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 A VISIT TO THE CABINET 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES MINT, 
 
 AT 
 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 PRESS OF 
 
 J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 
 1876. 

 
 Copyright, 1876, ELIZABETH B. JOHNSTON.
 
 
 PREFATORY. 
 
 IT is not attempted in this little work to cover in detail 
 the whole field occupied by the interesting subject of 
 which it discourses. But it is believed that herein are 
 embodied sufficient curious and important facts to satisfy 
 the general reader's demand for information regarding the 
 art its history, uses, and elegancies to which the fol- 
 lowing pages are devoted. 
 
 Thanks are due to the courteous officers of the Mint for 
 the promptness, as well as patience, with which they sup- 
 plied to the writer all information sought. From them, 
 and from such other authorities as the works of ex-Director 
 Snowdenandthoseof Mr. W. E. Dubois, the distinguished 
 numismatist, have most of the needed data hereof been 
 derived. E R
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 INTRODUCTORY 7 
 
 THE MINT J 3 
 
 The Cabinet 2O 
 
 RELICS 32 
 
 Coins 35 
 
 Oriental 45 
 
 Modern 5 2 
 
 Selections 6 5 
 
 MEDALS 6 9 
 
 OFFICERS OF THE MINT 8 3 
 
 LIST OF MEDALS TO BE OBTAINED AT THE MINT 85 
 
 TABLES OF COINS 8 9
 
 A VISIT TO THE CABINET 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES MINT. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF COIN. 
 
 IT is impossible, in a cursory glance at the subject, to 
 appreciate the importance or pleasure the numismatist real- 
 izes in his studies. That a thorough knowledge of coins and 
 medals is a history of the world from that early date in 
 which metals were put to such uses, will be admitted by all 
 who have given time and labor to investigation. Coin is 
 history epitomized. History engraven upon golden coins 
 and medals lies hidden in tombs or buried in the bosom of 
 mother earth, deposited there by miserly hands ages long 
 past. All that was mortal in the sepulchre becomes dust, 
 but neither worm nor mould can rob the golden witness of 
 Us testimony. It may have lain centuries in the sea, but 
 salt water will not corrode it, and should nature, in con- 
 vulsive throes, cast coin or medal upon dry land, the story 
 it tells will be accepted, and possibly establish facts con- 
 cerning which the learned have fought a thousand battles. 
 
 The rudeness or perfection of coins and medals furnish 
 sure tests of the character and culture of the periods of 
 their production. This is equally true of that rare speci- 
 men of antiquity, the Syracuse silver medal, the oldest 
 medal known to collectors, and the latest triumph of the 
 graver's art in gold, the Metis medal. 
 
 7
 
 THE SYRACUSE MEDAL 
 
 was given as a reward to a victor in the Olympian games. 
 On the obverse is the head of Ceres, often spoken of as that 
 of a young Patrician ; which is erroneous, from the fact 
 that no mortal's head was allowed on the coins of this pe- 
 riod. The primitive Syracusan emblem, the dolphin, is a 
 distinguishing feature. The reverse represents a chariot 
 race, four horses abreast, with Fame, or Victory, hover- 
 ing over the driver. While this medal is interesting as 
 a relic, it is marvelous as a work of art. The archaeologist 
 eagerly scans numismatic treasures as the landmarks of his- 
 tory, a kind of legal tender of truth, which all are com- 
 pelled to accept. Whatever has been written upon vellum 
 or found upon papyrus has a corroborative witness in a 
 coin or medal. Many facts are testified to only by these 
 undying witnesses, and many lost links are supplied. Gib- 
 bon says, " If there was no other record of Hadrian, his 
 career would be found written upon the coins of his reign." 
 
 COINS AND MEDALS 
 
 also mark the introduction of laws ; for example, an old 
 Porcian coin gives the date of the " law of appeal," under 
 which, two centuries and a half later, Paul appealed to 
 Caesar. Another relic dates the introduction of the ballot- 
 box ; and a fact interesting to the agriculturist is established 
 by an old silver coin of Ptolemy, upon which a man is rep- 
 resented cutting millet, a variety of Indian corn, with a 
 scythe. Religions have been promulgated by coins. Is- 
 lamism says upon a gold coin, "No deity but God. He 
 has no partners. Mohammed is God's friend, God's 
 apostle; God's apostle sent with command, and religion 
 of truth to exalt it over all religions in spite of their up- 
 holders. In the name of God, the compassionate, the 
 merciful, this denarius was struck."
 
 Persian coins in mystic characters symbolize the dreadful 
 sacrifices of the Fire-Worshipers. Again, Henry VIII., 
 with characteristic egotism, upon a medal struck for Henry 
 by Henry, announces in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin : 
 "Henry, Eighth King of England, France, and Ireland ; 
 Defender of the Faith, and in the land of England and 
 Ireland, under Christ, the Supreme Head of the Church." 
 
 We cannot quite look upon coins and medals as fash- 
 ion-plates ; yet the costumes of all ages are stamped upon 
 them, from the golden net confining the soft tresses of the 
 "sorceress of the Nile," and the gemmed robe of Queen 
 Irene, to the broidered stomacher of Queen Anne, and the 
 stately ruff of Elizabeth of England. 
 
 In this connection may be mentioned the "bonnet 
 piece" of Scotland, a coin of the reign of James VI., 
 which is extremely rare, one of them having recently sold 
 for 41. The coin received its name from a representation 
 of the king upon it, with a curiously plaited hat or bonnet 
 which this monarch wore, a fashion that gave occasion for 
 the ballad, " Blue Bonnets over the Border." 
 
 HERALDIC EMBLEMS 
 
 are faithfully preserved through this medium ; in truth, 
 medallic honors may be claimed as the very foundation 
 of heraldic art. We discover medals perpetuating revolu- 
 tions, sieges, plots, and murders not a few. We prefer 
 directing attention to the fact that coins and medals are 
 not only the pillars of history, but a favorite vehicle of 
 poetry of the poetry of all nations. Epics are thus pre- 
 served by the graver's art in space inconceivably small. 
 Poets turn with confidence to old coins for symbol as well 
 as fact. All mythological and allegorical beauty have in 
 coins and medals found sure retreat, and poetry a home 
 protected from the tooth of Time or the changes of the 
 ages.
 
 10 
 
 One of the most graceful historical allusions is conveyed 
 in the great seal of Queen Anne, after the union of Scot- 
 land with England. A rose and a thistle are growing on 
 one stem, while, from above, the crown of England sheds 
 effulgence upon the tender young plant. 
 
 THE GRACES OF HISTORY 
 
 are not alone recorded, and as an example of a very dif- 
 ferent nature may be cited the medals commemorating the 
 destruction of Jerusalem, and the whole series marking 
 that episode, especially those classed "Judaea capta." 
 They tell sadly of a people's humiliation : the tied or 
 chained captive ; the mocking goddess of victory, all made 
 more real by reason of the introduction, on the reverse of 
 each piece, of a Jewess weeping bitterly, and though she 
 sits under a palm-tree, not a willow, the national lament 
 of another captivity is forcibly recalled : 
 
 " By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we 
 wept, when we remembered Zion. 
 
 " We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst 
 thereof." 
 
 An interesting specimen of the series above mentioned 
 was recently found in the south of France called, " Judaea 
 Navillas," valuable particularly because it strengthens a 
 historian's (Josephus) assertion which had provoked some 
 comment, viz. : the fact of the escape of a large number of 
 Jews from the Romans, by means of ships, at Joppa. 
 
 HUMOR IN MEDALS. 
 
 While it is sad to see these faithful illustrations of the 
 sorrows of the past, a few pieces are found" which would 
 provoke a smile from the most demure and reverential 
 antiquarian. The medal of George I., on the reverse, 
 boastfully presents "the horse of Brunswick" flying over 
 the northwest of Europe, symbolizing the Hanoverian sue-
 
 II 
 
 cession. Recalling all the stories of horseflesh ever told, 
 from Bucephalus to that wonderful charger described by 
 Winthrop, we are sure no horse, save Pegasus, can have 
 leaped the continent. The overthrow of the " Invincible 
 Armada" was the occasion of a Dutch medal, showing the 
 Hollanders richer in faith than in art culture, for the ob- 
 verse of this medal presents the church upon a rock in 
 mid-ocean, while the reverse suggests the thought that the 
 luckless Spanish mariner was driving against the walls of 
 the actual building. 
 
 LANGUAGE. 
 
 The effect of coin on language is direct, and many words 
 may be found whose origin was a coin, such as Daric, a 
 pure gold coin ; Talent, mental ability; Sterling, genuine, 
 pure ; while Guinea represents the aristocratic element, and, 
 though out of circulation long ago, " no one who pretends 
 to gentility in England would think of subscribing to any 
 charity or fashionable object by contributing the vulgar 
 pound. An extra shilling added to the pound makes the 
 guinea, and lifts the name of the subscriber at once into 
 the aristocratic world." In this connection we may recall 
 the sentiment of Burns : 
 
 " The rank is but the guinea's stamp, 
 The man's the gowd for a 1 that." 
 
 ARCHITECTURE. 
 
 Architecture is largely indebted to coins, medals, anJ 
 seals for accuracy and data. We learn from the medal 
 of Septimius Severus the faultless beauty of the triumphal 
 arch erected to celebrate his victory over Arabs and Par- 
 thians. This medal was produced two centuries before the 
 Christian era, and is a marvel of art, for its perspective is 
 wrought in bas-relief, an achievement which was not 
 again attained before the execution of the celebrated
 
 12 
 
 Bronze Gates by Ghiberti, for the Baptistery at Florence, 
 A.D. 1425. This exhumed arch was excavated long after 
 its form and structure were familiar to men of letters 
 through the medals. It is not generally known that the 
 rarest portraits of famous heroes are 
 
 FOUND UPON COINS AND MEDALS. 
 
 The historian, especially the historic artist, is indebted 
 to this source alone for the portraits of Alexander, Ptolemy, 
 Cleopatra, Mark Antony, Caesar, and many other celebri- 
 ties. Perhaps the valuation of a rare coin or medal may 
 be estimated by reference to one piece in the Mint at Phila- 
 delphia. It is an Egyptian coin as large as a half-eagle, 
 and has on the obverse the head of the wife of Ptolemy, 
 Arsinoe, the only portrait of her yet discovered. 
 
 Bronze is growing in favor, and now much preferred to 
 gold for medals. Its firm, unchanging surface accepts and 
 retains finer lines than have yet been produced upon gold 
 and silver, and it offers no temptation to be thrown into 
 the crucible. 
 
 MISERS. 
 
 Collectors estimate the loss to numismatography very 
 great by reason of the temptation the gold possesses, and 
 they are possibly the only class of people who have any 
 apology to offer for the miser. The habit of hoarding has 
 been despicable in all ages, as it has existed since the 
 memory of man. Yet the world is debtor to this despised 
 habit for some of its most invaluable specimens of art, and 
 important corroborative history.
 
 THE MINT. 
 
 THE people of the United States entertain a regard for 
 the Mint different from that in which they hold other 
 public institutions. Its age, and the peculiarly distinctive 
 position which elevates it in a measure above political 
 changes, invest it with a certain dignity which unhap- 
 pily does not attach to other Governmental institutions. 
 Change in its directorship has at times followed party rev- 
 olutions; with but little interference, however, with other 
 officials, as men of attainments and long experience in 
 the several professions requisite for coinage of money are 
 rare in all countries. These officers are not only required 
 to be highly proficient in their various specialties, but their 
 characters, like their gold, must be "fine." The confidence 
 placed in the officials of the United States Mint, from the 
 highest to the lowest, is a pleasing fact, for near the close of 
 the century no shadow rests upon any name identified with 
 its history. 
 
 The need of a mint in the Colonies was keenly felt to 
 be a serious grievance against England for years before the 
 Revolution, and as soon as practicable after the establish- 
 ment of Independence, the United States Mint was author- 
 ized by an Act of Congress, April 2, 1792. 
 
 The first building erected in any part of the United 
 States for public use, under the authority of the Federal 
 Government, was a structure for the United States Mint. 
 This was a plain brick edifice, on the east side of Seventh 
 Street, above the street now called Filbert, the corner-stone 
 of which was laid by David Rittenhouse, Director of the 
 
 2 13
 
 14 
 
 Mint, on the 3131 of July, 1792. This building was in use 
 for that purpose about forty years, having been abandoned 
 for the present location in 1833. The building now occu- 
 pied by the Mint is of white marble, and, though not of im- 
 posing proportions, is in Grecian style. The corner-stone 
 was laid July 4, 1829, by Samuel Moore, Director, and the 
 structure was completed in 1833. Needful changes have 
 been introduced at various times since, and it was made 
 more secure as a depositary for its treasures by having been 
 rendered fire-proof in 1856. 
 
 In the year 1793 was issued the first coinage of the United 
 States. This was of copper, brought from England, and 
 the denominations were cents and half-cents. In cents the 
 number was 112,212, and in half-cents 31,934- I n i?94 
 silver was first coined at the Mint of the United States, the 
 amount being $1758 in dollars, and $5300 in half-dollars. 
 In this connection the following incident is related, which 
 illustrates the times and the men : President Washington 
 was in the habit of inviting his chief officials to dine with 
 him once a week. Upon one of these informal occasions 
 he said to the Director of the Mint, Henry William de 
 Saussure, " It would give me great pleasure to see gold 
 coin from the United States Mint before my term of office 
 expires." This was in July ; Mr. De Saussure next day 
 called a consultation with his officers, and in October 
 carried a hundred golden eagles to the President. 
 
 As a contrast and a wonderful evidence of the vast growth 
 of this country, it will be well to give the figures of the 
 official report of the Philadelphia Mint coinage for the 
 fiscal year ending June 30, 1876 : 
 
 Gold, 422,265 pieces; value, $8,260,937.50. 
 
 Silver, 29,303,000 pieces ; value, $6,600,502.50. 
 
 Nickel, 2,906,000 pieces; value, $140,260. 
 
 Bronze, 9,721,000 pieces; value, $97,210. 
 
 Total, 42,362,265 pieces; value, $15,098,910.
 
 No attempt will be made in this limited space to describe 
 the many rooms in the building, or the modus operandi of 
 coinage. The visitor upon entering will receive courteous 
 attention, and all questions are certain to receive an intel- 
 ligent response, so that a walk through such rooms as are 
 open to the public is not only instructive, but will be re- 
 membered by all with interest. 
 
 WEIGHING-ROOM. 
 
 There is an universal curiosity in regard to the process 
 by which a lump of silver or gold is transformed into the 
 dignity of a dollar or an eagle, which curiosity is only par- 
 tially satisfied, as it is both impracticable and unsafe to 
 allow visitors to enter every room where the work is being 
 performed. In the deposit- and weighing-room the in- 
 terest is divided between the weights, the weighing, and 
 the weighed. There are few persons who have not seen 
 gold or silver bullion, but the nicety of the scales is quite a 
 study. The largest weight used in this room is five hun- 
 dred ounces, the smallest only the hundredth part of an 
 ounce. On the right of this room is a vault, of which 
 there are twelve in the building. They are of solid ma- 
 sonry, and several of them are iron-lined, with double iron 
 doors, and the most ingenious and burglar-defying locks. 
 In the gold and silver melting-rooms all the gold and sil- 
 ver used at the Mint in the coinage of money is weighed, 
 melted, and moulded into ingots, which are wedge-shaped 
 bars of silver and gold, the first worth $60 apiece, and the 
 second $12. 50, differing, however, in size and value accord- 
 ing to the use for which they are designed. 
 
