The sun., 1910-01-09
GOLD COIN GETTING STRIPPED
SECRET SERVICE AGENTS LOOK
%UP THE PRACTITIONERS.
I4ley Can Get n Dollars worth 0T Gold
se,Om y n90 Gold Piece and Then Pass
! the Coin for 12O-GOld Plated Lln-
NJ coin Cents Under q western han.


si,OR y m90 Geld Piece and Then Pass
I the Coin for 83O-GOld Plated LAn-
a coin Cents Under q western han.
Secret service agents have visited a
number of jewelry and electroplating
shops in the Maiden lane district in the
lat few days seeking information "a 10
~strippers,' who remove small quantities
OF gold or silver from coins which are
Immersed for the purpose in acid solvents.
Inquiries were also made as to several
nav kinds OF coin jewelry. including
axticles made Of Lincoln pennies which
ale gold plated in the process Of manu-
f4etWe.
THE inquiry as to coin stripping was
started after a number of circulating z
cusns, including $40 gold pieces. had
pcoved to be short weight, The loss
ssemed TO be more than could be ex-
EaAined by the usual wearing away
rxAased by friction.
ASuspicions are entertained that such
coins have been reduced in weight by the
stripping process in which they are
dipped for an hour OF two in the prepared
lQuid into which an electric current Ia
tzlrned. When the electric power and
the strength Of the acids are properly
regulated. according to the weight OF
coins treated. the metal is -sweated' of
the surface OF the coins so smoothly that
they are not changed in appearance.
valuable quantities Of the precious
metal have been obtained. IL is believed.
hy stripping large number Of coins.
TIE separated metal clings to a receiving
plhte from which it is readily collected
~ the stripperst who have no difficulty
In selling it for cash since there is no
sslspicion Of the method by which it was
obtained. The coins are passed into cir
czllation at their face value.
Coins have also been stripped, il is
slIepected. by using them foe short in
tervals in electro-plating tanks In which
cAse the metal is deposited at once on the
object to be plated. The platter in this
way gets his gold free "a the coins are
passed INTO circulation as before.
Some OF the coins that have been offered
f&f deposit at banks OF late have the de-
aiEns brought out more sharply than is
matural. 1t is supposed that these coins
have been stripped and left in the bath
urcommonly long. But even in these coins
the unframed eye would see nothing out
of the way.
One >of the largest electroplaters said
that without doubt strippers can take as
uftlch az pennyweight OF gold. or more
thAn "A dollar In value. from a $40 gold
p&ece without making amy perceptible
change. There is no risk of loss. because
ifthe acid should eat too much or roughen
tho surface. as might happen, then the
eRtire coin may be melted mp and the
metal is equal in value to the coin.
"A special difficulty in getting evidence
AGAINST the stripper is that even il he be
c&nght with the coins in solution nothing
ID thereby proved. as he can say that he
ifttends TO use the coins instead Of bullion
Z or plating and will not try to pass them
a. money. There is no law against dis
solving or melting coins provided they
are destroyed as cure ncy. and many
jewellers are in the habit OF fusing gold
cnans instead OF going 60 the trouble OF
getting bullion.
None Of the established eleotroplaters
b esuspeeted OF beng engaged In the
practice. It is supposed that
plants are put up by stripDels
Ip secluded lofts Of factory buildings. as
4ttle equipment is required.
Z The fhd for Lincoln cents in iewelry
teceived ttention- because this may be
regarded as mutilation of coin. il a cent
considered a coin; and also a gold
plated cent Of this kind could possibly be
mistaken for a S. gold piece. Some years
4go quantities Of five cent pieces were
plated with gold and passed on arriving
as IS gold pieces.
Jewellers have been making inquiries
of the authorities here and at Washington
md have been told informally that the
NV as to mutilation of coin applies only
b gold and silver coin, not to cents.
In some Western cities. according to
reports received in the jewelry district,
he Federal authorities have prohibited
OF jewelry from using the
lincoln cents in this way, and this has
lncreased the demand upon the manuRac-
r1rers here who make the cents into cuff
buttons, scarfpins. brooches and other
articles. A number OF the gold plated
9snts are often grouped in a single neck
3r hair ornament.
Electro platers say that they have been
gold plating many thousands OF the cents
very week for jewellers and others and |
hat the total quantity OF these cents |
reated In this way has been enormous.