Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1906-11-09
FACTS ABOUT COINS
MANY MISTAKEN IMPRESSIONS
HELD BY THE PUBLIC.
Impossible to Test aenuineness by the
Ring = Breeding" Prevents"
Any Of the Metal Being
Scraped OF.

Many persons nave mistaken idea
aDout throwing a coin to test lie
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
a great deal of our good money will
not ring ut all, while some Of the
bad will. There are several things
mat 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 disks OF metal from
which the coins are made there will
ne a flaw or a crack in the sheet. II
this Is true, 1t matters not where the
nav Is, whether 1t 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
giobules 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 fis-
sure which destroys the connection
between these globules the ring will
cease. There are also OTHER reasons
lot a coins losing its sound. Should
q quantity OF coin be left in n safe
during n fire and become heated the
crystals will 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.
scented by 1t. Should there be n dol.
lars worth OF silver put in the stand.
ard dollar 1t would be almost us large
agar as 1t is now and most incon-
Venient to carry, especially in n large
quantity. There are 412.5 grains Of
silver In our standard dollar, which
is 800 per cent pure. The rest is
alloy and is put in to harden the coin.
THE marks around the edge of tb.
OH called the %'reeding' are put there
to keep persons from removing any
OF the metal. Should any attempt he
made to scrape off the silver II could
be detected Immediately from the
SCARED 'recding.' 1t Will also he OBJ
served that round the edge of n coin
on both faces there is a narrow,
raised rim somewhat higher than the
engraving. This is to protect the in
scription from being destroyed by the
friction of 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, 1906.
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 n small letter will be
found. which will be either S, o or
d.. This letter indicates at which
mint the coin was plade. Where here
is no such letter the coin has been
made Mt the main mint In Philadel-
plIia.
"a 50-cent coin of the present issue
should weigh 1929 grains. The
weight of n genuine 25.cent piece of
the present issue is 9G.45 grains. The
weight of u present dime IS 1858
grains. These coins are all of the
same degree OF hnenase-9nO per cent
pure. Much care Is taken to insure
the accurate weight of n coin. As
soon as the disk Is STAMPED from the
sheet of metal II passen through the
hands of several experienced women,
who examine IN weigh It. Should
the disk be too heavy it. Is filed away
until the required weight Is reached.
By this detailed care the coins are
kept from varying the slightest frac-
ton from the standard"