 These ingots are carefully stamped with their value. A 
 very wise provision in these rooms is the false floor, which 
 is made of iron sections about a foot square, subdivided 
 into smaller sections called "scrapers." These prevent 
 any small particles of the precious metals from adhering
 
 i6 
 
 to the feet of those who are at work. The sweepings of 
 the buildings have amounted to $50,000 a year. The 
 baser metals are melted in a separate room. A corridor 
 leads to the 
 
 ROLLING-ROOM, 
 
 in which is a large engine of eighty horse-power, the 
 motive power of the rolling machines in the room, as 
 well as of nearly all the other machinery in the building. 
 The ingots are run through the "rollers" at the rate of 
 two hundred an hour for each roller. These are so ad- 
 justed as to roll the metal into strips of the exact thick- 
 ness of the intended coin. The metal is then placed in 
 the cutting-presses, where it is cut into smooth discs known 
 as planchets, two hundred and twenty-five of which are 
 cut in a minute. When cut they fall into a pan and are 
 taken to the annealing furnace for the purpose of softening 
 the metal, which has now become hard and brittle. From 
 there they go to the 
 
 ADJUSTING-ROOM, 
 
 where the work requires the utmost delicacy and precis- 
 ion, and this is done entirely by ladies. In the 
 
 CLEANING-ROOM, 
 
 where the planchets are next sent, they are dressed with 
 acid, then washed in water, and thoroughly dried. 
 
 The official simplicity of the regulations which obtained 
 in the earlier years of the institution is amusing. Not 
 only the strength of the horse was called into requisition, 
 but the faithfulness of the dog ; for we learn from regula- 
 tions in force prior to the introduction of steam into the 
 institution, that " no person shall presume to ride the 
 horse on Sunday," and that "the day-watch shall remain 
 with the dog inside the building until the night-watch 
 enters." Under the third Director, Elias Boudinot, is
 
 17 
 
 found a new ordering of things, such as, " it is understood 
 that, in future, all the workmen and laborers find them- 
 selves in diet, drink, and lodging." Previous to this, 
 rum had been allowed under the head of " fatigue rations ." 
 
 COINING-ROOM. 
 
 Finally the coining-room is reached, where our interest 
 in the bullion we are watching becomes more tangible as 
 it approximates a dollar. The engine here is a subject of 
 daily admiration. To it is attached an indicator which, 
 marking the revolutions, gives notice to the chief coiner 
 if the working of the machinery has been interrupted 
 without good cause. This fine engine was almost entirely 
 made and put up by the workmen of the Mint in 1839, 
 and has been constantly in use ever since. Here, also, are 
 the 
 
 MILLING-MACHINES, 
 
 which make a raised and beaded border on the edge of 
 the planchet, as a protection against "coin-clipping." 
 That work is guided by ladies, and the wonderful little 
 machines ////'// more than a thousand a minute. The coin- 
 ing room contains ten coining-presses, which are seldom 
 all in operation ; the larger ones shaping double-eagles and 
 dollars, the smaller ones other silver and minor coins. 
 They are each capable of producing one hundred coins 
 per minute, and ladies are employed to work them, as 
 extreme precision is required, for the least conceivable 
 inaccuracy ruins the surface, and the "spoils" must then 
 be returned to the melting-room. 
 
 The process of stamping coin, though of so much im- 
 portance, is done on both sides at once, with marvelous 
 rapidity. The contrast between the present method of 
 stamping money by steam, and the antique punch, or even 
 the hand-power in use in the early part of the century, is 
 both interesting and instructive. 
 
 2*
 
 i8 
 
 The first coining-press was invented, in 1833, by Thon- 
 nelier, a Frenchman, and introduced in the U. S. Mint in 
 1836 ; though used for nearly half a century, the changes 
 or improvements have been immaterial, to make it an- 
 swer perfectly the requirements for the work of to-day, 
 which cannot be said of many inventions. Nowhere can 
 the advancement in the nice art of coinage be more 
 readily appreciated than in watching the rapid evolutions 
 of the "feeders," which take each planchet as it is pre- 
 sented at the lower end of a brass tube, and place it on a 
 lower die. At the very moment this die sinks below a 
 collar or metal enclosure, the upper die descends, and a 
 dollar is added to the coin of the United States, an au- 
 thorized fact, a witness to the coming ages of the law 
 which called it into existence a record of the very nation 
 itself.* 
 
 THE COUNTING- BOARDS 
 
 are quite curious inventions, and are used only for small 
 silver and minor coins. Twenty-five dollars of the small- 
 est silver denomination can be counted by this " lightning 
 calculator" in less than a minute. The board is a plain 
 wooden surface, with parallel grooves of copper the size 
 of the coin to be counted. It is worked by hand over 
 a box, and the coins are counted as they fall into it. 
 They are then taken from the box, put in bags, and re- 
 moved to the office of the Coiner, where they are again 
 weighed and counted. By him they are handed over to 
 the Treasurer, and are ready for delivery on demand. 
 
 After this brief walk through the Mint, such as all 
 visitors are permitted to take, the stairway and corridors 
 
 * The difference in the edges of gold and silver coin and those of copper 
 or nickel is caused by the collar. That used for gold and silver is 
 " reeded," making a delicate fluted edge, while for the " minor coins" it 
 is smooth, and the coins have a plain edge.
 
 19 
 
 are shown leading to the Cabinet, where no student of 
 history, no lover of art, can fail to find rare and curious 
 tokens of almost every age and country since the very 
 dawn of civilization ; to an outline sketch of these this 
 little pamphlet is chiefly devoted. Near the exit door of 
 the Cabinet, in a large glass case, is a magnificent Ameri- 
 can eagle, which is worthy of the visitor's attention. It is 
 superbly mounted, with grand breadth of wing and won- 
 drous piercing eyes. The portrait of this "pet" can be 
 recognized on the obverse of the first nickel cent pieces 
 
 coined in 1857. 
 
 "PETER," 
 
 the name which the noble bird recognized, was an in- 
 habitant of the Mint six years. He would fly about the 
 city, but no one interfered with the going or coming of 
 the "Mint bird," and he never failed to return from his 
 daily exercise before the time for closing the building. 
 In an evil hour he unfortunately perched upon a large 
 fly-wheel, and, getting caught in the machinery, received 
 a fatal injury in his wing, and rapidly ended rather an 
 unusual career for an eagle.* 
 
 EASTERN CORRIDOR. 
 
 Opening into the eastern corridor are the Director's 
 room, those of the Chief Clerk, Chief Engraver, and Chief 
 
 * An old citizen of Philadelphia is authority for the following story : 
 " On one fourth of July ' Peter," making a longer flight than was his cus- 
 tom, sat upon the topmost bough of a large tree, corner of South and 
 Broad Streets, attracting and amusing a large crowd by his demonstra- 
 tions of course the result of excitement from the unusual noise in the 
 streets. Soon, however, an Irishman, who fed him in the Mint, came 
 under the tree and called, ' Peter, coome down !' The crowd jeered, but 
 the Irishman averring 'Sure he looves me as if he were me own son,' re- 
 peated ' Peter, coome down !' and the bird came swooping down to the 
 shoulders of the delighted Patrick, rather to the sudden terror of the 
 lesser element in the assemblage."
 
 2O 
 
 Coiner, and the Library of Historical and Scientific Works, 
 including many valuable books upon the art of coinage. 
 Passing out upon the gallery, we enter the Machinists' and 
 Engravers' rooms. Here are engraved and finished the 
 dies used in this Mint and in all the branch mints. Visitors 
 are not ordinarily allowed access to these rooms, to the/ 
 assay office, or to the cellar. In the latter are a number 
 of immense vaults, and in the main cellar under the yard 
 are six large boilers, which supply the steam used through- 
 out the building. Here are also blacksmith, carpenter, and 
 paint shops ; and in the rear is the medal-striking room, 
 where medals are struck by a screw press, worked by hand. 
 The cellar also contains the " sweep" grinding rooms. The 
 importance of the " sweeps" has been heretofore remarked. 
 Near the room are the wells, which are receptacles for 
 the water used in washing-rooms. These wells are cleaned 
 out every few years, and the deposit is then treated in 
 the same way as the sweepings. The little wooden build- 
 ing in the yard is the "cent room," where cents are ex- 
 changed for nickel. 
 
 THE CABINET. 
 
 The room in the Mint used for the Cabinet is on the 
 second floor. It was formerly a suite of three apartments 
 connected by folding-doors, but the doors have been re- 
 moved, and it is now a pleasant saloon fifty-four feet long 
 by sixteen wide. The eastern and western sections are of 
 the same proportions, each with a broad window. The 
 central section is not quite so large, and is lighted from 
 the dome, which is supported by four columns. There is 
 an open space immediately under the dome, to give light 
 to the hall below, which is the main entrance to the Mint. 
 Around this space is a railing and a circular case for coins. 
 Though the saloon is neither pretentious nor handsome, it 
 is well adapted to the uses to which it is devoted. The
 
 21 
 
 Cabinet of Coins was instituted in 1838, by Dr. R. M. Pat- 
 terson, then Director of the Mint. Anticipating such a 
 demand, reserves had been made for many years by Adam 
 Eckfeldt,* the Coiner, of the " master coins" of the Mint ; 
 a term used to signify first pieces from new dies, bearing a 
 high polish and struck with extra care. These are now 
 more commonly called " proof pieces," and by the French 
 gracefully named " fleur de coin." With this nucleus, and 
 a few other valuable pieces from Mr. Eckfeldt, the business 
 was committed to the Assay Department, and especially to 
 Mr. Dubois, who was then Assistant Assayer. Many rare 
 coins were found in deposits that reached our shores by 
 means of the varied and extensive stream of immigration that 
 has flowed into the United States during the last half-cen- 
 tury ; the same advantage exists in a measure to-day. The 
 collection grew, year by year, by making exchanges to sup- 
 ply deficiencies, by purchases, by adding our own coin, and 
 by saving foreign coins from the melting-pot, a large part 
 in this way, at a cost of not more than their bullion value, 
 though demanding great care, appreciation, and study. 
 Valuable donations were also made by travelers, consuls, 
 and missionaries. In 1839, Congress appropriated the sum 
 of $1000 for the purchase of " specimens of ores and coins 
 to be reserved at the Mint." Annually since the sum of 
 $300 has been appropriated by the Government for this 
 object. More has not been asked or desired, for the offi- 
 cers of the Mint have not sought to vie with the long- 
 established collections of the national cabinets of the old 
 world, or even to equal the extravagance of some private 
 numismatists; but they have admirably succeeded in their 
 purpose to secure such coins as would interest all, from the 
 
 Adam Eckfeldt's portrait by Samuel Dubois hangs in the Cabinet. 
 His long official life of near a half-century was not only faithful unto a 
 proverb even where faithfulness was no exception, but was marked by 
 advance and usefulness in other than his daily duties.
 
 22 
 
 schoolboy to the most enthusiastic archaeologist. The 
 economic principle upon which the collection has been 
 gathered is a lesson to all governmental departments in fru- 
 gality, as well as a restraint upon the natural tendency to 
 extravagance which has heretofore distinguished those who 
 have a passion (it often becomes that in intensity) for 
 old coins. There are thousands of coin collectors in the 
 United States, and fortunes have been accumulated in this 
 strange way. More than one authenticated instance has 
 been known in this country where a man has lived in 
 penury, and died from want, yet possessed of affluence in 
 time-defaced coins. 
 
 DAVID RITTENHOUSE. 
 
 Entering the Cabinet, the portraits of the different Di- 
 rectors attract attention. The portrait of David Kitten- 
 house, the first Director, is very fine indeed, it being a 
 copy of a painting by Charles Wilson Peale, now the prop- 
 erty of the American Philosophical Society. The artist 
 who reproduced it has succeeded so well that it is not 
 readily distinguishable from the original Peale. The face 
 is exceptionally pleasing, and well portrays the character of 
 this eminent officer, uniting as he did rare ability to the 
 graces of the humanitarian and the gentleness of a Chris- 
 tian. "His countenance," says Dr. Rush, "was striking 
 and remarkable. It displayed a mixture of contemplation, 
 benignity, and innocence." Mr. Rittenhouse was appointed 
 by Washington April 14, 1792, and remained in charge of 
 the Mint until June, 1795, wnen his declining health com- 
 pelled him to resign. 
 
 He was long an invalid, but never gave up his habits of 
 study, which was indeed a passion through life. " Hi< 
 bodily infirmity was a window, through which he often 
 looked with pleasure toward a place of existence where he 
 would probably acquire more knowledge in an hour than
 
 23 
 
 he had acquired in his whole life by the slow operation of 
 reason ; and where, from the greater magnitude and extent 
 of the objects of his contemplation, his native globe would 
 appear like his cradle, and all the events of time like the 
 amusements of his infant years." [Eulogy by Dr. Rush, 
 1813.] 
 
 Though the difficulties of organizing an institution of 
 such paramount importance may readily be conceived, the 
 genius of Rittenhouse seems to have been equal to the 
 emergency, and it is doubtful if there was his rival at that 
 date in the country in the special talent required for the 
 position. Like Hamilton in the Treasury and Marshall in 
 the Supreme Court, the stamp of his genius remains indeli- 
 bly impressed upon the Mint. Mr. Rittenhouse descended 
 from an old Netherland family remarkable for its enter- 
 prise, which had been in America three generations. At 
 an early age he indicated mechanical talent of a high order 
 in the construction of a clock, and his studies from that 
 time were principally mathematical. His genius soon at- 
 tracted attention, and he was appointed by the colonial 
 governor a surveyor, and in that capacity determined the 
 famous Mason and Dixon line. He received the degree of 
 Master of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, also 
 from the College of William and Mary. He was a member 
 of the Royal Society, London, and succeeded Benjamin 
 Franklin as President of the American Philosophical So- 
 ciety. He was the first President of the " Democratic So- 
 ciety" of Philadelphia, formed in 1795. Mr. Wm. Bar- 
 ber, Chief Engraver of the Mint, has produced a very fine 
 bust of Dr. Rittenhouse, a bronzed medal. Possibly, ex- 
 cepting Duvivier's head of Washington after Houdon, it 
 cannot be surpassed in the Cabinet. The engraver had a 
 very fine subject, and treated it in the highest style of art. 
 On the obverse is "David Rittenhouse," with date of birth 
 and death. On the reverse, inscription, "He belonged to
 
 24 
 
 the whole human race." " Wm. Barber." This beautiful 
 memento is highly prized. 
 
 HENRY WILLIAM DE SAUSSURE. 
 
 The portrait of Henry William de Saussure, second Di- 
 rector, was painted by Samuel Dubois, from a daguerreo- 
 type taken from a family picture in the possession of his 
 son. This Director was distinguished for his legal ability, 
 as well as his strict integrity and modesty. He entered 
 upon his duties with a protest, as he claimed no knowledge 
 of the requirements of the position, having long been a 
 practicing lawyer ; but he was reassured by Alex. Hamil- 
 ton, then Secretary of the Treasury, and proved himself a 
 fine officer for the short term of his service. He was ap- 
 pointed by Washington July 8, 1795, but resigned in the 
 following October. Washington not only expressed regret 
 at losing so valuable an officer, but consulted him as to the 
 selection of a successor. A man distinguished in war and 
 peace was decided upon. 
 
 ELIAS BOUDINOT, 
 
 was appointed October 28, 1795, and remained in office 
 eleven years. The usefulness of this long and well-sus- 
 tained official life was plainly felt during many succeed- 
 ing years. In the summer and autumn of 1797 and the 
 two following years, and also of 1802 and 1803, the Mint 
 was closed on account .of the ravages of the yellow fever. 
 Mr. Boudinot resigned in 1805, and devoted the remainder 
 of his life to benevolence and literary pursuits. He died on 
 the 24th of October, 1821, at the advanced age of eighty-two. 
 The fine portrait of this venerable Director was presented 
 by a relative, and is a good copy of a painting by Waldo 
 and Jewett. 
 
