The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-21

Majesty's life was once saved by that kind of a tree," said Temple, who was friendly to the Colonists. This diplomatic reference to the episode of Boscobel, in which Charles escaped his enemies by hid- ing among the branches of an oak, turned the kings suspicious aside temporarily and no doubt had restraining effect on his policy to- ward the Colony for 8 time. Pine Tree Design The pine-tree design came into use about 1862, displacing all other patterns and continuing to be the only one employed as long as the mint existed. Experience had taught many things during these ten years and the dies from which the pine tree coinage was struck were quite an improvement over the rude punches used on the early issues. Tn 1862, also, a coin of the new denomination of two, pence was added on which the correct date (1662) appeared. Although the production of this mint is generally called "pinetree- money" it was not so named until 1880. Previously the pieces were known as Boston" or Bay" shillings or six pence, as the case might be.
 There were those in the Colony who thought the mint-masters were getting too good bargain from their contract and in consequence of agitation along this line they were approached in 1860 by com mittee appointed to suggest that they pay a bonus into the public treasury out of their profits. At first they refused to agree to any, thing of the sort, but finally of fered ten pounds as gift and would promise nothing further.
 Pressed again on the subject in 1867, they agreed to pay into the public treasury forty pounds and yearly thereafter ten pounds for seven years.
 There was never the slightest req son to call in question the integrity of these two men. Their product was commented on favorably as to quality and the intrinsic value called for by law, even at the English mint. where much of it was melted and refined. John Hull died October l, 1883, and operations at the mint ceased in 1886 soon after the charter of the Colony had been vacated by the Crown.
 $5,O0O,OOO Minted
 Five million dollars is estimated to be the value of the silver coined at this mint during its service of thirty-four years and the 5 per cent seigniorage divided between the two men must have been tidy sum in those days. In fact, Nathaniel Hawthorne's story in Grand fathers Chair" which represents the doughty Captain Hull as hay ing given for dowry to Samuel Sew all, his prospective son-in-law, the weight of Hannah Hull in pine-tree shillings, is not at all unlikely. Although such a large sum of money was coined at the mint, the direct benefit to the Colony was much less than was expected. The buccaneers preying in West Indian waters contributed the larger part of the bullion deposited for coinage and they demanded immediate ship ment of the equivalent coin, con- tributing nothing to the Colony but the seigniorage paid the mint; while most of the money coined for local parties was soon sent elsewhere in the course of trade. leaving the com- munity nearly as devoid of currency as before.
 Although done in direct defiance of royal authority, the establish. ment and operation of this first mint was the result of an honest effort on the part of honest men to ad- vance the commercial interests of the section in which they lived; and, as such, their enterprise deserves our respect and admiration.