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diff --git a/old/65613-0.txt b/old/65613-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index fce7117..0000000 --- a/old/65613-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1223 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Ye Olde Mint, by Frank H. Stewart - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Ye Olde Mint - Being a brief description of the first U.S. Mint, established by - Congress in the year 1792, at Seventh Street and Sugar Alley (now - Filbert Street) Philadelphia - -Author: Frank H. Stewart - -Release Date: June 13, 2021 [eBook #65613] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive/American - Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YE OLDE MINT *** - - - - - -[Illustration: MINT OFFICE BUILDING - -37 AND 39 NORTH SEVENTH STREET] - - - - - Ye Olde Mint - - Being a brief description of the first - U. S. Mint, established by Congress - in the year 1792, at Seventh Street - and Sugar Alley (now Filbert Street) - Philadelphia - - COMPLIMENTS OF - Frank H. Stewart Electric Co. - 7th and Filbert Streets Philadelphia - - Copyright 1909 - Frank H. Stewart Electric Co. - Philadelphia, Pa. - - - - -FOREWORD - - -The great interest shown in numismatics and antiquities nowadays has -caused this imperfect endeavor to collate some of the interesting -historical data still in existence regarding the first United States -Mint, and also at the same time preserve by means of photographs and -descriptions the present appearance of the old buildings. - -Practically every chronological list of important events which have -happened in the United States records the establishment of the first -United States Mint in Philadelphia in 1792, and if anyone has the time -and inclination to investigate the history and coinage of the mint -for the first forty (40) years of its existence, and publish to the -numismatic world the result of his research, I shall be satisfied if my -efforts here should furnish the slightest inspiration. - -Numismatists very rarely, if ever, pay any attention to the persons who -made their rare and valuable specimens of coins, and probably still less -attention to the places where they were made. - -The great majority of the rare United States coins were made in buildings -still standing at 37 and 39 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, or, to -be more exact, in the coinage building in the rear of these numbers. -Until recently these buildings were unmarked, and the people of the -neighborhood in a great many instances were unaware of the fact that for -a period of forty (40) years all of the United States coins were made -so near at hand. Those who daily walked past the buildings had nothing -to direct their attention to them, and it is safe to say that not five -hundred persons in Philadelphia could point out what at one time was one -of the most important buildings in the United States, as well as the -first erected under authority of Congress for Federal purposes. - -The author purchased the buildings and feels that it is his duty to do -what he can to describe them before they are demolished, and also at the -same time publish such data in his possession as may prove interesting -or valuable to the limited few who collect rare coins or are in any way -interested in what was an exceedingly important department of our early -national life. - - FRANK H. STEWART. - - - - -[Illustration: COINAGE BUILDING - -REAR OF 37 AND 39 NORTH SEVENTH STREET - -UNDOUBTEDLY THE FIRST BRICK BUILDING ERECTED BY ACT OF CONGRESS FOR -PUBLIC USE] - - - - -Ye OLDE MINT - - -The first United States mint buildings are indeed historical in more ways -than one, and while a number of suggestions have been made for their -preservation it is highly probable they will eventually be located by the -means of a bronze tablet on the front of the steel and concrete structure -in contemplation for the use of the Frank H. Stewart Electric Company, -who now occupy the buildings adjoining them on the south and east. The -retention of the buildings on the present site is prohibited on account -of the great value of the land and its location in the heart of the -business section, and their removal by private enterprise to another site -unlikely because of the great expense that such removal would entail. - -If a few 1804 dollars, which now have a record price of thirty-six -hundred dollars each, should be found in the buildings, their removal -would be rendered easier, provided they were found before the destruction -of the buildings, but this is highly improbable, although there will -undoubtedly be a few coins discovered, as there were when the building -was erected on the Filbert Street lot on the site of the old mint -smelting house, which is contiguous to the Seventh Street lot. - -Washington in his first annual address to Congress referred to the -importance of uniformity in the currency. - -His second annual address urged the importance of the establishment of a -mint. - -In his third address he spoke of disorders in the existing currency, the -scarcity of change, and recommended carrying into effect the resolution -already entered into concerning