 ROBERT PATTERSON, LL.D., 
 
 fourth Director, was appointed by Jefferson, January 17,
 
 25 
 
 i8o6. He was a native of Ireland, and a man distin- 
 guished for his acquirements and ability, who held the 
 office of Director for an exceptionally long term of ser- 
 vice. * He was a man of peculiarly attractive manners, and 
 highly esteemed by his contemporaries. His portrait, which 
 hangs in the Cabinet, is a copy of a fine original by Rem- 
 brandt Peale. 
 
 SAMUEL MOORE, M.D., 
 
 fifth Director, was appointed by James Monroe July 15, 
 1824. He was a native of New Jersey, and the son of a 
 distinguished Revolutionary officer. He was one of the 
 first graduates of the Penn University, having graduated in 
 1791, and was afterwards a tutor in that institution. During 
 his directorship the Mint was removed to the present build- 
 ing. His portrait was painted from life by Mr. Samuel 
 Dubois. 
 
 ROBERT MASKELL PATTERSON, M.D., 
 
 son of a former Director, was sixth Director of the Mint, 
 and was appointed by Andrew Jackson, May 26, 1835. A 
 summary of the character of Dr. Patterson might be tersely 
 expressed in the phrase, "A worthy son of a worthy sire," 
 but this would not be quite a sufficient tribute. His term 
 of office was marked by an entire revolution in the coinage, 
 and the ready acceptance of those improvements which fol- 
 lowed so rapidly upon the introduction of steam. Dr. Pat- 
 terson possessed the advantage of foreign travel, rather un- 
 usual in those days ; and having become familiar with the 
 discoveries which had been adopted in the French Mint, 
 he inaugurated and perfected them, also introducing im- 
 provements, which are still in use, in the machinery. He 
 was a man of commanding intellect, of high culture, and of 
 robust health, until well advanced in years. His portrait 
 is in the Cabinet. 
 
 B 3
 
 26 
 
 DR. GEORGE N. ECKERT 
 
 was the seventh Director, appointed by Fillmore, July i, 
 1851. He served nearly two years, and resigning, was fol- 
 lowed by Thomas M. Pettit, who was appointed by Pierce, 
 April 4, 1853. He was in office only a few weeks when he 
 died, and was succeeded by 
 
 HON. JAMES ROSS SNOWDEN, 
 
 who was appointed by Pierce, June 3, 1853. During his 
 official term the building was made fire-proof, the large col- 
 lection of minerals was added, and nickel was first coined. 
 Mr. Snowden has placed the numismatic world under 
 many obligations, by directing the publication of two val- 
 uable quarto volumes, one of them a description of the 
 coins in the Cabinet, under the title of "The Mint Manual 
 of Coins of all Nations," the other "The Medallic Me- 
 morials of Washington," being mainly a description of a 
 special collection made by himself. In the preface to the 
 former work, he gives due credit to the literary labors of 
 Mr. George Bull, then Chief Curator, and also to the 
 account of the antique collection, by Mr. Dttbois, then out 
 of print, and reinserted. These books are valuable as au- 
 thority, and by reason of the national character of the last 
 mentioned. 
 
 JAMES POLLOCK, A.M., LL.D., 
 
 the tenth Director of the Mint, was appointed by Abraham 
 Lincoln, in 1861, and was re-appointed by President Grant, 
 1869 to 1873. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1810, and 
 was early left to the guardianship of a widowed mother. 
 He graduated at Princeton College, New Jersey, in 1831, 
 and commenced the practice of the law in 1833. He 
 served in Congress three terms, was one of the leading rep- 
 resentatives of the old Whig party, and, like all who were 
 prominently identified with that conservative organization,
 
 27 
 
 reveres its name and principles. Many to-day remember 
 his election from a strong Democratic district in Pennsyl- 
 vania as the occasion of great enthusiasm. Governor Pol- 
 lock was a man then in advance of his times, as an interest- 
 ing historical reminiscence will demonstrate. On the 23d 
 of June, 1848, as chairman of a special committee, he made 
 a report to the House of Representatives in favor of the 
 construction of a railroad to the Pacific coast ; and in the 
 fall of the same year, in a public address at Lewisburg, 
 Union County, Pennsylvania, predicted that in less than 
 twenty-five years we should have connecting railroad lines 
 from New York to San Francisco, and a line of steamships 
 established from the latter point to China and Japan, a 
 prediction fully realized. 
 
 Throughout his brilliant Congressional career, Governor 
 Pollock was ever an appreciative advocate of the claims and 
 possibilities of the great West. He was elected Governor 
 of Pennsylvania in 1854; in 1860 was a peace delegate to 
 Washington from his State to counsel with representatives 
 from different parts of the Union as to the possibility of 
 amicably adjusting our unhappy national troubles. 
 
 Governor Pollock was Director of the Mint during the 
 war, and the increased demand for money in that unpar- 
 alleled public emergency greatly added to his official labor 
 and responsibility. The motto, "In God we Trust," was 
 introduced upon our coins by Director Pollock ; this was 
 not only appropriately added at a time of great distress, 
 but will for ever mark an era in United States coinage, and 
 link with.it the name of the man who piously pointed the 
 nation to their only strength in peace or war. It is difficult 
 to do justice to an official without appearing to praise over- 
 much, but a simple reference to Governor Pollock's career 
 indicates a life of usefulness, ability, and stern integrity. 
 Having been twice Director, he now holds the office of 
 Superintendent of the United States Mint at Philadelphia.
 
 28 
 
 His portrait, by Winner, hangs in the eastern section of 
 the Cabinet. 
 
 HENRY RICHARD LINDERMAN, M.D., 
 
 a native of Pennsylvania, was born December 26, 1825. 
 He was the son of Dr. John Linderman, and commenced 
 the practice of his profession with his father in 1845. His 
 association with the United States Mint began in 1853, 
 when he was made Chief Clerk. He was appointed 
 eleventh Director of the Mint by Andrew Johnson, April 
 i, 1867, but resigned in 1869. 
 
 Dr. Linderman during the next few years was, by the 
 Secretary of the Treasury, delegated to perform various 
 mint and monetary missions of great importance. The 
 United States Mint was developing into an immense bu- 
 reau, and a different organization was deemed advisable. 
 In consequence of his thorough knowledge of the workings 
 of all the mints and assay offices belonging to the Govern- 
 ment, Dr. Linderman became one of the chief promoters 
 of the revision of the coinage act, placing the section 
 mints and assay offices under and answerable to one di- 
 rector, whose office, as reorganized, constituted a bureau 
 of the Treasury Department. 
 
 Under an Act of Congress approved February 12, 1873, 
 Henry R. Linderman was appointed by the President to 
 the charge of the Mint and all branch mints and assay 
 offices in the United States, with the title of Director of 
 the Mint; the title of Superintendent being substituted 
 for those appointed to the direction of the Mints at Phila- 
 delphia, San Francisco, etc. 
 
 While the title remains the same, the responsibility is 
 greater and the duties more onerous, until in importance 
 and interest it is scarcely inferior to a Cabinet office. 
 
 Dr. Linderman has done much to excite the considera- 
 tion of the world to our coinage, by the introduction of the
 
 2 9 
 
 "Trade Dollar," which has in truth achieved a revolution 
 in our oriental monetary relations. So short a time has 
 elapsed since its issue that it can scarcely be regarded 
 except in the light of an experiment, but the discussions 
 which have followed its appearance will doubtless lead to 
 an improved system of international money exchange, the 
 effect of which, not only upon the commercial world but 
 upon universal progress itself, it is now impossible to esti- 
 mate. To-day, Dr. Linderman is an authority and a repre- 
 sentative man upon this subject, at home and abroad, and it 
 will be the pleasing duty of the future biographer of this 
 gentleman to make a record of professional eminence, sus- 
 tained by rare personal integrity. Director Linderman's 
 portrait, by Johnson, has just been placed in the Cabinet.
 
 OBVERSE. WASHINGTON BEFORE BOSTON.
 
 REVERSE. WASHINGTON BEFORE BOSTON.
 
 RELICS. 
 
 HAVING hurriedly made mention of the portraits of the 
 Directors of the Mint, it is well to remark several other 
 interesting matters before speaking of the coins. 
 
 The first object in the Saloon attracting the attention is 
 a framed copy of the law of Congress establishing the Mint, 
 with its quaint phraseology and the original signature of 
 Thomas Jefferson : 
 
 CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES: 
 
 AT THE THIRD SESSION, 
 
 Begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, on Monday, the Sixth 
 of December, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety. 
 
 RESOLVED, By the SENATE and HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES 
 of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That a 
 Mint shall be established under such regulations as shall be directed 
 by law. 
 
 Resolved, That the President of the United States be, and he is 
 hereby authorized to cause to be engaged, such principal artists as shall 
 be necessary to carry the preceding resolution into effect, and to stip- 
 ulate the terms and conditions of their service, and also to cause to be 
 procured such apparatus as shall be requisite for the same purpose. 
 FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG, 
 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 
 JOHN ADAMS, 
 Vice- President of the United States and President of the Senate. 
 
 APPROVED, March the Third, 1791. 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON, 
 
 President of the United States. 
 
 DEPOSITED among the ROLLS in the OFFICE of the SECRE- 
 TARY of STATE. 
 
 TH: JEFFERSON, 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 32
 
 33 
 
 In the first section, near the western window, is the 
 assorting machine, the invention of a Frenchman, Baron 
 Seguier, and which is now in use in the Mint at Paris. 
 
 The planchets for coinage are liable to be a little too 
 heavy or too light ; it is therefore necessary, at least in the 
 case of gold, to assort them by weighing. This machine 
 is designed to enable one person to do the work of many. 
 "The planchets are thrown into the hopper at the rear, and, 
 being arranged by the action of the wheel, slide down bal- 
 ances. By machinery beneath they are carried one by one 
 to the nearest platforms to be weighed. If too heavy, the 
 tall needle of the beam leans to the right, and lifts a pallet- 
 wire, which connects with an apparatus under the table, 
 by which the planchet is pushed off and slides into one of 
 the brass pans in front. If the piece be light, the needle 
 is drawn over to the left, and touches the other pallet, 
 which makes a passage to another brass pan. If the piece 
 be of true weight, or near enough, the needle stands up- 
 right between the pallets, and the piece finds its way into 
 the third brass pan." 
 
 Here are also deposited six old watches ; two of them 
 are from the original inventor, and were made about the 
 year 1500, being known from their clumsiness as " Nurem- 
 burg eggs." One of them is still in working order, or was 
 within a few years. The form of one is square, and they 
 have no minute-hands. 
 
 On the opposite wall is a fine cast of Cromwell, a dupli- 
 cate of one taken shortly after his death. It was placed 
 here by Mr. W. E. Dubois, who received it from H. W. 
 Field, Esq., Assayer of the Royal Mint, London, who is a 
 descendant of the great Protector. Below the cast of Crom- 
 well is a case of gold plate, showing progressive " alloys of 
 gold." The plates comprise gold alloyed with copper, gold 
 alloyed with silver, gold fine. It is easy to distinguish the 
 difference between the higher and lower alloys in the case, 
 B*
 
 34 
 
 but the nicety of the advancing grades is a study which will 
 baffle all save skilled eyes. 
 
 In the eastern section are the Standard Test Scales, which 
 are used to test the weights sent to all the mints and assay 
 offices in the United States, and are so delicate as to dis- 
 cover the twenty-thousandth part of an ounce. These 
 scales were manufactured by employees of the Mint, and 
 have been in use more than a quarter of a century. The 
 beam is hollow, and filled with Spanish cedar to guard 
 against the effect of dampness; the bearings are edges of 
 knife-blades, which impinge on a surface of agate plate. 
 These scales are examined once a year by the Annual Assay 
 Committee, which meets on the second Tuesday in Feb- 
 ruary. It is said that not even an intrusive fly is allowed 
 to remain in the glass case during the process of weighing. 
 
 CURIOSITIES AND MINERALS. 
 
 A large part of the ancient pottery and other curiosities 
 do not belong to the Mint, but are deposited for an indef- 
 inite time by persons of taste and discrimination in such 
 things, and are all very curious. Two small Etruscan vases, 
 with handles ; a number of Roman vases, differing in de- 
 sign, and for various uses ; several hand-lamps of the vari- 
 ety known as antique lamps. Two of the latter are toy- 
 lamps, and were used to light the little ones to bed, as they 
 were supposed to burn as long as their tired eyes remained 
 open. When a child died, its lamp was buried with it. 
 There are also two "Lachrymatories," or tear-bottles, 
 very small flasks, which were held under the eyes to catch 
 the mourner's tears, and afterward sealed and deposited 
 with the remains of the deceased. Other curiosities in the 
 case are a lamp with seven burners, used for public illumin- 
 ation ; three small Egyptian idols of green porcelain, cov- 
 ered with hieroglyphics ; an amulet of the Gnostics, engraved 
 with cabalistic signs, and used as a charm against fever ; an
 
 35 
 
 Egyptian scarabseus, finely carved in slate ; * several Peru- 
 vian drinking-vessels, found in tombs ; a sacred book of 
 the Hindus, in Sanscrit, inscribed upon long strips of bam- 
 boo, strung together ; and a " Byzantine prayer-book," a 
 relic of the dark ages. The most interesting objects of this 
 curious display are three golden images from graves in the 
 Island of Chiriqui, off Central America. They were dug 
 up in 1858, and sent to the Mint as bullion, to be melted. 
 They are of pure gold, but the workmanship is very crude, 
 and they are extremely puzzling to the antiquarian. The 
 images are in the forms of a reptile, a bird, and a man with 
 symbols of power in his hands, not unlike those designating 
 Jupiter. There are also, in the first section, two large cases 
 with choice selections of mineral specimens, carefully class- 
 ified and labeled. These are the well-assorted results of 
 years of patient collecting, and are deserving of more study 
 than can be devoted to them by casual visitors. They are 
 chiefly from different parts of the United States, and are an 
 "index book" to the vast mineral wealth of the nation. 
 There is not space in this short sketch for more than a 
 reference to these cases, but Mr. Snowden has given quite 
 an attractive description of this section of the Cabinet. 
 
 COINS. 
 
 The ancient coins are chiefly arranged in upright cases 
 against the walls in the doorways and the middle section of 
 the Saloon. The modern coins are placed in nearly level 
 cases at either end of the room and in the circular or cen- 
 tral cases. Of antique coins the portion labeled 
 
 GREEK REPUBLIC 
 
 will be first in interest, both historic and artistic. It is con- 
 ceded that to the Greeks the world owes the introduction 
 
 * Some of these have recen'ly been removed.
 
 36 
 
 of the art of coinage, and though centuries numbered by 
 tens have passed, some of the old Greek coins equal many 
 modern productions in purity of lines, and surpass nearly 
 all in poetic sentiment. On the first coins no earthly 
 potentate was allowed to be pictured, no deed of heroism 
 portrayed. The glory of the gods was considered by the 
 pious Greeks to be the only appropriate theme for impres- 
 sion on the surface of bronze, silver, and gold. The coins 
 of the republic embrace a large variety, as a thousand towns 
 were allowed the privilege of coinage. Upon this varied 
 issue are preserved, as upon imperishable tablets, nearly all 
 the legends and attributes of Greek mythology. In a word, 
 Greek coinage is the manual of Greek mythology. Upon 
 the coins are the heads of Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Bacchus, 
 Apollo, and Diana, with many sacred animals, and the work 
 is to-day the standard of artistic perfection. Of course, 
 the collection of this ancient period cannot be extensive. 
 In this case there are, however, more than one hundred 
 and fifty specimens, and these present a study so attractive 
 and so intense that it is almost impossible to imagine what 
 classic poetry would be without it. 
 
