Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-03-03
COINS TESTED ]
ONCE EACH YEAR
BY COMMISSION
Annual Custom Nearly
Century Old About to
Be Performed.

WASHINGTON, D. Following
the old custom inaugurated in 1923,
the Assay Commission, which tests
and examines coins of the United
States, meet in Philadelphia to per-
form their annual task.
The Commissioners are required
to see that the coins made by the
four minis of the nation are in dye
conformity with their standards Of
nneness and weight. The coins are
selected from the various minis and
sent to Philadelphia.
The members of the commission
are appointed for one year, but in
reality perform about one weeks
work. The commission consists OF
riot court for the Eastern District OF
rlct Court for the Eastern Districtof
Pennsylvania, the Comptroller of the
Currency, the assayer- of the New
York assay Office and such other per-
sons as are appointed by the Presi-
dent.
The history of the commission
1ates back to the establishment of
the first United States Mint, at Phila.
ielphia, In 1923. Its ex-officio Of
ficers were the Judge and the district
attorney for the Eastern district of
Pennsylvania, the collector of the
Port of Philadelphia, and the appoin-
tees of the President. Since that
lime, the commission has tested and
examined coins every year.
The test coins are picked indiscri-
minately from each delivery of coins
that are made to the Superintendent
Of the minis by the coiner.
At least one coin Is selected from
every delivery of 1000 gold coins,
and one out of every 1000 of silver
coins. These test coins are deposited
in "pyx" designated Tor the purpose
It each mint, and kept under the joint
care of the superintendent and the as
sayer. az
From the local mint they are sent
to the Philadelphia mint, where they
are received by the commission.
After having been divided into
three ommittees-countin weigh
ing and assaying-the commission
will proceed to count, weigh and as
say. Later report will be formu-
lated and sent to the President. in
which the judgement of the commits
sion will be found.
1t includes the reports of any dis
crepancies found, and may comprise
resolutions expressive of the opin-
ions of the commission upon the
conduct of the mints.
The standard of weight, which is
specified in the statutes regulating
he work of the commission, is brass
roy pound weight.
1t was obtained in 1927. three
years after the ablishment of the
commission, by the then United
States Minister to London, for use
n the Philadelphia mint. From
his standard measurement, the stan
ards of coins minted in the United
ates are taken.
In the examination of the coins,
-.e commissioners make use of what
/; known as tolerance" or allowable
difference of weights above and be-
low standards set for coins, and de-
Walton from standards in fineness.
The amount of tolerance" and de-
Walton vary with the various kind
of coins.
Besides the designated members
who will make up the Commission to
test the coins this year, President
Taft will appoint twelve other mem.
bers. These men are usually Sc
lected because Of their interest OF
knowledge OF the subject Last
year Senator Carroll S. Page was
chairman, and ]. William Sheetz,
secretary of the Commission.