the establishment of a mint; also -remarked that measures had been taken for procuring some of the most -necessary artists, together with the necessary apparatus. - -His fourth annual address referred to employment of artists, both from -abroad and at home, to aid in the establishment of the mint. He also -stated that provision had been made for the requisite buildings, which -were then being put in proper condition, and spoke of a small beginning -in the coinage of half “dismes.” - -His sixth annual address stated “the mint had entered upon the coinage -of the precious metals, and there was a pleasing prospect that the -institution would at no remote day realize the expectation which was -originally formed of its utility.” - -His seventh annual address called attention to “the necessity of further -legislation for checking abuses in particular quarters, and for carrying -its business more completely into effect.” - -It will be seen from Washington’s reference in six out of eight of -his messages to Congress to the currency and mint that he was deeply -interested in the matter and considered it of more than ordinary -importance. - -It has been stated that he was a frequent visitor to the mint, and that -the first silver dismes and half dismes were made from silver contributed -by him. The will of John L. Kates, a former owner of the buildings, says -that the corner-stone was laid by Washington, but this is unlikely, -as he was not in Philadelphia the day on which it is supposed to have -been laid. The contents of the corner-stone when found will undoubtedly -contain something of great interest to antiquarians. - -The original buildings, with the exception of the smelting house, still -stand at 37 and 39 North Seventh Street, and in the rear of these -numbers. There were three different brick buildings, all separated by -yards and alleys, those facing Seventh Street were used for executive -offices, etc. Immediately back of them was the one used as the coinage -department, and back of that was the small two-story building facing -Filbert Street and about twenty feet back of the line of that street. The -old building used as the smelting house was torn down the latter part of -1907, and a four-story concrete building erected on the site. - -The frontispiece shows the front buildings facing Seventh Street, and the -illustration opposite page 5 the coinage building back of them, which is -separated from the front buildings by a court yard 18 feet deep. Inasmuch -as considerable attempt at ornamentation was made on the front of the -coinage building, it is quite probable that this was the first building -erected. Tradition has it that this was originally three stories high and -that the top story was burned off. If such was the case the third story -was of wooden construction. The walled up windows in the rear show the -window sills to be badly charred. - -Remains of old arched brick vaults still exist in the basement of 39 -North Seventh Street. - -The building in the rear, used as the coinage department, has two arched -and paved brick vaults in its basement intact except the doors. One of -the vaults, illustrated opposite page 9, has a smaller vault in its rear -end, which was undoubtedly used as a storage place for the most valuable -of the mint’s possessions. Strong brick arches and exceedingly heavy -joists, averaging twelve inches square, were placed in the basement to -support the coinage presses above. - -The building formerly facing Filbert Street had no basement, and when -excavations were made for the new building two old brick-walled wells -were uncovered, one of which was four feet in diameter, with cesspool -refuse in the bottom. The other well was about seven feet in diameter and -the bottom was not reached, as the excavations only went down about 12 -feet. These wells were between the old building and Filbert Street. The -larger one was three or four feet back of the centre of the property at -35 North Seventh Street, and the other was just off the southeast corner -of the demolished building. It is quite likely that the largest well -furnished water for the distillery of Michael Shubart. - -It is interesting to note that in the excavations on the site of the old -building, several copper coins and planchets were found, most of which -are illustrated opposite page 20. Two worthy of mention are about the -size of half-cents, but with small holes in the centre, one of them -having a milled edge, the other a plain edge. They are supposed to be -planchets for the excessively rare 1792 silver centre cents, which must -certainly have been struck off at the mint, otherwise the planchets -would not have been found there. The author now has these finds in his -possession, as well as a collection of hand forged hardware taken off the -old building. - -On May 8, 1792, the director of the mint was authorized, with the -approbation of the President, to purchase a quantity of copper for the -coinage of cents and half-cents, and Congress also provided that when -fifty thousand (50,000) dollars of such cents and half-cents had been -coined notice should be given to the public in at least two newspapers, -and that any attempt to pass other copper