 Nos. 4, 5, 6 are silver coins of JEgina, which have on 
 the obverse, for a device, the tortoise, emblematic of the 
 security of the island amid the waves, and the protection 
 of the gods of the sea. On the reverse are the marks of 
 the punches only, probably denoting the value of the coins. 
 These are claimed to belong to an era seven hundred years 
 before Christ. No. 28 is a silver coin of Athens, with a 
 head of Minerva splendidly drawn upon the obverse, while 
 the reverse presents a large owl, the bird sacred to the god- 
 dess of wisdom. The devices upon this coin indicate its 
 age to be from twenty-one to twenty-three centuries. The 
 Greek proverb of "taking owls to Athens" referred to 
 this coin, which was necessarily of great importance to the 
 tradespeople of that city.
 
 37 
 
 Nos. 97, 98, 99, " Massilia," are interesting as belonging 
 to a Greek colony which settled about six hundred years 
 before Christ upon the coast of Gaul, on the spot now known 
 as Marseilles. This little colony fled their native country 
 and the rule of a governor placed over it by a Persian 
 monarch. They were distinguished for their civilization, 
 and the work upon these small coins is the most palpable 
 witness of that fact in existence to-day. No rude people 
 ever yet left such evidences of culture, and abundant assur- 
 ance of Greek refinement upon the Gallic character is trace- 
 able to this association, and has been perceptible through 
 the centuries. Turning to the case labeled 
 
 GREEK MONARCHIES, 
 
 the student realizes a complete revolution in sentiment a 
 change from peace to war. The surfaces, of gold, silver, 
 and bronze, bristle with lance and spear, helmet and shield. 
 Earthly heroes succeed and displace, in the annals of art, 
 all the gods; and on one of these coins even Jove, seated 
 and bearing an eagle, appears to be in attendance upon the 
 heaven-defying Alexander of Macedon, while on the ob- 
 verse the same mighty conqueror impersonates Hercules. 
 The oldest coin here is supposed to date back to 550 B.C. 
 It is well to mention the fact here that coins were never 
 dated until the fifteenth century ; and previous to that time 
 the ages of coins can only be determined by the legends 
 upon them, as answering to the page of corroborative 
 history and the art era to which they belonged. To attest 
 the truths of these data, the utmost diligence of the anti- 
 quarian has been devoted. No. 9 bears on the obverse the 
 Macedonian horse, a favorite animal, which the then war- 
 loving Greeks are said to have deified. At this period the 
 haughty royal families began to chronicle in coin their line 
 of descent. The kings of Macedon claimed Hercules for 
 an ancestor, and in proof thereof the lion's skin was a royal 
 
 4
 
 38 
 
 insignia. An old historian says, " The kings of Macedon, 
 instead of the crown, the diadem, the purple, bear upon 
 their effigy the skin of a lion. More honorable to them is 
 this than to be decked with pearls and precious stones." 
 Several pieces of money in this case, upon which are heads 
 of Alexander, have rings in them, and were worn by gracious 
 dames as ornaments. This, it may be presumed, was a great 
 favor. The value of this series of coins is priceless, as fur- 
 nishing portraits of the heroes of that period which can be 
 received without question as accurate, for the art patronage 
 of the kingdom was regulated by the strictest laws. Alex- 
 ander was especially jealous of how the future nations should 
 regard his physique, allowing only three artists during his 
 reign the privilege of drawing, painting, or modeling his 
 head.* To such royal guardianship may be attributed the 
 perfection to which Greek art attained ; and it may well be 
 a matter of regret that the same firmness in this regard was 
 not universal. The last coin of this series is a small bronze 
 coin, and was issued by Perseus, the last king of Macedon. 
 
 PERSIAN. 
 
 In this case is a collection of Persian coins, very choice, 
 and of no mean workmanship, and, of course, portraying 
 the faith and rites of the fire-worshipers. One era is dis- 
 tinctly Greek in style, and marks the period of Greek 
 supremacy. The oldest gold coin known to the collector 
 is the golden Daric of King Darius, with the head of the 
 king in bold relief; and all Persian coins are so called, in 
 remembrance of this monarch. Their money was very 
 fine, so the word Daric has become incorporated into nu- 
 mismatic terminology to designate any pure gold coin. 
 
 * Horace says that Alexander the Great ordained that no one should 
 take his portrait on gems but Pyrgoteles ; no one should paint him but 
 Apelles ; and no one should stamp his head on coins but Lysippus. 
 American Bibliopolist.
 
 39 
 
 Nos. 58 to 67 inclusive, of this series, are silver coins of the 
 Sassanian kings. Numismatists have given to the legends 
 of these coins most profound study, hoping to penetrate 
 farther into the mysteries of fire-worship. Some of them 
 are creditable in workmanship, but as they fluctuate in that 
 regard, so has history recorded the increase or diminution 
 of culture and intelligence among the people. 
 
 EGYPT 
 
 is also represented in this case, as is proper, for that nation 
 had no coinage until it was taught the art when conquered 
 by Alexander. Here are some very attractive data of 
 Egyptian history, and from these coins are obtained the 
 only portraits of Arsinoe, Cleopatra, and others. 
 
 THE SYRIAN COINS 
 
 are also embraced in the division called " Greek mon- 
 archies," and in them are found many coins not only im- 
 portant in history, but of the very finest Greek art, from 
 the third to the first century B.C. In this period the Syriac 
 and Hebrew coins become intermingled, a fact abundantly 
 sustained by the Jewish shekel of Simon Maccabees. The 
 legend of this interesting relic is in the language of Sama- 
 ria ; on one side the budding rod of Aaron, legend, "Je- 
 rusalem the Holy ;" on the other, a cup of incense or pot 
 of manna, and the inscription, " Shekel of Israel." This 
 shekel is well preserved, and is one of the most prized 
 coins known. (See Case XV., marked "Selections.") In 
 this collection are some coins from Bactria, considered 
 priceless by savans. These are trophies of recent British 
 explorations, and are judged to be of sufficient importance 
 to call forth from an English professor an extended treatise 
 on the "Antiquities and Coins of Afghanistan." They 
 are exceedingly rude in workmanship, and nearly all of
 
 40 
 
 baser metal, the most important being a small, square, brass 
 coin, in the case marked " Selections." 
 
 ROMAN COINS. 
 
 A feeling not removed from awe may result from a study 
 of the coins recognized as Roman, embracing, as they do, 
 the " Rise and Fall" of that grandest of empires, and cov- 
 ering a period of twenty-two centuries. The collection of 
 Roman coins in this Cabinet numbers nearly one thousand, 
 and an acquaintance with it is invaluable for object-teach- 
 ing, as in it is the condensed history, not only of the glory 
 of Rome, " the nameless city," " Mistress of the world," 
 but of her customs, her policies, her faith, her conquests, 
 her tyrannies, her wealth, her culture, in a word, her grand, 
 triumphant self j not only this, but her divisions, her rebel- 
 lions, her downfall, until she lies scattered and separated, 
 as though a daring hand had dashed a handful of her repre- 
 sentative coins to the ground. Here is the grandest, sad- 
 dest page of history ; food for the moralist, the philoso- 
 pher, the scientist, the artist, the poet. None can enter 
 upon this suggestive field of investigation and leave it un- 
 impressed. It would be the work of a lifetime to decipher 
 their record, which has given, and is now giving, hours of 
 labor to the patient searcher after truth. Through this 
 entire section of time one-third of the known history of 
 the world Roman art, though high, never reached the 
 exalted purity of Greek lines. In their finest coins we see 
 no Phidias, no Myron, no Praxiteles, but they deteriorate 
 and fluctuate visibly when in or out of contact with the in- 
 fluence of the Grecian mind. Here also are many data 
 and much suggestiveness to the lover of the antique. It is 
 impossible to more than refer to the different cases, which 
 are arranged in chronological order, each designating an 
 era. First are the coins of the Republic, known as
 
 FAMILY COINS. 
 
 These comprise about one hundred and seventy-five, 
 of which one hundred and twenty-six are in the collec- 
 tion. They were struck to record the heroic deeds which 
 first introduced any notable ancestor to fame, and hence 
 are to-day family charts of respectability for many of the 
 patricians of Rome, albeit some of them have plebeian 
 roots. Be that as it may, they are as much the trusted 
 patents of aristocracy as is the " Book of the Peerage" of 
 England. Here are found the same distinctions between 
 patrician and plebeian which mark all countries, the patri- 
 cians being always designated by a symbol of warfare, 
 while the plebeians were indicated by the tools and instru- 
 ments of common trade. The more noticeable of the 
 coins are as follows: No. 16, Acilia; the reverse a female 
 leaning against a pillar, with a serpent clutched in her 
 right hand, indicating the wisdom or courage of some 
 ancestor. No. 20, ^Emilia; on the obverse of this cu- 
 rious coin is a figure kneeling by the side of a camel, 
 presenting an olive branch, from which depends a fillet or 
 ancient diadem ; on the reverse, a figure guiding a tri- 
 umphal chariot, a scorpion in the field. Josephus tells us 
 of an invasion of Arabia, and that Aretus, the king of the 
 country, purchased peace of the Romans for five hundred 
 talents. The diadem hanging from the olive branch 
 chronicles the entire humiliation of Aretus, and the scor- 
 pion doubtless indicates the month of the Roman triumph. 
 No. 30, Aquillia, a small silver coin ; the reverse shows a 
 woman kneeling before a soldier. The motto below the 
 figures (or in the exergue of the coin, as is the art term) is 
 " Sicil." This commemorates the suppression of a revolt 
 of slaves in Sicily, which was achieved by Manlius Aquillia. 
 No. 41, Calpurnia, the family of Caesar's noble wife; re- 
 verse, a horseman riding at full speed, a head of wheat above 
 
 4*
 
 42 
 
 him; legend, L. Piso-Trugi. The coin recalls the fact 
 that in the year 507 B.C. there was a famine in Rome, and 
 Calpurnius Piso was dispatched to Africa to buy corn. This 
 seemingly small service is magnified upon a large number 
 of coins. Nos. 95 and 96, Hostilia, a coin with a sacrifice 
 to Pallor 'and jPazw(fear and trembling), offered by Tullus 
 Hostilius in some great emergency. No. 97, Julia; ob- 
 verse, a helmeted head ; legend, Caesar ; reverse, a warrior 
 in a chariot drawn by two. 
 
 No. 98, Juniu ; obverse, head of Liberty ; reverse, Junius 
 Brutus guarded by lictors, and preceded by a herald, show- 
 ing that an ancestor of Junius Brutus was the first consul 
 of Rome. Nos. 181, 182, Tituria. The reverse shows two 
 soldiers throwing their shields upon a prostrate female, 
 illustrating the famous story of the " Tarpeian rock." Re- 
 verse represents the Romans carrying off Sabine women a 
 witness in coin of the fact that the family of Tituria trace 
 their ancestry from the Sabines. To do justice to this case 
 is impossible, for here are coins relating to the ancestors of 
 Antonia, Aurelia, Cornelia, Fulvia, Horatio, Lucretia, Lu- 
 cilla, Sempronia, Titia Valeria, and many others familiar 
 to the readers of history. 
 
 This era of coins terminated about the time of the birth 
 of Christ, when the 
 
 IMPERIAL COINS 
 
 were introduced. In noticing these, little save the labels 
 on the case can be given. 
 
 Division II. 
 
 Julius Caesar to Trajan, inclusive. Beginning 49 B.C., 
 and ending 117 A.D. A simple catalogue of the illustri- 
 ous names on these coins would convey an idea of their 
 importance. All the victories of Caesar are marked by 
 coinage ; but out of the two hundred belonging to this case
 
 43 
 
 reference need only be made to No. 24, a beautiful gold 
 coin, with the undraped head of Augustus, exquisitely 
 severe, the interest attaching chiefly to the legend, "The 
 Son of God," referring to the deification of Caesar. 
 
 Division III. 
 
 embraces from Hadrian to Elagabalus, 117-222. In the 
 reign of Hadrian much coin was issued, though it did not 
 bear marks of the disasters and revolts that signalized the 
 foregoing. That he was a merciful ruler is indicated by 
 the coins, especially one Hispania ; the reverse showing 
 the emperor raising Spain a female figure from the 
 ground. His travels are also illustrated in coin. 
 
 Division IV. 
 
 From Severus Alexander to Claudius Gothicus, 222-270. 
 These coins indicate the vicious effect of the rulers imme- 
 diately preceding. 
 
 Division V. 
 
 From Aurelian to the end of the Western Empire ; in- 
 cludes 270-475. A brilliant succession; Aurelian's busy 
 reign, ending in assassination; the war-like Probus, the 
 slave-emperor ; Diocletian's despotism and vindictive per- 
 secution of Christians ; the usurpation of Carausius ; the 
 happy reign of Constantine the Great, Julian, Theodosius, 
 down to Julius Nepos. These are a few of the historic 
 names and events presented in this division. 
 
 Division VI. 
 
 covers the period of the Byzantine or Eastern Empire, and 
 a lapse of eight centuries; but the coinage is not comparable 
 with that of other eras, nor were events of so stirring and 
 heroic a character. A general decay, painful to contem- 
 plate, marked this long lapse of time, which began near 
 the acceptance of Christianity, and extended through the 
 dark ages.
 
 44 
 
 "THE TEMPLE SWEEPERS." 
 
 A small case attracts no little attention in the Cabinet, 
 because it contains a single coin ; and the interest does not 
 decrease when the inscription is read: "Struck in the 
 Philadelphia Mint at least two thousand years ago." One 
 of the learned professors of the Philadelphia Mint, United 
 States, under title of "The Temple Sweepers," wrote not 
 long since a humorous sketch of this coin, made in the city 
 of Attalus Philadelphus, Asia Minor, and for which Wm. 
 Penn called his city, because the ancient one was a monu- 
 ment of "brotherly love." Diana was the patroness of 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 " On one side, then, we have a head ; not a king's nor 
 an emperor's; as yet the free city had a pride and a privi- 
 lege above that. It is a female head, an ideal, representing 
 the city itself; or rather the dwellers in it, the Demos. 
 Here in this head and title, we have the radix of that 
 Democracy of which we hear so much. Every Democrat, 
 and equally every Republican, may learn from a coin 
 like this that his political theory existed many centuries 
 ago, even in Asia, with all the surroundings of despotism 
 against it. Here my subject has a hold upon all Ameri- 
 cans. Like the ancient republics, we disdain to plant any 
 man's portrait on our coins. It must be a woman's; and 
 she must represent, not any particular person, nor woman- 
 hood in general, but the whole body of the people and 
 their franchises. 
 
 "This is all we can gather from the obverse. On the 
 other side we have a larger variety: a running female 
 figure ; a dog also on the trot ; a legend of some length 
 and of more significance. Let us spread them a little. 
 
 "The half-clad figure is that of the goddess known to 
 the Greeks as Artemis, to the Latins as Diana; and 
 otherwise called Selene, Phcebe, Delia, or Cynthia, names
 
 45 
 
 still borne by many of our girls, both in fact and in fic- 
 tion. 
 
 "She was the favorite tutelar divinity of the cities of 
 Asia Minor, as we shall see from the inscription ; they 
 loved her and she loved them. It was rather creditable to 
 them to make so good a selection from the crowd. She 
 was the patroness of chastity and purity, a proof that they 
 held such virtues in regard. She was also the head of the 
 department of hunting, 
 
 " Hark ! the goddess Diana calls out, ' To the chase !' 
 
 and let it be observed, this was not the mean chase of 
 timid, harmless deer and rabbits, but the bold extermina- 
 tion of wolves, wild boars, and jackals, a mission not less 
 benevolent than that of the Society for the Prevention of 
 Cruelty to Animals." 
 
