The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-03-01
history ofThe Vermont Coinage OF
GoppAK Coin.

From The early history ~ the town 81
Rupert. Bennington County, vermoni,
sl,s folk ioic OF the settlers and Others TIC
follo~irg 10 written.
Vermont was st one time an indepen-
dent goverrment and therefore claimed for
Itself The righ, 10 coin moroy.
When the legislature met In The early
part Of 1888 " granted 10 Reuben Harmon,
Jr who wss typical Ysnsse, " Rupert,
III. sole right 10 cola copper money within
The State Tor . period Of two yeMs. Bonds
we're required from bin to the amount Of
f5 600 on his contract, and the weight II
the ceIpers ~ss get at ret l,p than one.
third Il an ouree Troy weight.
Under the shadow Of Mount Antoine the
mint house WAS located on smsll stresm
called NH Brook, In The moi tn east part Of
the town, The dimensions Of the house
we're 1918 feet and II Was made Of rough
lumber. Said building stood 10 the ssms
location for mary yeas and was finally re-
moved to the town line al d used for corn
house. At the east erd OF the room was
he furnace for melting the copper ard
machinery for rolling out the plates which
we're sbout is incbes long and oue-fourlt
inch wide aud one-slxteenth inch thick.
Afterwards they were trimmed and polish.
sd ready for stamping. The press was
worked By means Of heavy iron screw
attached TO heavy timbsrs above and nov
ed by hand with ropes. The lower psrt Of
said press WAS set In the ground and came
up IA inches above the noor, so that The
man who handled the plates Of copper sal
on the 1oor with bis legs hanging down In
tho pit. The mint could stamp out sixty
coppers per minute but thirty was aver
ago number.
The fret copper coils was known as the
Harmon cent and 1t is now quite rare. This
vas Issued In 1888, Obverse Above a
high range Of hills on which were eight
spruce tree, the sun rising inst over them
and In the foreground q plough to repre-.
sent Agriculture, underneath the date 1875
Legend, vermont Res Publica." Re
verse A radiated eye surrounded by thlI.
teen stars. Legend "Gurta Declma Stella
10 1850 Mr.. Harmon was granted an *.
tension OF his privilege to the end Of the
rear 1895. In 1875 change was made Il
the weight and design Of the coin viz:
Diverse, hills on which are nine tress, the
sun just rising over them. Legend, Yer
Res Publica," plough in the
underneath the date 1856 A
change was also made on the reverse but
the Legend WAS the same. There were
thirteen or more styles Of coppers stamped
ont at the Harmon mint from number OF
different dies, but for how many years no
record can be found. The coins were cir
culated 90 extensively that the accumula-
ten became great and the coins lost their
value,
The him then consisted Of four per.
sons, viz Reuben Harmon, Jr., VIM
Cooley Of Rupert, VI, Elias jackson Of
Conn, and Daniel yookes OF
New York City.
Ills supposed that VIM. Cooley, better
known 81 Col Cooley y no had been gold
ninth In New York, but who afterward re.
moved TO Rupert, Vt, cut most Of the dies
md assisted 10 striking out the copper. A
Vim. Bucl, man Of considerable note IN
Rupert and con OF Abel Buel OF New
Haven, CT, who had for long time beer
connected with the mint At that place cams
% Rupert about that time and worked fol-
Harmon. He brought with him the origi
,al dies used BY his father 1t New Haven
10 that Connecticut coppers were struck
,ut In said Harmon mint.
In 1857 six other members were added to
he arm from New York and q mint was
ERECTED near Great Pond, Ulster County,
New York, under the supervision Of the
New York members, Mr.. Harmon having
charge Of the Rupert mint. Mr.. Harmon
VAS required after the expiration Of three
years TO paw two and one-half per cent. Of
,is coinage Into the State treasury.
About the year $500, large amount OF
silver coin was put into circulA
ION ard for some time no clue could b,
'ound to the circulstors, but hpslly tuipi
'ion fell on THREE brothers by the name OF
Crane, and after long search their mAehin.
nv for coinage Vas located In the woods
,n the AIDE Of n cunt Antoine Some Of this
proved TO be from the old Harmon mint
& WAS oil taken aud broken up. The
Cranes made good their escape, and sfler
line It ~M reported that one Of them Wa
hung for crime down South.
". a, LATHRoP,
Manchester. VI.