coins would result in their -forfeiture. - -From a national viewpoint the old mint buildings are the most historical -in the United States, because they were the first erected by the -authority of the Federal Government for public use. It was the sole -United States Mint from 1792 to 1833. The corner-stone was laid July 31, -1792, and presumably by David Rittenhouse, the celebrated astronomer -and philosopher and first director of the mint. The achievements of -Rittenhouse very readily place him in the same distinguished class as -Benjamin Franklin. - -The ground on which the first United States mint buildings stand was sold -by William Penn to the Pennsylvania Land Company, and transferred to it -by deed dated August 12, 1699, “in the 11th year of our Sovereign Lord -King William III, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland.” - -The Pennsylvania Land Company then consisted of Tobias Collett, -haberdasher; Michael Russell, weaver; Daniel Quare, watchmaker, and Henry -Goldney, linendraper, all of London, England. - -[Illustration: VAULT WITHIN A VAULT - -BASEMENT OF COINAGE BUILDING - -THE “BURGLAR PROOF” OF 1792] - -The deed was signed by Penn August 17, 1699, and was stamped with two -six-penny stamps. The consideration was 2,000 pounds. Herbert Springett, -Wm. Martin and Wm. Springett acted as witnesses. - -The mint grounds are part of “six inland city lots, lying between the two -rivers, Delaware and Schuylkill.” - -This deed, in addition to the six city lots which were evidently thrown -in as a bonus, conveyed two river front lots, one on the Delaware and one -on the Schuylkill, also 60,310 acres of land, variously and indefinitely -located for the greater part. Two hundred and ten acres of this land -was granted by warrant to Richard Noble, “old renter,” by Penn the 14th -day of the 5th month, 1683, and afterwards by a patent to Noble the 5th -day of the 6th month, 1685, by Thomas Lloyd, James Claypoole and Robert -Turner, commissioners for Penn. - -Another parcel of 100 acres of this land was part of a tract of 309 -acres, “granted by an order from New York,” and surveyed on or about -the 12th day of May, 1679, unto Wm. Clark, and afterwards disposed of -to Richard Noble, and which was on the 8th day of the 8th month, 1689, -granted and confirmed unto Noble by Wm. Markham and John Goodson, -commissioners for Penn. - -The 310 acres were transferred to Penn by Noble February 22, 1695. - -The Penn deed to the Pennsylvania Land Company gives recital of grant to -Penn by Charles II. - -Richard Noble came over in the ship Griffith with John Fenwick in 1675 -and landed at Salem, N. J. The Griffith was the first English ship to -land in west New Jersey. - -Noble surveyed and plotted the town of Burlington, N. J., in 1677, and -on December 15, 1679, was appointed surveyor by Governor Andross, of New -York, as surveyor of Upland, now Chester, Pa. He also surveyed a part of -the present site of Philadelphia for the Swedes, Swansons, in 1681. - -Wm. Markham was a cousin of Wm. Penn and landed in America in 1681. -He at one time held a captaincy in the English army. He was the first -Deputy-Governor of Pennsylvania. - -Thomas Lloyd was president of council, justice of the peace of -Philadelphia, and _de facto_ Deputy-Governor in 1690. He founded, under -Penn’s instructions, the first public school in Pennsylvania in 1689. - -James Claypoole built the first brick house in Philadelphia, and was a -member of council in 1687 and one of the Free Society of Traders. - -Robert Turner was a close friend of Penn, and at one time a merchant -of Dublin, Ireland. Penn was in frequent correspondence with him and, -among other things, wrote him on May 5, 1681, how and why the name of -Pennsylvania was selected. He was also a member of the Free Society of -Traders. - -John Goodson was a prominent man in the early days of the settlement -of Pennsylvania, and like Markham, Lloyd, Claypoole, Turner and others -empowered to sell land for Penn. - -The Pennsylvania Land Company held possession until December 26, 1758, -when Francis Rawle, acting as its attorney, transferred a parcel -containing part of the mint lots to Daniel Roberdeau, he being the -highest bidder at a public sale. - -This piece of land was described as a “certain piece of ground situate -on the east side of the Seventh Street from the Delaware, City of -Philadelphia, containing in breadth on the said street 50 feet, and in -length or depth 198 feet, or thereabouts, be the same more or less, to -the middle or half way between Sixth Street and Seventh Street,” bounded -on the south by the back ends of High Street (now Market) and on the -north by land of Rebecca Cooper. - -On December 26, 1758 (the same date as the Roberdeau deed) Francis -Rawle, attorney for Thomas Hyam, merchant; Thomas Reynolds, clothworker, -and Thomas How, goldsmith, only surviving feoffees in trust of the -Pennsylvania Land Company, sold to Rebecca Cooper, spinster, as the -highest bidder at public sale, “a certain piece of ground situate on -the east side of the Seventh Street from Delaware in the said City of -Philadelphia, containing in breadth on the same street 50 feet.” - -This lot was also 198 feet deep and