be OBJ
served that around the edge of coiI
on both faces there is a narrow
raised rim somewhat higher than tbs
engraving. This is to protect the in
scription from being destroyed by th'
friction of one coin on another.
The main mint of the Unite,
States is in Philadelphia, there beint
branches at San Francisco, New Or
leans and Denver, the last having be
gun operations in February, 1906
There was formerly one at Carso
City, but that has been discontinued
By examining a coin and looldn
under the center of the wreath b.
low the eagle a small letter will
found, which will be either S, o c
D. This letter indicates at whic
mint the coin was made. Where ther
is no such letter the COIN has bee
rs made at the main mint in Philade
v phia.
a. "a 50-eent coin of the present issu
" should weigh 1929 grains. tt
Sc weight of a genuine 25-cent piece
ct the present issue is 96.45 grains. Tt
RS weight of our present dime rs 49,
ct grains. These coins are all of til
as same degree of fineness-900 per Gel
rs pure. Much care is taken to insul
j; the accurate weight of a coin.
ne soon as the disk is stamped from ii
g sheet of metal it passes through ii
s, hands of several experienced wome
ut who examine and weigh it. Shou
Id the disk be too heavy it is filed aws
ne until the required weight is reache
m BY this detailed care the coins a
vs. kept from varying the slightest fra
ton from the standard"