The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-08-01
FACTS ABOUT COINS
MANY MISTAKEN IMPRESSIONS
HELD BY THE PUBLIC.
Impossible to Test cenuineness by the
Ring - "Reeding" Prevents
Any Of the Metal Being
scraped on.

ocraped On.
MANY persons have a mistaken idea
about throwing a coin to test its
genuineness," says Captain Tom Halls
Of the secret service in the Indiana
polls News. Throwing a coin is net
an absolute test for the reason that
great deal Of our good money will
not ring al all. while some of the
bad will. There are several things
that will take the ring out OF a genu-
Inc coin. One Of these is a possible
flaw in the metal.
II sometimes happens that in cut
ting out the disks OF metal from
which the coins are made there viii
be flaw OF a crack in the sheet. II
this is true, it matters not where the
flaw is, whether il 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 OF
globules on the inside of the metal.
the vibrations of which cause the
~N-+A W ~ int " near III our
money.
II there is any flaw OF small hs-
sure which destroys the connection
between these gIobules the ring viii
cease. There are also other reasons
for coins losing its sound. Should
a quantity Of coin be left in a safe
during a fire and become heated the
crystals will melt and the rhythm win
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 it. Should there be a dol
lars worth Of silver put in the stand
ard dollar II 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 tb~
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 1t could
be detected Immediately from the
SCARED 'reeding.' Il will also be OBJ
served that around the edge of a 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 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, 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 a small letter will be
found. which will be either S, o OF
ID. This letter indicates at which |
mint the coin was made. Where there |
is no such letter the coin has been |
made at the main mint in Philadel-
phia.
"A 5O-cent coin of the present issue
should weigh 1929 grains. The
weight Of a genuine 25-cent piece OF |
the present issue is 96.45 grains. The
weight Of our present dime is 1888
grains. These coins are all Of the
same degree of fneness-900 per cent
pure Much care is taken to insure
the accurate weight of a coin. AS
soon as the disk is stamped from the
sheet Of metal II passes through the
hands Of several experienced women,
who examine and weigh Il. Should |
the disk be too heavy 1t 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"