Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-02-10
TIVE CENT PIECE
| A NECESSARY COIN
NICKEL STANDS FOR MORE
FIXED VALUES THAN ANY
OTHER DENOMINATION.
PEOPLE WOULD BE AT LOSS
HOW TO PROCEED WITH
OUT IT.

Officials of the treasury depart
ment at Washington sometimes
discuss the nations somewhat
cumbersome coinage and make sug-
gestions to one another that this or
that change might bring relief to the
working forces of the department.
Generally these discussions do not go
beyond the inner circle where they
originate, no change is made or even
suggested seriously and the work of
the mint goes ON as before.
Recently, however, the fact leaked
out that the five cent piece, or
nickel had been under discussion
and that the government might ask
congress to pass law eliminating it
from the national coinage. Small
likelihood exists or ever did exist
that such a step would be taken, but
for short space of time considerable
anxiety developed in all parts of the
country lest the useful and popular
nickel should disappear from the
circulating medium.
The fact is the government could
afford to dispense with almost any
coin rather than the FIVE cent piece.
1t stands for more stable prices than
any other. 1t is the price of a loaf of
bread, 1t pays the cost OF the ride in
the street car, with it the German
buys his glass of beer and the Ameri-
can pays for the shining of his shoes.
1t is probably not too much to saw
that the disappearance of the nickel
would prove a greater shock to the f.
nances of the nation than almost any
thing that could happen.
The five cent coin for two genera
lions at least has been the fixed price
OF so many things that the people
would be at complete loss how to pro-
coed without it. True, hundreds of
thousands of five cent pieces are lost
each year, but that Is due largely to
the amazing use to which this little
coin LIS put. The uses of business re.
Quire the coinage of a greater number
OF 'nickels' than any other coin.
1t has ben said that it's universal
use as the price of fare on the
street cars is the cause of its reten.
ton, but that can hardly be so, as It
enters very largely into the price of
so many other things that it could not
be dispensed with If the price OF the
car fare were changed.
The nickel" is extensively used In
telephone calls. 1t was formerly more
than now the open sesame of the pop-
ular slot machine, for which it still
does extensive duty. 1t is the price of
admission to the fast multiplying pic
ture shows in all parts of the coun-
try. The new fashioned boot shining
parlor charges nickel" The sa-
loonkeeper and the baker for years
have gathered their daily harvest of
these little coins. The soda fountain.
growing in popular favor, deals most
ly In "nickels." Ice cream in sum-
mer time goes for five cents, and the
charge for myriad things in the
pharmacy Ave cent store requires this
coin.
Most smokers would have to quit
were 1t not for the nickel" obnox-
lous as the domestic cigar is to many
OF them. The cigaret would cease
cease to be the popular smoke it is
II the price was not five cents. Shoe
laces would either become a luxury
at higher price or require payment
In pennies.
Turn which way one will, the FIVE
cent piece bobs up at every turn as
the most necessary coin of the realm.
It's discontinuance would Inevitably
increase the cost of thousand things
Of everyday life, which no dealer
now has the daring to change because
Of riveted custom. There is no like
lihood that the government will soon
consider the elimination of this
coin, as such action would result In a
howl of disapproval nation wide.