 The legend on the obverse of this coin explains its 
 name : " Friend of Philadelphia's [her] Temple Sweepers." 
 
 ORIENTAL. 
 
 At the risk of giving offense to coin collectors, it may 
 be said that Oriental coins are not as attractive as other 
 varieties, though there are special coins among them which 
 have no rival in historic importance. Antique coins from 
 the East were usually without device, and, their legends be- 
 ing rudely inscribed in a dead language, proved frequently 
 to be sealed fountains to the thirsting antiquarian. There- 
 fore in cases marked "Oriental" the visitor is undeter- 
 mined where to begin to study, and often decides to give 
 it but little time. 
 
 Those having for device the sacred peacock are from 
 Burmah ; there is, however, in the division marked " Selec- 
 tions" a very curious coin belonging to that country, which 
 certainly formed a part of its earliest currency. It is a 
 common gravel -stone, encased in a circling band of brass.
 
 S1AM. 
 
 The coins of Siam are quite individual, and the old ones 
 very much sought. Some of them, known to European 
 travelers as "bullet money," are lumps of gold or silver, 
 hammered by rude implements into a doubtful roundness, 
 and a few Siamese characters stamped irregularly upon 
 them. The sacred elephant is found on a large proportion 
 of their money. A Siamese coin in the Cabinet, of modern 
 date, is quite handsome in both workmanship and design. 
 On the obverse is the sacred elephant in ponderous propor- 
 tion, which delights the eyes of the devout, and the re- 
 verse presents a group of three pagodas, finely drawn. In 
 the case marked " Selections" is a Siamese coin of gold, 
 comparatively modern, called "Tecal," corresponding in 
 some respects to the "Shekel," or "Oxen," of biblical 
 fame. The Hebrew, or rather the coins of Judea, as they 
 are best known by that appellation, are scattered among 
 other nations, and are now a most suggestive national type. 
 From time to time one is met in the archaeological treasures 
 of the countries which centuries before Christ had con- 
 quered this "peculiar people." 
 
 CHINESE. 
 
 On the south side of the first section is a case of seven 
 hundred coins of the Celestial Empire, all classed and 
 labeled by a Chinese scholar. With but few exceptions 
 these coins are bronzed. Dynasty succeeds dynasty ; usur- 
 pation, insurrection, are all writ in bronze. The Chinese 
 assert an uninterrupted coinage for forty-one centuries. 
 The manuscript attesting this is in the case, and was pre- 
 pared under authority. Large numbers of their coins were 
 considered charms, sufficient to protect the owner against 
 fever, or even the more dreaded horrors of spiritual men- 
 ace. In this connection it may be said that the Chinese
 
 47 
 
 had an exalted reverence for the coin-charm, and a small 
 coin was often placed in the mouth of the dead (now, if a 
 Chinaman dies in California, a small silver United States 
 coin is placed on his tongue). These coins were covered 
 with cabalistic characters, symbolic animals, birds, etc. 
 Two worthy of notice in this regard, and said to be of the 
 oldest issue, are Nos. i and 2. The first might be mistaken 
 for an iron safe-key; the second is known as the "razor 
 coin," its form and almost its size being that of a razor. 
 
 In another case, appropriately labeled, is the Chinese 
 " porcelain money." They are the only people who have 
 made porcelain a " legal tender," though it would appear 
 that almost every part of the three kingdoms of nature 
 has been laid under contribution. The specimen here 
 may be mistaken for the popular Chinese sleeve-button, 
 bought in any bazaar for a few cents. The Chinese, as 
 did also the Africans, utilized the small sea-shells for trade. 
 In the same case are some of the variety legalized. Ten 
 small shells made one "cash." This is a small, round, 
 copper-bronzed coin, with a square hole in the centre. 
 The Chinese dames of high degree wore such strung around 
 their throats, which will not call forth much envy when it 
 is known that one thousand are equal to our dollar. The 
 Japanese, however, oiitcount their neighbors, as they have 
 a bronze coin called the " One-hundredth," of which just 
 seven thousand make one Spanish dollar. 
 
 Shell money of pure gold, " or gold beaten into small solid 
 shells, was made by those natives who supplied the Portu- 
 guese slave-traders with slaves," and was called by the 
 traders " Spondylus Macutus," from which, some contend, 
 came the slangy term " spondulics." Forty of those small 
 coins, each worth about a dollar of Spanish money, made 
 a high price for a slave. 
 
 There is also in the Cabinet a valuable collection of 
 African ring money, such as was worn for ornaments, of
 
 48 
 
 the variety the Israelites were instructed to " spoil" their 
 Egyptian oppressors. These ornaments are very massive 
 and pure, comprised of elaborately carved "signet-rings, 
 armlets, anklets," etc. One article, more novel and valu- 
 able than the others, is a pipe of fine gold, bowl and 
 handle of curious bas-relief figures, and a heavy, square- 
 linked chain attaching a large medallion, on which is the 
 head of a monarch boldly drawn. 
 
 To return to the Chinese, their government, like all des- 
 potisms, is very jealous of its coining prerogatives; yet it 
 does not fail to appreciate an advantage when offered, as is 
 evident by the, to us, following quaint mandate : 
 
 ' ' Proclamation. 
 
 " Jui, Grand Secretary of the Weii hua tien, President of 
 the Board of War, and Governor-General of the Two 
 Kuang Provinces : 
 
 " Chang, Vice-President of the Board of War, and Gov- 
 ernor of Kwang Tung : 
 
 "Weii, Superintendent of Customs for the Canton Pro- 
 vinces, 
 
 Issue a Proclamation for general information : 
 " WHEREAS, The foreign silver (coin) in daily use among 
 the people of the Kwang Tung Provinces has long been in 
 circulation, and is moreover admitted to be advantageous 
 and convenient. In the 5th and nth years of Tung 
 Chih (1866 and 1872) the Hongkong Mint coined a new 
 Dollar which, upon comparison with pure silver, bore a 
 proportion of fully ninety per cent., and as the Records 
 will prove. Proclamations were issued notifying the peo- 
 ple that it might come into general circulation. There has 
 lately come to Hongkong a newly-coined American Eagle 
 Dollar, called the ' Trade Dollar,' and Sir Brooke Robert- 
 son, the British Consul, having requested that officers might 
 be appointed to assay it, the Viceroy and Haikwan there-
 
 49 
 
 upon appointed officers to melt it down and assay it, in 
 concert with (an officer from the British Consulate), when, 
 taking the Haikwan Tael of pure silver as the standard, an 
 outturn was obtained of fully 89.61 or Taels 111.6 of 
 this new Eagle Dollar are equal to 100 Haikwan Taels of 
 pure silver. Minutes of the assay were drawn up in proof 
 thereof. 
 
 " For the convenience of Traders and people, therefore, 
 this coin should be allowed to be tendered in payment of 
 duties at the rate of touch obtained at the assay, and to 
 come into daily circulation. It becomes the duty then of 
 the Viceroy and his colleagues to issue a Proclamation on 
 the subject for general information. 
 
 " This Proclamation, therefore, is for the information of 
 you merchants, traders, soldiers, and people of every dis- 
 trict. You must know that the ' Eagle Trade Dollar' 
 that has lately come to Hongkong has been jointly assayed 
 by officers specially appointed for the purpose, and it can 
 be taken in payment of duties, and come into general cir- 
 culation. You must not look upon it with suspicion. At 
 the same time rogues, sharpers and the like, are hereby 
 strictly forbidden to fabricate spurious imitations of this 
 new Eagle Dollar, with a view to their own profit. 
 
 " And should they dare to set this prohibition at defi- 
 ance, and fabricate false coin, they shall, upon discovery, 
 most assuredly be arrested and punished. Let every one 
 obey with trembling ! Let there be no disobedience ! 
 
 "A Special Proclamation. Tung Chih i2th year, pth 
 moon day (October, 1873) 
 
 " Translated by 
 
 "[SIGNED] WALTER C. HILLIER." 
 
 The need of the Trade Dollar as the medium for finding 
 a market for our superabundance of silver was apparent to 
 Dr. Linderman, also the demand for a coin which might 
 r 5
 
 5 
 
 serve the same purpose as the Mexican dollar, so long 
 used by American merchants. The healthy commercial 
 relations now increasing will be more firmly established 
 through the introduction of this coin, which those nicest 
 of coin collectors, the Chinese, have learned to respect. 
 The merchants of China, by long practice, have a " sense 
 of touch" infallible in coin. Each merchant weighs all 
 coins which pass into his hands, and leaves upon it his 
 trade-mark with a small punch. After these defaced coins 
 get back .from their celestial tour, they are known as 
 "punched dollars." This country long felt the need of a 
 trade coin, and to the Director of the Mint miy be justly 
 attributed its policy and origin. He has reason to con- 
 gratulate the country upon the manner in which the 
 Orientals have received this coin, whose chief enemy now 
 is the silversmith, who, seeing it is good, finds a tempta- 
 tion in its fineness. 
 
 JAPAN. 
 
 Perhaps the peculiar adaptability of the Japanese char- 
 acter cannot be better illustrated than by their late mone- 
 tary revolution, especially as their coinage is hedged 
 around with laws, with penal attachments of no doubtful 
 character. In the small morocco case marked "Japan" 
 are a few specimens of their original coin. Of this series 
 the large gold plate, four inches by three and a half, is 
 known as the " Gold Oban," their most valuable coin, 
 worth about seventy-five dollars. This coin is of perfectly 
 smooth surface, with an elaborate black inscription of 
 Japanese text, burnt in by a chemical process. To take the 
 " Gold Oban" out of the kingdom is punishable with 
 death; to remove it by mistake, subjects the offender to 
 imprisonment for life. The other coins in this case are, 
 in their composition, shape, and the laws which govern 
 them, as distinctive as the Japanese are peculiar as a peo- 
 ple. The progressive character of the Japanese is a reality
 
 which the so-called civilized world is beginning to appre- 
 ciate, of which the most conclusive evidence yet manifest 
 not only of that, but of the inherent strength of their laws, 
 is their recent acceptance of the United States system of 
 coinage. They pronounced it an improvement upon their 
 own, and though to honor and protect that had been the 
 education of centuries, they dismissed it, and the revolu- 
 tion was effected without an outward struggle by the gentle- 
 mannered Orientals. 
 
 TURKEY. 
 
 Neither space, nor the interest attached to the Ottoman 
 Empire, justifies more than a paragraph in comparison with 
 other series. Turkish coins often bear texts from the 
 Koran on either side, so it may be said the tenets of their 
 religion are their circulating medium ; therefore when a fol- 
 lower of Mahomet holds in his hand a confession of his 
 faith, he feels the more justified in cheating the " Christian 
 dog." The piastres in this collection are generally those 
 now in circulation. 
 
 EGYPT. 
 
 With the character of the coins of modern Egypt, by 
 reason of Eastern travel and all that has been written about 
 it, the people are generally familiar, and every one who 
 has been to Egypt, "the oldest nation in the world" (if 
 its own tablets be accepted), brings back a handful of 
 " piastres." 
 
 Egypt's antique coins were of Greek or Roman workman- 
 ship, of which the very finest is in the case marked " Selec- 
 tions," and has not its superior for interest or beauty in the 
 world. It was the work of some Greek artist, and presents 
 the head of Arsinoe, wife of Ptolemy. It was found in 
 1868, and bought by the United States Government at a 
 high price; but as only three have been found, its market 
 value may be named by thousands, though its metal value is 
 not more than twenty dollars.
 
 52 
 
 This hurried notice of Oriental coins may conclude with 
 suggestive reference to the " Cufic coins," of which there 
 are some valuable specimens. The first is the silver dirhem 
 of Walid, the eccentric caliph of Damascus, A.D. 713. 
 There is also in Case XV. a coin of the reign of Haroun 
 Alraschid, which will attract every school-boy's attention, 
 who is permitted to suppose this very coin may have been 
 in the treasure-jars of the " Forty Thieves." 
 
 MODERN. 
 
 To the French may be conceded the credit of the great 
 est discoveries and the finest suggestions in modern coinage. 
 In the division of the Cabinet marked " French" is the 
 ascriptitious history of that nation, from the small coin 
 issued in the reign of Louis "the Meek" to the last cur- 
 rency of the republic of France, spanning a period of one 
 thousand years. This lapse of time is a kaleidoscopic view 
 of the tragedies of that convulsive land. 
 
 In design and execution the French coins bear the im- 
 press of the national character, and also give assurance of 
 the art patronage in which her rulers, failing in much, have 
 never wavered, but brought all their power and cunning 
 to bear on securing the best artists, as in the instance of 
 Francis I. beguiling from the holy father that exquisite ar- 
 tist Benvenuto Cellini, or the later enterprise of Napoleon 
 Bonaparte. Pages would not do justice to this memorial 
 case, and reference will only be made to No. 83, amedalet 
 of the unhappy Marie Antoinette, which is in itself very 
 beautiful, and from its tragic association attracts general 
 interest. 
 
 GERMANY. 
 
 The collection of Germany is complete, but so divided 
 and subdivided by its kingdoms and principalities as to 
 present entirely too complex a study for the limits of this
 
 53 
 
 pamphlet. Every department is perfectly classed ; there- 
 fore, if any coin collector wishes information in regard to 
 the series of this country, they may be seen here in metal, 
 like a "Byzantine Prayer-book." 
 
 One of the most interesting coins of any age, and excell- 
 ing in beauty as well, is the gold medallic ducat on which 
 are the heads of Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon. 
 This coin is very generally admired by visitors to the Cab- 
 inet. In Germany, Austria, Prussia, the same class of 
 currency is presented in confusing profusion, sometimes 
 scarcely distinguishable one from the other, unless one be 
 versed in the minor points of national emblems. 
 
 SWITZERLAND. 
 
 The little republic of Switzerland is modestly represented 
 in all her cantons, each, like the classic Greek town, enjoy- 
 ing the coining privilege. It is even amusing, bristling as this 
 collection is with asserted and maintained independence; 
 and, while smiling at her individuality, we yet rejoice in the 
 spirit evinced by the diminutive little nation. There are 
 several pieces of commemorative and artistic worth, espe- 
 cially the two issues of the republic of 1796. 
 
 From Switzerland a glance at modern Italy suggests the 
 thought that this land of gifts has lost neither skill nor 
 
 love of the beautiful. 
 
 RUSSIA. 
 
 Of the Russian coins several very fine ones invite closer 
 attention than a passing notice. The double rouble, with 
 a magnificent draped head of Peter the Great, is unexcelled 
 for strength of outline, and valuable as a correct portrait 
 of one of the very greatest and most self-reliant of modern 
 rulers. Turning to another rouble, the features of Eliz- 
 abeth II. are recognized. It may be assumed, with all due 
 deference to royalty, that this portrayal is the most laughter- 
 provoking figure ever drawn on metal. She is so absolutely 
 
 5*
 
 54 
 
 fat as to have the effect of spreading all over the coin. 
 Another rouble presents the majestic Catherine II. in all 
 the strength so characteristic of this great monarch. 
 
 Of the coins marked Denmark, Norway, Sweden, there 
 can be only the copper half-daler of Sweden mentioned. 
 This coin is four inches square, weighs about twelve ounces, 
 and is equivalent to a United States silver half-dollar. The 
 daler of Sweden, thaler of Germany, dollar of Spain and 
 America, are all synonymous terms. 
 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 The only mint of Great Britain is near the Tower of 
 London, but it is about to be removed to a more eligible 
 location in that city, to a building far better adapted to 
 the use. Perhaps the most complete mints in the world 
 at this time are those, as it were, located at the corners of 
 the earth San Francisco, Melbourne, and Osaka. They 
 have this eminence, because they are new, with every 
 advantage of modern improvement. 
 