bounded on the east by land conveyed -to Richard Farmer, as was the ground sold to Daniel Roberdeau. Joshua -Howell and William Govett were witnesses on both the deeds and both were -acknowledged before Isaac Jones, Justice. - -Daniel Roberdeau, by deed dated February 27, 1759, conveyed to Richard -Farmer, practitioner in physics, the same piece of ground he purchased at -auction of the Pennsylvania Land Company. Deed witnessed by H. W. Dovey -and John Reily. - -Rebecca Cooper, by deed dated April 3, 1759, also sold to Richard Farmer -the ground she purchased at auction of the Pennsylvania Land Company. Her -lot was bounded on the south by ground late of Daniel Roberdeau. - -These two pieces of ground of 50 feet each on Seventh Street, each -contained part of what afterwards became the mint lot, which faced -Seventh Street, and which was, and now is, 36 feet 10 inches front, -with another lot making an outlet on Filbert Street, now covered by a -four-story concrete and steel-frame building occupied by the Frank H. -Stewart Electric Company, and connected by openings with the building on -the northeast corner of Seventh and Filbert Streets, also occupied by the -same concern. - -Richard Farmer and wife, by deed dated September 1, 1760, conveyed to -Michael Shubart, distiller, “two certain pieces of ground,” one of which -was located on Seventh Street, with a frontage of 36 feet and 10 inches -and with a depth of 99 feet, which was bounded on the south by a piece of -ground sold by Farmer to George Keller, 20 feet by 99 feet. - -The other piece of ground was on the north side of a certain 14-foot -alley (now Filbert Street, mentioned for the first time), containing in -breadth 17 feet on the alley and 56 feet 10 inches deep, connecting with -above lot in the rear and for its entire width as well as the Keller lot. - -The consideration was a yearly ground rental of 21 Spanish silver pieces -of 8 of 17 pennyweight and 6 grains each, with the option within -seven years of cancellation by payment of 133 pounds, lawful money of -Pennsylvania. - -Shubart agreed to erect within four (4) years on one of the pieces of -ground one good brick kitchen, or tenement, or other brick building at -least 15 feet square. - -This deed was witnessed by Robert Wilson, Jr., and John Clarkson; -acknowledged by Wm. Peters, justice. - -This transfer shows that the High Street lots, near Seventh Street, -extended at one time back to what is now Filbert Street, and also that -Richard Farmer’s land was taken in whole or in part for the purpose of -what then was termed an alley, and later known as Sugar Alley, then -Farmers Street, and now Filbert Street. - -James Ash, high sheriff, on May 27, 1790, conveyed to Frederick Hailer -the land purchased by Shubart from Farmer, together with a tenement -distill house and coppers, distills, worms, cisterns, tubs and other -utensils belonging to said distillery. - -This conveyance was subject to the payment of the yearly ground rent of -21 Spanish pieces of 8. - -Jacob Barge was the creditor who caused the sale. - -Frederick Wailer, surgeon barber, and wife, Christiana, July 18, 1792, -sold to the United States Government the land and distill house and frame -tenement building formerly owned by Shubart. - -This deed recites the Act of Congress referred to elsewhere, and states -“the President in pursuance thereof caused to be purchased from said -Wailer, etc., etc.” - -Wailer made a nice profit. He bought it for 515 pounds and sold it for -4,266⅔ dollars, subject to the ground rent as before. - -This deed was acknowledged by Wailer and wife before James Biddle, -president of the Court of Common Pleas, of the County of Philadelphia, -July 21, 1792. - -During the entire time the government owned the property it paid an -annual ground rent, which seems rather strange now. - -On July 1, 1792, Washington appointed David Rittenhouse director of the -mint, and on July 19th, the day following the purchase, eight carpenters, -besides other laborers, commenced to tear down the distillery, and on -August 25th the frame work for the new building was raised. - -Work on the bellows furnaces was commenced September 7th, and on -September 11th six pounds of old copper for coinage was purchased at the -price of one shilling three pence per pound. - -Three coining presses, imported from Europe, arrived September 21st, and -in October they were in operation. - -On December 30, 1792, Jefferson, then Secretary of State, wrote Pinckney, -our minister to England, about the difficulty of procuring copper, and -suggested Sweden as a source of supply and enclosed draft on the treasury -of the United States for $10,000. - -The United States of America on January 12, 1836, by deed reciting Act -of Congress under date of May 1, 1830, transferred the mint grounds and -buildings to Michael Kates, bell hanger, for $8,100, he having been the -highest bidder at public sale. In this deed the 14-foot alley was called -Sugar Alley and the ground rent again noted. - -Andrew Jackson, President of the United States of America, signed this -deed and the great seal of the United States of America was attached. -John Forsyth, Secretary of State, witnessed the President’s