The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-09-23
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dorset, Vt.
September 18th. 1920

bVistNF N.s
September 18th, 1920.
The Manchester, VT. Journal
A few weeks ago Professor George
II. Gilbert of this village spoke to a
group Of men and women about some
Of the points Of historical interest i.
the vicinity of Dorset Among other
things he referred to the mint at
Hagar Brook in East Rupert, where
the first coirs OF Vermont were struck.
It occurred TO me that wider publica-
tion Of this interesting fact would be
of interest to your readers and so
venture to sketch the story little
more fully.
Prior TO the organization of our
Government in 1889, that is from 1878
to 1887, individual states issued coins
which were generally copper cents and
half cents. Vermont was the first to
make such a grant which was done in
June 1885. Connecticut followed in
the ensuing October Then came Jer-
sey and last was Massachusetts The
earliest coinage by order of the Con
federation Congress was in the latter
part Of 1881
In June 1855 the Vermont Legisla-
ture granted to one Reuben Harmon,
Jr., of Rupert, or as we should nov
say, East Rupert, the exclusive right
TO coin copper coins within the boun-
daries Of that State, for two years
from the following July LIST. He had
obtained a supply Of copper and had
sought and thus secured the privilege
of minting IT, He had to give bonds
in the amount of 5000 pounds sterling.
No coin minted by him was to weigh
less than one-third of an ounce Troy.
Finally after considerable expense
Harmon got his mint into operation.
This mint-house was situated "a little
east Of the main road leading from
Dorset to Pawlet, on small stream Of
water which empties into the Pawlet
river" now called Mettowee We are
informed that it was "a small building
about l6 by Is feet, made OF rough
materials, simply clapboarded, un-
planed and implanted At the east
end was the furnace for melting the
copper and machinery for rolling the
bars. In the middle OF the room was
the cutting machine and at the west
end was the stamping outfit. This
Stamping was done by means of an
iron screw fastened to heavy timbers
above and turned by hand. Sixty
coins a minute was the limit Of speed. |
Thirty was the average output. The
coins issued from this mint were Of
two sorts, both copper cents. One
variety had on its diverse, sun ris- 1
ing from behind hills and a plough in /
the foreground, with the legend YER
M0NTENSIUM RES PUBLCA,
1856. The reverse showed an eye with 4
-adiating beams Of light, surrounded 1
by thirteen stars, with the legend .
QUARTA DECIMA STELLA. This
is especially interesting when Il is
recalled that Vermont did not come
into the Union until 1871. Later on,
in October 1856 Harmon applied for
an extension Of his privilege on the
ground that in the two years already
granted 70 him BY the legislature. he
would be unable 10 make his work
pay him for his outlay. and this eS
tension was allowed, fof eight years .
from July l7Ss. Under this new con
tract Harmon was 70 mint copper /.
coins that should weigh not less than
four sennyweights and fifteen grains
each. bearing this device: On one side .
a head. with the legend AUCTORI-
TATE VERMONTENSIuM. which
WIS abridged % AUCTORI YER
MONT On the other side WIS Tire
fvzIre q woman, with the letters
INDE. TT LIB Undependence and
]. -hertyl Also half cents were issued
Another interesting fact appears.
Il VIII b. remembered thst there vas
4 time during the unsettled condition
-aused By the dispute about The
Grants. wheu the British
IN Canada coquetted with the Political