 The first coins of Great Britain were of tin, according 
 to Caesar's authority, who mentions the "tin money of 
 Britain," which has lately been sustained by the discovery, 
 in some work of excavation, of coins of that metal in an- 
 tique design. These coins are, however, of little use, by 
 reason of the obscure inscription, or rather the frequent 
 absence of all device. 
 
 The English collection in the Cabinet begins with a coin 
 made after the stater of Greece, presenting the head of 
 Minerva, with Greek helmet on obverse, while the reverse 
 gives the figure of a woman most crudely drawn. It is 
 supposed this rude attempt at art was coined about the time 
 of the Roman invasion. Nothing could be in more sug- 
 gestive contrast, or more truly convey an idea of the ad- 
 vance of civilization, than the contrast presented in placing 
 this relic by the side of the Victorian sovereign, where, on
 
 55 
 
 the obverse, is the queen's head superbly cut ; on the re- 
 verse, Wyon's inimitable figure of Una and the Lion. Vol- 
 umes have been written upon British coinage, but these two 
 coins are the Alpha and the Omega, while the thousands 
 issued between them are progressive links to civilization. 
 
 Two small coins are placed here, thought to be contem- 
 porary with the Christian era, having no device, but an 
 attempt to portray the sun on one side. No. 2 is the 
 skeattae of Ethelbert I., king of Saxony, and is the first 
 Saxon coin which has yet been appropriated. It bears 
 upon the obverse the head of the king ; on the reverse is 
 the figure of a bird. 
 
 Next in interest is No. 6, the penny of William the ( 
 queror. The bust of that famous monarch is attempted ; 
 1068 is about the year it is supposed to have been made 
 During the three centuries following, the condition of 
 England, whether she was at peace or war, is plainly indi- 
 cated by her coinage. Every added province is memorial- 
 ized in coin. The rose, thistle, and fleur-de-lis, all tell m 
 strange language for flowers of bloody battles, long sieges, 
 perils by sea and land ; at last all resistance bowing before 
 the ever-increasing power of Great Britain. 
 
 The first coin of English issue was dated in 1553, being 
 either the close of Edward VI.'s or the beginning of Queen 
 Mary's reign. This is claimed by many to be the first 
 coin dated, though old medals of the preceding century 
 have been found with date. 
 
 In 1558, the ryal or royal of Queen Elizabeth was 
 issued, and was worthy to bear the name of the great 
 English queen. On the obverse the queen is grandly en- 
 throned, while the reverse is a large rose, in centre of 
 which are the Danish arms of Britain, and the arms of 
 Anjou quartered. This coin and the pound sterling of 
 Charles I. are in Case XV., "Selections." 
 
 This pound sterling is one of the famous "siege pieces"
 
 56 
 
 of that unhappy king, which were often made on the field 
 with hammer and anvil out of the family plate brought to 
 the closely-pressed Stuart by his faithful followers. It is to 
 be regretted that so much valuable family plate of no mean 
 workmanship was thus sacrificed. This "siege piece" is 
 the largest silver coin known. The legend upon it, rudely 
 inscribed, is, "Let God arise; let his enemies be scat- 
 tered;" above are three fleurs-de-lis, with date, " 1642." 
 
 In 1684-88, during the short reign of James II., several 
 varieties of new coins were introduced, notably, "Maundy 
 Money," a small coin made to be distributed by the 
 king on "Maundy Thursday." Beggars, on that day, 
 received from his majesty bags containing as many maundy 
 pieces as the king had lived years ; a custom which sounds 
 very well, but the sovereign would have to number several 
 centuries to make it worth the poor mendicant's exposure 
 upon the street trying to secure royal favor. 
 
 King James II. also had issued "gun money." This 
 variety was made out of old cannon, after the suppression 
 of an Irish rebellion. Though not even giving a glance 
 towards the interesting series of Queen Anne, it is impos- 
 sible to pass unnoticed the beautiful bust of George IV., 
 by Chantrey, upon a pattern five-sovereign piece. This 
 well-executed bust of "the handsomest man in Europe" 
 was said to be the means of Sir Francis Chantrey being 
 knighted. That vain monarch was as careful about how 
 his face would appear to future generations as was Alex- 
 ander of Macedon ; and Chantrey well knew if he placed 
 upon the shoulders of sixty years the head of forty years, he 
 had given the cabalistic words which would be the "open 
 sesame" to royal favor. 
 
 The gold sovereign of Victoria, Nos. 183-184, has, on 
 the reverse, an evidence of coins as a deposit of law 
 archives. The shield surrounded by a crown, and bear- 
 ing the arms of Great Britain quartered ; but the arms of
 
 57 
 
 Hanover are omitted. Although Victoria was next heir to 
 William IV., she was prevented by the Salic law from as- 
 suming the sceptre of Hanover. On this coin, it may be 
 remembered, are very beautifully presented the rose, the 
 thistle, and the shamrock. 
 
 Scotch pennies, or Scotch moneys of any variety, are very 
 much prized by collectors (see, in Case XV., " Selections," 
 "Groat of Robert Bruce, 1602"). A very rare coin is 
 the penny of Robert II. of Scotland, said to be the only 
 specimen in existence of that monarch's reign. In the 
 seventeenth century the coinage of Scotland merged into 
 that of England. 
 
 In this collection there are a number of English counter- 
 feits, prized because they are so well executed. Some of 
 these give evidence of having been extensively circulated, 
 almost defying detection. 
 
 In a small, separate section are sixty-seven 
 
 ENGLISH SILVER TOKENS, 
 
 issued in England, Scotland, and Ireland. " During the 
 long suspension of specie payments, occasioned by the 
 wars with Napoleon, the minor currency of England was 
 supplied, not with small paper notes, but with silver 
 tokens, issued by banks and traders, and made redeemable 
 in bank notes. They were of reduced weight, to keep 
 within the premium, and to prevent hoarding. They con- 
 tinued to circulate until the return of better times and of 
 regular silver coinage. There were many varieties, most 
 of which are here. Some of them were issued by irrespon- 
 sible parties, and were never redeemed. The whole series 
 is extremely curious, as a matter of history ; and important, 
 as suggesting what might be done here, under authority of 
 law, and with some improvements." Dubois. 
 
 c*
 
 PORTUGAL AND SPAIN. 
 
 Returning to the fifteenth century, the coinage of Portu- 
 gal and Spain held greater sway than that of other countries. 
 Of their coins, there are many fine specimens in this mu- 
 seum. The "joe and half-joe" of Portugal are known of all 
 nations, while the Spanish dollar, with its pretentious two 
 globes under a crown, did not claim too much, and only tells 
 the almost limitless rule of the great Philip. The coins 
 of these nations became, through their possessions in the 
 New World, the circulating medium of that portion of the 
 earth. Spanish and Mexican dollars were almost synony- 
 mous, while the real and joe of South America was pat- 
 terned after that of Portugal, which fact can be learned 
 in this Cabinet. As nations decay it will be seen their 
 coins become inevitably less trustworthy ; even a glance at 
 the cases marked "Portugal," "Spain," will give this 
 lesson. In the Mexican collection there are issues which 
 seem to contradict this assertion, for the "Mexican dol- 
 lar" has, for generations, had a position in the monetary 
 world of almost unchallenged credit, yet not by reason of 
 the recognition given Mexico, but because of the United 
 States using it so extensively; for, until the introduction 
 of the "trade dollar," this country had no currency that 
 would meet the demand of the Oriental market. 
 
 MEXICO. 
 
 The Mexicans use only gold and silver, and their na- 
 tional series is full of tragic interest, embracing, as it does, 
 three and a half centuries of Mexican history, from Cortez 
 to Maximilian. The " pillar dollar," " windmill dollar," 
 " cast dollar" (the Mexicans are the only nation that cast 
 money), and the "cob money" (a series so called by 
 reason of its clumsiness), are all to be seen in this collec- 
 tion.
 
 OBVERSE. CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL MEDAL. 
 
 REVERSE. CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL MEDAL.
 
 6o 
 
 BRAZIL. 
 
 Of Brazilian coins there are quite a series, but, as they 
 are not very old, and from a country which has thus far 
 most happily escaped internal and external entanglements, 
 they present only commercial value, though of fair work- 
 manship. One coin, a gold "half-joe," issued in 1832, 
 with the infant head of Dom Pedro, is very beautiful. By 
 the side of this, in every way a contrast to it, is a series of 
 copper coins of a late issue with the head of the "child" 
 now seated on the throne. The coins of Bolivia gratefully 
 present the bust of Simon Bolivar. Among the West 
 Indies are many samples of " cut money." The law per- 
 mitting money to be quartered had to be repealed, because 
 the traders of the West Indies made the wonderful mathe- 
 matical discovery that five quarters make a whole ! 
 
 Leaving both the eastern and the western world and 
 their coins, there is a single piece, of small commercial 
 value, which is yet a "light-house in mid-ocean." This 
 is the one cent of the Sandwich Islands, the only venture 
 of that kind yet made by the enterprising little kingdom. 
 The inscription is " Kamehameha III., one hundredth, 
 Hawaii." The name of the king being interpreted signifies 
 " the solitary one," which is singularly well adapted to the 
 coin. No student of human progress can with indiffer- 
 ence realize the existence of this coin, this rude link be- 
 tween the Occident and the Orient. 
 
 COLONIAL. 
 
 When, in 1684, the charter of the Massachusetts Bay 
 Company was revoked, and the governor recalled, one of 
 the grievances alleged by the crown was a colonial law 
 concerning the Mint. The currency used by the colonies 
 was chiefly from England, Spain, and Portugal, but the 
 supply was limited from these sources, and the mother-
 
 6r 
 
 country was jealous of any infringement of her prerogative 
 of coinage. There are various specimens of the " pine- 
 tree" money of Massachusetts in the Cabinet. Some 
 doubt has arisen as to the species of tree intended, but it 
 is generally accepted as the emblematic pine. This is 
 claimed to be about the second colonial issue, a kind of 
 semi-official coin. The first was from the Bermudas.* It 
 is a shilling piece, stamped by one John Hall, silversmith, 
 of the city of Boston, 1652, who made a very good specu- 
 lation of the privilege. The work on this species of coins 
 is so exceedingly simple as to present little save a planchet. 
 On the obverse, a double ring around a pine-tree; legend, 
 "Massachusetts in;" and on the reverse, a double ring 
 also, containing the legend, "New England Au Dom." 
 The old story of the weighing of John Hall's daughter on 
 her marriage-day is recalled in seeing these coins. Her 
 dowry was her weight in "pine-tree" shillings; and the 
 suggestion is allowable that these specimens formed a part 
 of the portion of the blushing bride two centuries ago. 
 
 Charles II., it appears, was easily deceived in regard to 
 the significance of the "pine-tree shilling." Sir Thomas 
 Temple, a friend of the colonies, adroitly presented one of 
 these obnoxious coins to the irate monarch, explaining that 
 the tree was the " royal oak" which had saved his majesty's 
 life. Whereupon the king, laughing, denominated his trans- 
 Atlantic subjects " honest dogs," and allowed the coinage 
 to proceed. 
 
 During the reign of George I. a new species of coin was 
 issued from the English Mint, denomination half a cent, 
 and it is asserted upon good authority that this was the 
 only issue ever authorized by the home government for 
 general circulation in the colonies. It was a coin of mixed 
 
 * This issue being made at Summer Islands, gave the name of " Summer 
 money."
 
 62 
 
 metal, resembling brass. The head of the king was on the 
 obverse; inscription, " Georgius Rex." The reverse, a 
 large double rose under a crown ; legend, "Rosa Ameri- 
 cana." Upon a scroll, "Utile Dulci." This is the coin 
 which caused such excitement and so much feeling in Ire- 
 land, and which Dean Swift attacked from the pulpit. 
 
 " Peltry," we learn, was one of the principal articles of 
 currency, and was known as "pelt," or Massachusetts cur- 
 rency, and was extensively used in trading between Indians 
 and whites, sometimes called " Beaver Money," " Corne, 
 Wheate, Barley, and Rye;"* and a still more quaint cur- 
 rency was established, as will be found in an old Massachu- 
 setts court order, as follows: "It is likewise ordered that 
 muskett bulletts of a full boare shall passe current for a 
 farthing a peece, provided that noe man be compelled to 
 take above i2d. att a tyme of them." 
 
 In Maryland, not only cattle, tobacco, and other pro- 
 duce was accepted as currency, but powder an:l shot were 
 also included. Lord Baltimore, in 1660, sent over to 
 Maryland the "Baltimore" shilling. In the colonial case 
 there is a series of these exceedingly rare coins. They 
 were a shilling, sixpence, farthing, and are all of the same 
 design, differing only in denomination. They were coined 
 in London, and compare favorably with any minting of 
 that age. The bust of Lord Baltimore on the obverse is 
 very well cut; his name, " Cecil," is the legend. On the 
 reverse, the coat of arms of Cecil, Lord Baltimore, is 
 given, this device has been re-adopted by the State of 
 Maryland. The substitution of any legal tender seems to 
 be fraught with danger, and at best is jealously scanned 
 by the people; and there was trouble to put this coin 
 
 * Wampum Peage," American shells strung, current in Pennsylvania, 
 i6s. a fathom or thread, should be included in this connection, though 
 their adoption was sectional.
 
 63 
 
 into circulation. The people, though demanding coin, 
 did not yield their old currency of wheat, corn, tobacco, 
 powder and shot, without a demonstration. The Caro- 
 linas, Virginia, and New Hampshire all followed Mary- 
 land in the introduction of a colonial coinage. 
 
 In the interval of the Revolution, known as the Confed- 
 eracy, the growth of the spirit of independence in the 
 people is plainly written on their coins, especially upon 
 their tokens or individual coins. We notice one inscrip- 
 tion, attributed to Franklin, "Mind your business;" 
 and others, such as "Good copper," "Cut your way," 
 and like characteristic expressions. The "New York 
 Doubloon" was coined in 1787, value sixteen dollars. 
 This coin is highly esteemed by reason of its rarity, and 
 its market value to-day is about one thousand dollars, as 
 only three or four are known to be in existence. 
 
 The Washington cent of 1791 (so-called) was not a coin 
 of the United States, but was struck at a private mint in 
 Birmingham, England (Boulton's), partly, no doubt, to 
 bespeak the job, and partly to please Americans generally. 
 
 It has been said that Washington objected to putting his 
 head on the coins, and it may be true 5 but it was also ob- 
 jected that no man's head should appear on the coin of a 
 republic, which, whether good doctrine or not, is still the 
 prevailing idea. The " cent of 1791" is of two types, one 
 very rare and costly, with a small eagle. The other, with 
 a large eagle, is more common, and perhaps sells for about 
 five dollars at auction. 
 
 UNITED STATES COINS. 
 
 The first coins made by the United States Mint were 
 copper one cent and one-half cent issues, of which there 
 were four designs : ist, the " chain cent ;" zd, the " wreath 
 cent;" 3d, the "flowing hair;" and 4th, the "liberty 
 cap," which was used for a number of years. The " chain"
 
 6 4 
 
 device was not acceptable to the sensitive American mind, 
 and of consequence the accidental breaking of the die was 
 not a subject of regret, but "quite the contrary." The 
 pattern sections of United States coins are very beautiful 
 and varied, especially those in gold. 
 
 A description of the only coin of recent issue which is 
 not familiar to the country is appropriate. 
 
 THE TRADE DOLLAR. 
 
 This coin bears on the obverse a female figure seated on 
 bales of merchandise, holding in her left hand a scroll on 
 which is the .word "liberty." At her back is a sheaf of 
 wheat ; this and the bales of goods indicate the commercial 
 character of the coin. Her right hand, extended, offers the 
 olive branch. On a scroll beneath the figure are the words 
 "In God we trust," and the date below, "1873." T ne 
 reverse has a circling inscription, " United States of Amer- 
 ica, Trade Dollar." In the centre is an eagle, in his claws 
 three arrows and a sprig of olive. On a label above are 
 the words, "E Pluribus Unum." Below, "4 lb grains 
 fine," the value. It is very beautiful both in design and 
 execution. 
 