signature. - -On February 18, 1836, Francis Hopkinson, Clerk of the District and -Circuit Courts of the United States of America for the eastern district -of Pennsylvania, appeared before John Swift, Mayor of the City of -Philadelphia, and on his oath said he was acquainted with the signatures -of both Jackson and Forsyth and was satisfied they were their own and -proper signatures. - -The neighborhood of the old mint is rich in traditions regarding it, and -it may happen that when the buildings are torn down some of them will be -substantiated. - -During the War of 1812 Dr. R. M. Patterson, Adam Eckfelt and Joseph -Cloud, respectively director of the mint, chief coiner, melter and -refiner, were engaged at the Breast Works at Grays Ferry, and, as these -gentlemen were the chief employees of the mint at the time, it is highly -probable there was considerable alarm over the safety of the mint. Among -other traditions is one that the bullion, planchets and coins were walled -up and buried during this scare. The actions of the British at Washington -showed their tendency towards destruction of government property. - -An old lady living in West Philadelphia has the original appointment -of her ancestor, Joseph Cloud, to his position in the mint, signed by -Washington. She would not even allow it to be photographed for fear -something might happen to it while in the photographer’s hands. - -Biddle’s Directory of 1791 gives the address of Michael Shubart, -distiller, as 29 North Seventh Street; Hardie’s 1793 directory gives -the mint at 29 North Seventh Street, which indicates that a change of -numbers in the mint property has been made since that time. Shubart was -a prominent Philadelphian; during the Revolution he was a city assessor, -and on one occasion took an unconditional oath while his colleagues -made a reservation. In the elaborate pageant of July 4, 1788, he bore -the Standard at the head of the distillery section, followed by other -notables engaged in that business. - -Daniel Roberdeau, mentioned elsewhere as an owner of part of the mint -grounds, at one time was a brigadier-general of militia, and his name -appears frequently in the Revolutionary Annals of Philadelphia as a man -of pronounced ideas and stern character. - -The beginning of the mint establishment may be traced back to the -articles of Confederation, dated July 9, 1778, which contained the -following: “The United States in Congress assembled shall also have the -sole and exclusive right and power of regulating the alloy and value of -coin struck by their own authority or by that of the respective States.” - -The Constitution of the United States, September 17, 1787, contains in -Article I, Section 8: “The Congress shall have power to coin money, -regulate the value thereof and of foreign coins”; and further, “No State -shall coin money, emit bills of credit, make anything but gold and silver -coin a tender in payment of debts.” - -Analysis of the above will show the reason why the various States -discontinued their own coinage. - -The Continental Congress, January 7, 1782, instructed Robert Morris, -the financier of the Revolution, to prepare and report a table of -rates at which the different species of foreign coins most likely to -circulate within the United States should be received at the treasury. -On January 15th, the week following, he made a lengthy report regarding -the different names and values of coins then in use and the necessity -of a legal tender. He stated that the necessary machinery for a mint -could easily be made and that the advantage of possessing legal money in -preference to any other would induce people to carry foreign money to the -mint until a sufficiency were struck for the circulating medium, and the -remainder of foreign gold and silver coins should be left entirely to the -operations of commerce as bullion. - -On April 14, 1790, Thomas Jefferson reported to the House of -Representatives, advising the declination of the proposition of John -H. Mitchell regarding his offer to furnish coins from Europe at a -fixed price per pound for copper coins. His objections were that -the opportunity of recoinage of coins would be lost, and that in -transportation across the ocean it would be subject to the dangers of the -sea, acts of piracy, and, in times of war, would offer the sinews of war -to the enterprise of the enemy, and further, that the resource of coining -household plate would be lost. The risk of counterfeiting was also noted. - -Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, on January 28, 1791, as -a result of instructions on the part of the House of Representatives on -April 15, 1790, sent a lengthy communication to it on “The Establishment -of a Mint.” This communication was evidently the basis for the act of -Congress, dated April 2, 1792, establishing the mint and regulating the -coins of the United States. - -The mint was to be situated at the seat of government, then Philadelphia, -and the President, in addition to the authority given him under the Act -of March 3, 1791, was authorized to cause to be provided and put in -proper condition such buildings as appeared to him to be necessary for -carrying on the business of the