The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-09-08
FACTS ABOUT COINS
MANY MISTAKEN IMPRESSIONS
HELD BY THE PUBLIC.
Impossible to Test Genuineness by the
Ring - "Rseding" Prevents''
Any Of the Metal Being
Scraped on.

Many persons have a mistaken idea
about throwing a coin to test its
genuineness." says Captain Tom Hal1.
OF the secret service in the Indiana
polls News. Throwing a coin is not
an absolute test for the reason that
a great deal Of our good money win
not ring at all, while some OF the
bad viii. There are several things
that win take the ring out OF a 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 will
be a flaw or crack in the sheet. II
this is true, It matters not where the
flaw is, whether it be unseen or along
the edge. where 1t may be discovered
by close inspection, 1t 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 rs
sure which destroys the connection
between these globules the ring will
cease. There are also other reasons
for a coins losing its sound. Should
a quantity OF coin be left In . safe
during a IRE and become heated the
crystals win melt and the rhythm win
be stopped. A hearty blow on the
fAcs Of the coin will have tbs same
effect.
"As is generally known. our coin
fs not absolutely pure and does not
contain the amount Of silver repre-
sented by IL Should there be a dol
lars worth Of silver put in the stand
ard dollar It would be almost as large
again as II IL now and most neon
venient to carry. especially in . large
quantity. There are Aks grains of
silver in our standard dollar, which
IL 900 per cent pure. The rest h
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 70 scrape on the silver It could
be detected Immediately from the
SCARED 'reeding.' 1t will also be OBJ
served that around the edge OF coin
on both faces there is narrow,
raised rim somewhat higher than the
engraving. This is to protect the In
scription from being destroyed by the
frictioD u one coin on another.
The main mint OF the United
States is in Philadelphia. there being
branches at San Francisco, New Or
leans and Denver, the last having be-
gun operations in February, 1905.
There was formerly one at Carson
City. but that has been discontinued.
BY examining a coin and looking
under the center OF the wreath be
low the eagle. small letter will be
found. which will be either s, o or
D. This letter indicates at which
mint the coin was made. Where there
Is no such letter the COIN 6as been
made at the main mint in Philadel
phia.
"A 50-cent coin Of the present issue
should weigh 1898 grains. The
weight Of a genuine 25-cent piece Of
he present issue is se.t5 grains. The
weight Of our present dime is 3s.5s
yrains. These coins are all OF the
'ame degree OF ineness-sO0 per cent
,ure. Much care is taken to insure
he accurate weight of a coin. As
loon as the disk is stamped from the
'heet Of metal 1t passes through the
lands Of several experienced women,
Who examine and weigh II. Should
he disk be too heavy II is filed away
Intil the required weight is reached.
3y this detailed care the coins are
Eept from varying the slightest frac-
len from the standard"