 PACIFIC COAST. 
 
 The semi-official coins of the Pacific coast present 
 quite a glittering array of monetary enterprise, and signify 
 the great wealth and daring spirit of that part of the world. 
 The fifty-dollar octagon gold piece, issued in 1851, is a 
 very beautiful coin. "Gold slugs" are novelties; are ob- 
 long gold pieces, and are valued at sixteen dollars. The 
 Utah coins also attract attention. They are of gold, fine. 
 The device is an "all-seeing eye" and two clasped hands; 
 reverse, "a bee-hive," with inscription, "Holiness to the 
 Lord." Some have for legend, " G. S. L. C. P. G.," 
 which the initiated receive as " Great Salt Lake City, Pure 
 Gold."
 
 65 
 
 It is not requisite to pursue the description of United 
 States coins, as the series is complete and can be readily 
 studied. The changes have been very gradual. The 
 motto, "In God we trust," introduced by Director Pol- 
 lock in 1866, and the "Trade Dollar" of Director Linder- 
 man, each mark interesting epochs of our national coinage, 
 which will grow yearly more apparent. 
 
 There is one specimen which it is well to remark, as it 
 illustrates how a coin -may become famous without the least 
 premonition, and also is a witness of the positive law which 
 protects and governs coinage. A law passed Congress in 
 1849 ordering twenty-dollar gold pieces to be issued. One 
 piece was struck. Something intervened to delay the work, 
 and the year closed ; then, of course, the dies had to be 
 destroyed, as no more could be lawfully issued of 1849. 
 The coin just beside this, marked 1850, of same value, is 
 not worth the collector's consideration, while "1849" 
 cannot be purchased. It is marked "unique," and is 
 really "the only one," as the Germans fondly called Jean 
 Paul Richter. 
 
 SELECTIONS. 
 
 Having referred many times to this case, it may be as 
 well to append the entire list of its contents, as they, almost 
 without exception, are rare, spanning the world from re- 
 motest antiquity to the present day, beginning with the 
 gold Daric of Darius, and ending with the twenty-mark 
 piece of Kaiser William. 
 
 FIRST ROW. 
 
 Series of Siamese, varying from one-third of a cent to 
 five dollars (" bullet money"): Stater or drachma of Athens, 
 2100 years old reverse, sacred owl; half-obolus of Ath- 
 ens, very small, one and a half cent, bronze ; golden Daric 
 of Persia, oldest gold coin known, value five dollars and 
 
 6*
 
 66 
 
 fifty cents ; stater of Alexander the Great, B.C. 336 ; stater 
 of Philip, brother of Alexander, B.C. 323 ; Jewish shekel 
 of Simon Maccabees, B.C. 145; head of Janus; Roman 
 aes, the first of Roman libral coins ; iron coin, Roman 
 Republic, 500 B.C. 
 
 SECOND ROW. 
 
 Coin of ancient Bactria, Asiatic colony of Greece, square; 
 Eukratides and Menander, B.C. 180 ; denarius of Augustus 
 Cffisar, Divi F., " the son of the divine Julius"; denarius 
 of Tiberius; penny of New Testament, tribute money of 
 Csesar, value fifteen cents ; Vespasian, Roman Emperor, 
 "Judea Devicta" ; a veiled female beside a palm-tree." 
 This coin commemorates the destruction of Jerusalem, A.D. 
 70, by Titus ; maneh of Ptolemy Philadelphus, King of 
 Egypt, B.C. 284, most rare coin, by weight value seventeen 
 dollars and seventy cents, esteemed value five thousand 
 dollars. Medallions : Syracuse, Arethusa, and Quadriga ; 
 Seleucus, a general of Alexander's army, and first King of 
 Greece ; Syrian Dynasty, Alexander Balas ; Dionysius, 
 Syriac, B.C. 146 ; Philip of Syria, B.C. 95 ; bronze of Cleo- 
 patra, last Queen of Egypt, called " Kleopatras." 
 
 THIRD ROW. 
 
 Gold coin of Britain, prior to Roman conquest ; penny 
 of Ethelbert, King of Kent, era of Alfred, died 866 A.D., 
 found in Sussex, 1804; Carausius, Roman Emperor in 
 Britain A.D. 287-293, recently dug up in England ; penny 
 of William the Conqueror, A.D. 1070 ; fourpence of Robert 
 Bruce, King of Scotland, A.D. 1306 ; half-crown of Oliver 
 Cromwell, 1658; gold ryal of Elizabeth, 1600, value, 
 nine dollars and ninety cents; five sovereigns of George 
 IV., the only pure gold coins, struck as a show-piece, head 
 by Chantrey; silver coin of Charlemagne, A.D. 814, value 
 seven cents; Dirhim of Walid, Caliph of Damascus, A.D. 
 713, one of the earliest Mohammedan coins, Koran-texts
 
 67 
 
 on both sides ; coin of Caliph Haroun Alraschid, A.D. 806 ; 
 gold coin of Alanaser, last Caliph of Bagdad, A.D. 1222 ; 
 coin of Sapor, one of the Magian or fire-worshiping kings 
 of Persia, A.D. 300. 
 
 FOURTH ROW. 
 
 Swiss crown, 1414; German crown, 1631; ducat of 
 Hamburg, 1644, value two dollars and twenty-five cents; 
 German crown, Maximilian, 1615 ; Bernese crown, 1793; 
 five francs of Emperor Napoleon, 1810; twenty francs, 
 gold, 1815 ; ducat of Nuremberg, value, two dollars and 
 twenty-five cents ; late coin of Turkey, twenty piastres ; 
 crown of Bavaria; Justinian, Emperor of Constantinople, 
 A.D. 565; bezant, Heraclius, A.D. 640; bezant, Manuel 
 Conmenus, A.D. 1180 ; stater of Cyrenaica (now Tripoli), 
 200 B.C. ; head of Jupiter Ammon, reverse, the silphion 
 plant, which yields the " Cyrenian juice,'" used by the 
 ancients as a condiment and medicine, finest engraving 
 in the collection ; a specimen of the ancient currency of 
 Burmah, a gravel-stone encased in brass. 
 
 FIFTH ROW. 
 
 New coins of Canada; coins of Lombardy during re- 
 public of 1848 ; Australia, two ounces, 1853 ; Australia, 
 one pound, value five dollars; pound sterling, Charles I. ; 
 " Siege-pence ;" dirhem, or drachm, of Mahomed V., Ca- 
 liph of Spain under the Moors, A.D. 854 ; minuta aereolo, 
 " Widow's Mite," Greek or Syrian bronze, one-eighth of 
 a cent, smallest ancient coin, found near the temple of Je- 
 rusalem by Dr. Barclay ; " crown dollars," crown over two 
 hemispheres, Spain, Charles ; gold coin, Ferdinand and 
 Isabella; Bavarian dollar, 1833, commemorative of thirty 
 thousand Bavarians killed in battles with Prussia on the 
 obverse of this a monument, simple Doric column, quite 
 unique.
 
 68 
 
 SIXTH ROW. 
 
 Chinese silver dollar, date not given ; five-franc piece 
 struck by Commune during siege of Paris, 1871 ; coins 
 of new French Republic, 1876; dollar of Cochin China; 
 Japanese gold piece, 1634, value, three dollars, patterned 
 after Chinese " cash ;" Chinese gold bar, or ten-tael piece, 
 value, two hundred and thirty-five dollars largest gold 
 piece in the world. 
 
 The most notable coin in this case, and perhaps the most 
 celebrated coin in the world, is the "Widow's Mite." Its 
 name bespeaks its commercial insignificance. Even scholars 
 disagree as to its real or legal name and denomination ; 
 yet thousands every year, upon entering the Cabinet of the 
 Mint, ask first to see the " Widow's Mite." It can never 
 be of less interest, because it teaches the greatest lesson of 
 true charity ever uttered, not that which gives of abund- 
 ance, but that which divides the pittance.
 
 MEDALS. 
 
 WASHINGTON MEDALLIC MEMORIALS. 
 
 THE Mint in Philadelphia contains a monument to 
 George Washington, composed of nearly one hundred and 
 fifty medals, medalets, and tokens, in gold, silver, and 
 bronze. This memorial will outlast the long-delayed shaft 
 now termed the " Nation's disgrace," should that structure, 
 unfortunate as it is, ever be completed. In this cabinet 
 of medals there is ample scope to study the august propor- 
 tions of Washington's character, which grow more harmo- 
 nious when we look at them through the vista of a hundred 
 years. We are amazed, however, to find but one place 
 whereon the warrior is presented. Only the man as he 
 was in the hearts of the people, and as he was associated 
 with the development of his country and the promotion 
 of the arts of peace, is perpetuated. 
 
 WASHINGTON BEFORE BOSTON. 
 
 The medal which makes the exception in this collection 
 is one of great interest, and was the first order of the kind 
 issued by the Continental Congress. The original medal 
 was of gold, and was intended to commemorate the " Evac- 
 uation of Boston, March 25, 1776." The obverse has a 
 bust of Washington, after Houdon, the reverse a group of 
 officers upon horseback looking at the embarkation of 
 British troops. In the distance, part of the enemy's ships 
 are passing down the bay under full sail. The inscription, 
 '' Hostibus Primo Fugatis," tells the story. This medal 
 
 69
 
 70 
 
 was executed by Duvivier, under the direction of Dr. 
 Franklin, while in Paris. It was formally presented to 
 George Washington with the resolution of thanks adopted 
 by Congress at the time the order was given. A committee 
 of three was chosen by Congress to propose a suitable de- 
 vice for the medal, Mr. John Adams, Mr. Jay, Mr. Hop- 
 kj nS) which device was forwarded to Dr. Franklin. 
 
 FRENCH MEDAL FOk WASHINGTON. 
 
 Medallic offerings to Washington were not confined to 
 this country. In 1778 a medal was struck in Paris. It 
 was designed by Voltaire, and has the legend, " Wash- 
 ington reunit par un rare assemblage les talens du guerrier 
 et les vertus du sage." The reverse of this medal is a 
 happy conception, a grouping of martial emblems sur- 
 rounded by diverging rays. 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY MEDALS. 
 
 The earlier medals ordered by Congress were given to 
 commemorate some special act of bravery during the Rev- 
 olutionary struggle. This list is very incomplete, indeed 
 it would seem almost invidious to distinguish among those 
 grand, self-sacrificing men. Conspicuous in the series are 
 the " Wayne Medal," awarded after the storming of Stony 
 Point, 1779; medal struck for General Greene, commemo- 
 rating the battle of Eutaw Springs, 1781 ; medal presented 
 by Congressional resolution to Paul Jones, October 16, 
 1787. One of the most significant of these medallic me- 
 morials is the one presented to Colonel John Eager How- 
 ard (to quote from the resolution of Congress), " Because 
 rushing suddenly upon the line of the wavering enemy, he 
 gave a brilliant specimen of mortal bravery at the battle 
 of Cowpens, 1781." 
 
 INDIAN MEDALS. 
 
 Another series worth special attention is that of the
 
 various Indian medals, presented by the Government to 
 celebrate different treaties, and to distinguish the chiefs 
 who have kept their plighted faith. Upon them are sym- 
 bols of commerce and agriculture, only such emblems as 
 would direct the mind of the red man to the arts of peace, 
 and a higher civilization. 
 
 General Washington presented a silver medal to Red 
 Jacket, and the custom prevails to this day. Within a 
 short time the fine issue known as " Grant's Indian 
 Peace Medal" has been added to the list. This is a very 
 beautiful medal, and commemorates a policy toward the 
 red man of which later events have shown him unappre- 
 ciative. 
 
 PRESIDENTIAL MEDALS. 
 
 The Mint has issued a medal in compliment to each 
 President : the bust on the obverse, and some character- 
 istic utterance, a significant event, or leading trait of char- 
 acter on the other ; so while rejecting the head of leader or 
 President on coins, this collection of" Presidential Medals" 
 is sufficient to register the names of our executives upon 
 the annals of fame. In the list presented at the Mint only 
 two, and the two greatest, are not found George Wash- 
 ington and John Adams. Medals commemorating their 
 presidential terms would be eminently appropriate, and 
 complete the series. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 Under this head are comprised medals given for special 
 unofficial acts of bravery, national events of importance, 
 scientific progress, etc. Gallantry in saving life from the 
 perils of the sea has been highly appreciated by the Gov- 
 ernment. Among these is a medal to Captain Ingraham, 
 for rescue of Martin Koszta ; one to the United States 
 Coast Survey, for gallantry and humanity; the beautiful 
 " Metus Medal," the "John Horn Medal," are recent 
 presentations; "Dr. Frederick Rose, for skill and hu-
 
 OBVERSE. UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC MEDAL.
 
 REVERSE. UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC MEDAL.
 
 74 
 
 manity;" the " Seward-Robinson Medal," etc. These 
 medals are not supposed to give the minutiae of the deeds 
 of gallantry they register, yet will serve not only to dis- 
 tinguish the recipient, but as an incentive to the higher 
 development of true manliness. 
 
 Among national memorials are the "Emancipation 
 Proclamation Medal," the "Japanese Embassy Medal," 
 the "Pacific Railway Medal," "Cyrus W. Field Atlantic 
 Cable Medal," the "Centennial Memorial Medals," the 
 " United States Diplomatic Medal." 
 
 FOREIGN MEDALS. 
 
 Turning a moment from a survey of our own medallic 
 array, it will be interesting to note in the miscellaneous 
 case some of the more distinguished foreign medals. 
 Attached to these works of art are such names as Duvi- 
 vier, Dupre, Caunus, Chantrey, Webb, Wyon, Barber, 
 Andrieu, Stathord, etc. 
 
 The most beautiful architectural medal possibly ever 
 produced, known as the " St. Paul's Chapel Medal," will 
 be among the first to attract attention. It was ordered by 
 Pius IX., in 1864, to commemorate the completion of 
 this beautiful church. It presents the interior of the 
 chapel with amazing fidelity, and, like all works of high 
 art, the longer it is studied the more beauty it develops. 
 Its deep alcoves and high altars, its frescoes and carvings, 
 rival each other, and produce a wonderful result. The 
 bronzing in this medal is rare, and said only to be at- 
 tained by the Pope's artist. A fine English medal, cele- 
 brating the suppression of the Indian insurrection, on 
 which is presented an armed Britannia and Lion, by 
 Wyon, with date " 1857-1858." This, though fine, does 
 not rival his inimitable figure of " Una and the Lion," on 
 the Victorian sovereign. Una, the chosen spirit of Britain 
 since the Spenserian age, is a form replete with grace and
 
 75 
 
 beauty, her face rendered even finer than upon that gold 
 coin of Victoria, on the reverse of which is Una leading 
 the British lion. Indeed, in studying her representation 
 upon the medal, Spenser's own description of his ideal is 
 recalled : 
 
 " Her angel's face, 
 
 As the great eye of Heaven, shyned bright, 
 And made a sunshine in the shady place." 
 
 "The Bust of Maria Theresa," by Andrieu. The 
 medallion of Josephine and Napoleon, by the same, and 
 "The Taking of the Bastile." "Moliere," by Caunus. 
 The "Isotta Ariminensis," a very curious old medal, 
 will attract connoisseurs; Obverse, bust of an Indian 
 princess, hair coiffured in a remarkable manner, the lines 
 of which describe a right angle from the back of the head; 
 reverse, the sacred elephant, and in exergue, 1446. This 
 medal is rare and fine. 
 