mint. - -The Act of March 3, 1791, approved by President Washington, authorized -the establishment of a mint under such regulations as should be directed -by law. This Act authorized him to cause to be engaged artists and the -procurement of the necessary apparatus. - -On December 30, 1793, Jefferson wrote the President regarding artists. He -mentioned that a certain Drotz had been hired, but, after considerable -delay, refused to come to America, and that our minister at London had -succeeded in getting Mr. Albion Coxe, who was probably the person of that -name who had the right to make copper coins for the State of New Jersey -in 1786, to accept the position as assayer. Inasmuch as it was impossible -to secure abroad a chief coiner of greater ability than at home, Mr. -Henry Voight, who was temporarily in the position, was favorably -mentioned. - -These two men were required to furnish security in the sum of ten -thousand dollars each, which neither was able to do, and Jefferson stated -that the coinage of precious metals was prevented for some time past, but -that in order that the mint might not be entirely idle the coinage of -copper had been going on. Jefferson recommended that their securities be -lessened by reducing their responsibilities. - -[Illustration: BASEMENT OF COINAGE BUILDING - -SHOWING PRESS SUPPORTS AND HAMMERED ONE INCH SQUARE IRON WINDOW BARS. -TIMBERS AVERAGE 12 INCHES SQUARE. CUT SHOWS NEARLY ONE HALF OF BASEMENT.] - -October 28, 1794, David Rittenhouse, director of the mint, reported that -it had been necessary to purchase an additional lot of ground, that -nearly one million of cents had been coined and a beginning made in the -coinage of precious metals, that nearly 120,000 ounces of bullion had -been deposited for coinage and that a large parcel of blank dollars was -ready for coining as soon as a more powerful press could be finished. - -February 9, 1795, Mr. Boudinot, one of the Congressional Committee -appointed to examine and report on the state of the mint, made a long -report on the duties and work of the various employees. - -At that time besides the buildings at 37 and 39 North Seventh Street, -now belonging to the Frank H. Stewart Electric Company, a lease was held -on one in the “Northern Liberties” for five years at the rent of five -shillings per annum, a very trifling sum indeed. - -There was more or less criticism about the conduct of the mint which -Mr. Boudinot explained was due to trouble in getting competent workmen, -proper materials and strong apparatus. He reported the lots for the -buildings were too small and that this hindered the operations; and, -further, that the frequent breaking of dies, which were all made in -the mint, caused numerous delays. Up to September, 1794, the lands -purchased had cost $4,266.66; buildings, apparatus, machines, etc., -$22,720.45; copper, $15,815.51; salaries, $15,591.99, a grand total of -$58,394.61, which he considered a very great amount. He remarked that a -great saving could be made if the machinery could be operated by water -or steam instead of manual labor or that of horses. He noted that in -case the projected canal between the Schuylkill and Delaware should be -accomplished the heavy expense of the mint would be greatly reduced. - -His report, among other things, showed that when the bullion was not -in use it was kept under two locks, the keys of which were kept by the -assayer and chief coiner. This was for the time it was in the custody -of the chief coiner. That part not in his custody was in the vaults of -the mint, also secured under two locks, keys of which were kept by the -treasurer and assayer. Mention is made elsewhere regarding these vaults. -He recommended a reduction in the size of the copper cent and a change in -the standard for silver coins to ten parts silver and one part copper. - -Henry William DeSaussure in a letter, dated the mint office, October -27, 1795, to the President of the United States, George Washington, -apologized for the length of his communication and said he was prepared -to deliver the direction of the mint to his successor. - -He stated the coinage of gold had begun under his administration. He -deemed it proper to state there was no copper in the mint fit for -coining, and that the price of copper had advanced, and suggested the -desirability of reducing the weight of the cent and thereby help in -preventing its use by coppersmiths. - -He mentioned the important fact that the standard of the silver coin in -use at the mint differed from the standard fixed by law. He thought that -either the law should be changed or the standard used according to law. - -He suggested the desirability of having laws made to close up certain -establishments making debased foreign coins and thereby curtailing the -supply of gold bullion and degrading our national character. - -He referred to an attempt on the mint dies and implements with nefarious -views. - -Elias Boudinot, in a letter dated at the mint, December 3, 1795, referred -to the sudden death of Assayer Mr. Albion Coxe on the preceding Friday, -and said “until this officer is replaced the business of the mint would -be confined to striking cents only.” In the same letter he recommended, -among other things, “that some proper person be authorized to purchase -on public account all small quantities of silver and gold brought to the -mint, at the best market price, to be coined for the public treasury.” - -Elias Boudinot, in a very able letter to the President, dated at the -mint, November 29, 1796, told how impossible it was to run the mint with -business-like dispatch, hampered as it was by unreasonable restrictions. -He pointed out how in one case a depositor of bullion below standard got -500 pounds sterling more than he should and still was within his legal -rights. In other words, it cost the mint that much to refine the bullion -for which it received no compensation. He also pointed out how expensive -it was to coin bullion in rotation so that each depositor got his money -in turn. In this way it was just as expensive to melt and refine 20 -ounces as 1,000 ounces and he recommended a fund for the mint to be used -in paying off small depositors of bullion and thus be able to melt and -refine in larger quantities. - -February 13, 1797, Mr. Havens, of the committee to examine and report on -Mr. Boudinot’s letter, made his report to Congress and recommended the -sum of $2,820.71 be appropriated to make good the deficiency caused by -wastage in coining gold and silver since the commencement of the coinage -of these metals. The report was substantially a confirmation of the -statements made by Mr. Boudinot. - -May 19, 1798, recommendation of allowance to John Vaughan was made -because silver bullion, to the extent of 230,888 ounces, deposited by him -was of greater fineness than that regularly used in coinage. - -During the latter part of 1797 it became very apparent that the out-put -of the mint was not sufficient for the needs of the country, and foreign -coins were necessarily continued as legal tender despite legislation to -the contrary. - -Elias Boudinot, in a letter from the mint to the President, dated January -3, 1799, mentioned that during the previous summer a scheme for robbing -the mint was discovered. One of the persons in the mint was in collusion -with outside parties. The offenders were detected, prosecuted and -punished. - -January 8, 1800, Boudinot reported to President Adams and called his -attention to the fact that fifty thousand one hundred and eleven dollars -and forty-two cents ($50,111.42) of cents, had been coined and that it -was necessary for the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States to -comply with provisions of law of May 8, 1792, by giving the public notice -therein mentioned. - -Also brought up the point that the mint was not at the seat of -government, which had been moved to Washington, and if mint was to be -removed steps should be taken immediately regarding it. - -Also called attention to workmen in gold and silver melting down coins -for commercial purposes to the loss of the United States. - -Mr. Hillhouse, of the committee to whom was referred the report of the -director of the mint to the President of the United States, on January -8, 1800, recommended, on March 18, 1800, that a committee be appointed -to bring in a bill for repealing the first section of the Act entitled, -“An Act establishing a mint and regulating the coins of the United -States....” dated April 21, 1792, and such other sections and parts of -sections of said Act as relate to the establishment of the mint, and to -provide for taking care of the materials and property appertaining to -the mint and which belong to the United States; and, further, that the -Secretary of the Treasury be directed to report a plan for furnishing the -United States with cents and half-cents as shall be deemed necessary or -expedient. - -February 13, 1801, Elias Boudinot advised the President that the -Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Comptroller of the Treasury, -the Chief Justice and Attorney-General were not present on the day -specified by law to assay reserved pieces of coins, and that the -depositors complained of their being deprived of their reserved money, -and that the check on coinage contemplated by law was frustrated. Also -mentioned that the act of July 16, 1790, provided for removal of all -offices attached to the seat of government to the District of Columbia -on the first Monday in December, 1800. Called attention to Act of last -session of Congress locating mint in Philadelphia until March 4th next. - -[Illustration: PLANCHETS FOR COPPER CENTS, HALF CENTS AND SILVER CENTRE -CENTS, ALSO PIECE OF SCRAP COPPER FROM WHICH A HALF CENT WAS STRUCK, ALL -FOUND WHILE EXCAVATIONS WERE BEING MADE FOR NEW BUILDING 631 FILBERT -STREET. SIZE 15/16 OF ORIGINALS.] - -He, on February 27, 1802, in a communication to the Secretary of the -Treasury, calls attention to outstanding contracts for copper abroad -which were obligatory, and the difficulty attending the securing of -copper in the past. Questioned the scheme of importing coined copper -cents because of a chance of a flood of lightweight cents contrary to -law, and suggested that the government would have greater security by -placing contract in United States. - -On March 4, 1802, Robert Scott, engraver at the mint, wrote the Secretary -of Treasury, Albert Gallatin, calling attention to the probability -of abolishment of the mint, explained the sacrifices he had made and -desired to be invested with the exclusive privilege, according to law, of -furnishing cents of the regular weight and quality free of all expense to -the government at the face value. - -In a letter dated March 22, 1802, Mint of the United States, -Philadelphia, Elias Boudinot wrote the Secretary of Treasury, giving an -inventory of the real and personal property of the mint, as follows: - -“Two lots on Seventh Street between Market and Arch, 20 feet each on -Seventh Street and extending back 100 feet, with a dwelling house on the -north lot and a shell of a house on the south lot, which last lot widens -on the rear to about 60 feet on which the stable stands. These lots pay a -ground rent of $27.50 per annum. - -“A lot on Sugar Alley at the rear of the above, 20-feet front on the -alley and about 100-feet deep. - -“A frame building improved for a large furnace in the commons at the -north end of Sixth Street, of little value, the ground being merely -loaned to us. - -“Personal estate—copper planchets on hand, 22 tons. - -“Three horses, good for little but for use of mint. - -“Machinery of mint no value except for mint. - -“Five striking presses. - -“Three cutting presses. - -“One milling machine. - -“Five pairs rollers, great and small. - -“One drawing machine. - -“Three pairs smith’s bellows. - -“Set blacksmith’s tools. - -“Large number of hubs and dies. - -“Carpenter’s tools. - -“Seven stoves. - -“One turning lathe. - -“Six scale beams, scales and weights. - -“Two sets assay scales and sundry adjusting scales. - -“Furniture in clerks’ rooms. - -“Various implements used in the several departments. - -“About 2,000 bushels charcoal. - -“Engravers’ tools, pots, bottles, etc. - -“An old horse cart and gears. - -“About 2,000 fire brick. - -“Considerable quantity of old iron.” - -Stated machinery was in poor repair and should be moved by steam instead -of horses. Said lots were too small and was greatly cramped for room. - -Said lots were then very valuable, being in the heart of the city. In his -opinion the necessary coins of the government could not be protected at -much less expense than the mint cost. - -In this inventory no mention was made of the building used by the coinage -department, and which, no doubt, was the best and most important building -then on the lots. The sizes of the lots given are inaccurate, and the -idea evidently intended to be conveyed was that there was very little of -value in buildings or equipment. - -In 1793 salaries of the mint employees were as follows: - - David Rittenhouse, director, $2,000 per annum - Tristram Dalton, treasurer, 1,200 ” ” - Henry Voight, coiner, 1,500 ” ” - Isaac Hugh, clerk, 312 ” ” - -The regular coinage of copper began in 1793; silver in 1794, and gold in -1795. - -The following curious extracts are taken from the mint rules and -regulations, dated January 1, 1825: - -“The allowance under the name of drink money is hereafter to be -discontinued.” - -“The operations of the mint throughout the year are to commence at 5 -o’clock in the morning.” - -“Christmas Day and the Fourth of July—and no other days—are established -holidays at the mint.” - -“He (watchman) will keep in a proper arm chest, securely locked, a musket -and bayonet, two pistols and a sword. The arms are to be kept in perfect -order and to be inspected by an officer once a month, when the arms are -to be discharged and charged anew. - -“The watchman of the mint must attend from 6 o’clock in the evening -to 5 o’clock in the morning—and until relieved by the permission of -an officer, or until the arrival of the doorkeeper. He will ring the -yard bell precisely every hour by the mint clock from 10 o’clock until -relieved by the doorkeeper, or an officer, or the workmen on working -days, and will send the watch-dog through the yard immediately after -ringing the bell.” - -The operations at the mint were suspended at different times because of -yellow fever epidemics, and this, in connection with the scarcity of -metal, and a fire at the mint and the use of coins for purely commercial -purposes by coppersmiths, silversmiths and other tradesmen, accounts -for the scarcity of certain coins made at “Ye Olde Mint,” under great -disadvantages, when men and horses did the work now done by electricity. - - - - -Copy of Letter Regarding Purchase of First U. S. Mint Lots. - - - June 9, 1792. - -DEAR SIR: - -I am in sentiment with you and the Director of the Mint, respecting the -purchase of the lots and houses which are offered for sale, in preference -to renting—as the latter will certainly exceed the interest of the former. - -That all the applications may be brought to view, and considered for -coining, &c., Mr. Lear will lay the letters and engravings before you, to -be shewn to the Director of the Mint. I have no other object or wish in -doing it, than to obtain the best. - - Yours, &c., - - Go. WASHINGTON. - -MR. JEFFERSON. - - - - -[Illustration: COINS FOUND IN EXCAVATIONS MADE FOR BASEMENT OF CONCRETE -BUILDING NOW IN REAR OF COINAGE BUILDING. 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