 There are other foreign medals quite worthy of study, 
 and which will attract the attention of the visitor. This 
 notice will close with a short sketch of 
 
 "THE HOLY ALLIANCE, OR WATERLOO MEDAL." 
 
 Not only does this large medal command attention be- 
 cause of the beauty of its composition, but also from a 
 little anecdote in connection with its production. 
 
 Its name signifies that its intention was to commemorate 
 the termination of the peninsular war of the allied powers 
 against Napoleon I. The obverse contains in the centre 
 profile portraits of the four allied sovereigns George VI. 
 of England, Nicholas I. of Russia, Francis I. of Austria, 
 William II. of Germany. These portraits are surrounded 
 by mythological emblems of war and its terrors. The 
 labors of Hercules on one part, and the Fates and Furies in- 
 termingled, weaving and rending the threads of life. It is 
 impossible to give more than a general suggestion of this
 
 7 6 
 
 side. The reverse expresses the greatness and difficulty of a 
 thirty-years' war, and the extent of power required to effect 
 its termination, by the presentation of a subject known to 
 every classic reader, namely, that of Jupiter overthrowing 
 the Titans. No words can describe the strength and grace 
 of this drawing, and had it been found in a frieze of some 
 old temple it would have been the coveted possession of 
 royalty. 
 
 This medal is not a medal in the strict sense of the word. 
 A medal is a piece of metal gold, silver, copper, or any 
 malleable metal struck between two dies, held in position 
 by a steel collar, which dies impress the obverse and reverse 
 at the same time. 
 
 This design was so highly prized by the English Govern- 
 ment that it has never consented to have the dies hard- 
 ened (in which process they might be broken) so as to have 
 a medal struck, but plates have been made from impression? 
 taken from either side, and joined together. 
 
 The anecdote referred to is illustrative of the vanity of 
 George IV., and the honesty of the great artist Pesthucci. 
 The artist fell under royal disfavor because he refused to 
 accept a head of George IV., by Sir Francis Chantrey, 
 for a work which he was engaged on, a royal commission, 
 alleging his own model to be truer. The artist was re- 
 tired upon a pension, and given "The Holy Alliance" 
 medal to execute. It was more than twenty years before 
 this wonder of drawing and poetic design was presented to 
 the world. 
 
 PACIFIC RAILWAY MEDAL. 
 
 Of the medals commemorating American enterprise, 
 none can be found, either in beauty of design or magni- 
 tude of the achievement, more interesting than the Pacific 
 Railway medal. This medal was struck while Governor 
 Pollock was Director, and commemorates th success of an 
 enterprise which shat officer had anticipated years before.
 
 77 
 
 The design is by William Barber, Esq., Engraver of the 
 Mint, and does credit to this member of a family distin- 
 guished for generations as engravers. The obverse is a 
 miniature presentation of that part of the continent over 
 which the road passes from "blue to blue," canons, 
 mountains, and rivers, through which the pioneer engine is 
 dashing to its objective point. A scroll over this expanse 
 bears the words, "Every mountain shall be made low." 
 Underneath is the inscription, " Medal series of the United 
 States Mint, James Pollock, Director." On the reverse is 
 an elegant portrait in profile of the President, over whose 
 head in a three-quarter circle are the words, 
 
 " Presidency of U. S. Grant." 
 Below the bust is the inscription, 
 
 " The Oceans United by Railway," 
 " May 10, 1869." 
 
 The series comprising the " Centennial Memorial Medals" 
 are too familiar to need description here. These medals, 
 authorized by an Act of Congress, are made at the Mint, 
 and issued by the Centennial Board of Finance, to be sold 
 upon the Centennial grounds. 
 
 Another series of medals are those made by Mr. George 
 B. Soley. They are Centennial in design, and comprise 
 three distinct medals. The first is the Catholic Fountain 
 medal. " T. A. B. Fountain" on the obverse, and the 
 official badge of the order on the reverse. 
 
 zd. Is "Old Independence Hall" on the obverse, head 
 of Washington on the reverse. 
 
 3(1. The obverse portrays the struggles of our forefathers 
 in 1776, and the reverse the advance made in one hun- 
 dred years. This series is entirely the work of machinery, 
 and as samples of mechanism or mechanical engraving the 
 medals are quite interesting.
 
 "THE UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC MEDAL." 
 
 This is the most interesting medal in the possession of 
 our country. It is the medal commemorative of American 
 independence, July 4, 1776. It was ordered by President 
 Washington in 1791, and designed by Thomas Jefferson 
 when Secretary of State. It is not only valuable because 
 it was the graceful intention of these two distinguished men 
 to have it a " Diplomatic medal" to be presented to foreign 
 ministers upon leaving our shores, but it has a "strange 
 eventful history" not often met with even by a medal a 
 century old. 
 
 The letters of Jefferson certify that such an order was 
 given to Dupres, then one of the first engravers of France. 
 The description of Mr. Jefferson's design (adopted with 
 but slight change), the cost, and the need of such a diplo- 
 matic present, are fully given in a letter from the Secretary 
 to Mr. William Short, then at Paris. It was intended to 
 attach a chain thereto like the old Roman medallions, and 
 the cost was to vary according to the esteem in which the 
 recipient was held. There is also assurance afforded in 
 these letters of Jefferson that two medals were struck, one 
 for Marquis de la Luzerne, and the other for Count de 
 Moustier, who succeeded Luzerne as minister to this coun- 
 try. That for the marquis was much the handsomer, the 
 cost being chiefly regulated by the chain, which for this 
 was ordered to be heavy and composed of three hundred 
 and sixty-five links. This eminent diplomat was endeared 
 to the people of America by the practical humanity he dis- 
 played toward our suffering troops around Philadelphia, a 
 matter that required the greatest delicacy of the accom- 
 plished minister, so as not to offend the Court of St. James. 
 This medal was the first diplomatic present offered by the 
 United States Government, which gracious duty was well
 
 79 
 
 performed by Thomas Jefferson, as the following extract 
 from his letter will manifest : 
 
 " To MARQUIS DE LA LUZERNE : 
 
 " You will receive, sir, by order of the President of the 
 United States, as soon as they can be prepared, a medal 
 and chain of gold, of which he desires your acceptance in 
 token of their esteem, and of the sensibility with which 
 they will ever recall your legation to their memory." 
 
 The chain for the medal given Count de Moustier was 
 composed of thirteen long links. Many inquiries have 
 been made for these medals, but as yet their existence is 
 not known, and it is feared they may in the vicissitudes 
 of revolutionary France have found their fate in a crucible. 
 A gold medal was also ordered by the Secretary of State to 
 be struck, but without chain, and at the same time Dupres 
 was instructed "to send this medal with the dies to Phila- 
 delphia by the first safe hand who shall be passing." The 
 medal and dies never reached this country, and their loss, 
 within the last few months, has not been satisfactorily 
 accounted for. Indeed, notwithstanding the incontestible 
 documentary evidence, many doubted that such a medal 
 had ever been struck. 
 
 In 1837, Mr. J. Francis Fisher gave a description of it 
 to the Massachusetts Historical Society, and said both dies, 
 taken separately, were in his possession, and also in the 
 possession of a professor at Cambridge. Strange to say, no 
 application was then made to secure them. 
 
 Dr. Linderman, October, 1874, inserted a card of in- 
 quiry in the American Journal of Numismatics, with the 
 hope of securing an answer from some one of the readers 
 of that journal. In reply, the editors gave an extract 
 from the Director of the Mint of France, under date of 
 July 9, 1874: " I have the honor to receive your letter of
 
 So 
 
 the 1 3th of June last, relative to the 'medal commemora- 
 tive of American Independence, July 4, 1776,' and regret 
 to inform you tha.t notwithstanding the most careful search 
 I have been unable to discover anything of it. It is not 
 to be found in the collection of coins at the museum of the 
 Mint, neither is it mentioned in any French work in the 
 library." This was rather discouraging, but a correspond- 
 ence opened between the Director of the United States 
 Mint and Professor Jules Marceau, of Cambridge, resulted 
 in securing for Government the original lead impression of 
 the medal, and the story of its long-hidden existence. 
 
 Professor Marceau writes: "In 1866, after discovering 
 the existence of the first Fourth of July medal, I asked my 
 friend Pelouze, then Director of the Mint in Paris, to in- 
 stitute researches about it. He found nothing, not only 
 among the dies, but also among the papers and collections 
 of coins and medals. The Vattemere collection at the 
 National Library does not possess it, and I have no doubt 
 of its great rarity. . . . Dupres's son told me he had a 
 faint recollection of his father saying that one of his medals, 
 engraved by order of Dr. Franklin for the Congress of 
 America, never reached that country, but was destroyed by 
 a storm or captured by an English privateer. He was un- 
 able to affirm which of the medals. Very likely it was this 
 one. Where is the die? It is not in France. I looked 
 for it there some years ago, and had a conversation with 
 Dupres's son, since dead. M. Gatteau, also son of the en- 
 graver of that name, during the reign of Louis XVI., had 
 two copies in bronze of this medal, boihfleur de coin. He 
 declined to part with them at any price. Since then they 
 have been destroyed, with all his collection of pictures, 
 sculptures, and drawings, by the Communists, in May, 
 1871, his hotel having been entirely burned by these mod- 
 ern barbarians. ... I have the original lead proof from 
 Dupres's son. If you think it right to have it engraved
 
 8i 
 
 for the Centenary I will put it at your service for that pur- 
 pose." 
 
 Dr. Linderman was happy to avail himself of the pro- 
 fessor's offer, and promptly ordered the reproduction of 
 the medal 
 
 FOR THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 It is a very pleasing consideration that it was a feature of 
 the centenary of that Fourth of July which it was ordered 
 to commemorate, and many thanks are due the Director of 
 the Mint for the perseverance with which he has carried 
 out the graceful project. The reproduction by C. Barber 
 is finely executed, and the bronzing exceptionally beauti- 
 ful. 
 
 The design of this medal is simple and elegant : ob- 
 verse, the eagle displayed ; on his breast a shield ; in his 
 right claw an olive-branch; in his left thirteen, arrows; 
 from his beak a scroll inscribed "E Pluribus Unum." 
 Above is a sun of thirteen stars, from which issue rays 
 passing through a circle of clouds, and extending below 
 the wings of the eagle; legend encircling, " The United 
 States of America;" reverse inscription, "To Peace and 
 Commerce;" /* exergue, IV Jul, MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 
 1776); to the right, Dupres F. ; the figure of an Indian 
 queen seated, personifying America; in her right hand is 
 a cornucopia of fruit and grain ; by her side are bales, a 
 barrel, and an anchor to which she points. Mercury has 
 just alighted, and extends to her his right hand, welcoming 
 her into the family of nations. Beyond Mercury is the 
 ocean, and on the extreme left is the fore part of a ship, 
 and still farther on is land. Added, when reproduced, in 
 exergue, C. Barber, 1876. It was a gracious thought on 
 the part of our forefathers to have this medal produced as 
 a diplomatic courtesy, and seems like unto the proud cere- 
 monial of those days. It recalls the acts of decorum which 
 distinguished them as men of high association and observant
 
 82 
 
 of the amenities of life, public and private. They individ- 
 ually appear, at the distance of generations, worthy of our 
 highest admiration ; and the best sign we perceive of better 
 things, in this money-getting and craving age, is the devel- 
 opment of a higher reverence for the heroes of '76.
 
 OFFICERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MINT OF THE UNITED STATES 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, 1876. 
 
 Hon. JAMES POLLOCK, Superintendent. 
 
 Prof. JAS. C. BOOTH, Melter and Refiner. 
 
 N. B. BOYD, Assistant Melter and Refiner. 
 
 Col. A. L. SNOWDEN, Coiner. 
 
 O. C. BOSBYSHELL, Assistant Coiner. 
 
 WM. E. DUBOIS, Assayer. 
 
 J. B. ECKFELDT, Assistant Assayer. 
 
 WM. BARBER, Engraver. 
 
 H. C. HICKOK, Chief Clerk. 
 
 MARK H. COBB, Cashier.
 
 LIST OF MEDALS IN COPPER BRONZED, ALSO 
 
 IN GOLD AND SILVER, WHICH MAY 
 
 BE OBTAINED AT THE MINT. 
 
 ARMY. Size. Price. 
 
 I. WASHINGTON before Boston ................................. 42 
 
 MAJ. GENERAL GATES, for Saratoga ................... 34 
 
 3. GEN. MORGAN, for Cowpens ................................. 35 
 
 4. JOHN EAGER HOWARD, for Cowpens ................. 28 
 
 5. COL. WM. WASHINGTON, for Cowpens ............... 28 
 
 6. COL. GEO. CROGHAN, for Sandusky ..................... 40 
 
 7- MAJ. GEN. HARRISON, for the Thames .................. 40 
 
 8. GOV. ISAAC SHELBY, for the Thames ................... 40 
 
 9. MAJ. GEN. SCOTT, for Chippewa and Niagara ......... 40 
 
 10. MAJ. GEN. GAINES, for Fort Erie .......................... 40 
 
 n. MAJ. GEN. PORTER, for Chippewa, Niagara and Erie 40 
 
 12. MAJ. GEN. BROWN, for the same ........................... 40 
 
 13. BRIG. GEN. MILLER, for the same ........................ 40 
 
 14. BRIG. GEN. RIPLEY, for the same .......................... 40 
 
 15. MAJ. GEN. MACOMB, Battle of Plattsburg .............. 4 o 
 
 16. MAJ. GEN. JACKSON, Battle of New Orleans .......... 40 
 
 17. MAJ. GEN. TAYLOR, Palo Alto ............................. 40 
 
 50 
 50 
 50 
 50 
 50 
 S o 
 50 
 50 
 50 
 50 
 50 
 50 
 50 
 50 
 qo 
 50 
 50 
 for Monterey ........................ 40 150 
 
 X 9- for Buena Vista .................... 56 3 oo 
 
 20. MAJ. GEN. SCOTT, for Battles in Mexico ................ 56 3 oo 
 
 21. MAJ. GEN. GRANT ............................................. 64 8 oo 
 
 2ia. COL. LEE, " Light-Horse Harry" ............................ 29 i 50 
 
 NAVY. 
 
 22. JOHN PAUL JONES, for Serapis ........................... 36 200 
 
 23. CAPT. THOMAS TRUXTON, for the action with the 
 
 Frigate L'Insurgente ........................................... 3 j x 5O 
 
 24. CAPTAIN HULL, for Capture of the Guerriere ......... 40 i 50 
 
 25. CAPT. JACOB JONES, for Capture of the Frolic ...... 40 i 50 
 
 26. CAPT. DECATUR, for Capture of Macedonian ......... 40 i 50 
 
 27. CAPT. BAINBRIDGE, for Capture of the Java .......... 40 150 
 
 28. CAPT. LAWRENCE, for Capture of the Peacock ........ 40 150 
 
 29. CAPT. BURROWS, for Capture of the Boxer ............ 40 i 50 
 
 8 8 S
 
 86 
 
 Size. Price. 
 
 30. LIEUT. McCALL, for Capture of the Boxer 40 2 1 5 
 
 31. CAPT. PERRY, Capture of British Fleet on Lake Erie 40 i 50 
 
 32. CAPT. ELLIOTT, for the same 4 * 5 
 
 33. CAPT. WARRINGTON, for Capture of the Epervier.. 40 i 50 
 
 34. CAPT. BLAKELY, for Capture of the Reindeer 40 I 50 
 
 35. CAPT. MACDONOUGH, Capture of the British fleet 
 
 on Lake Chainplain 4 J 5 
 
 36. CAPT. HENLEY, for the same 4 J 5 
 
 37. LIEUT. CASSIN, for the same 4 r 5 
 
 38. CAPT. BIDDLE, for Capture of the Penguin 4 * 5 
 
 39. CAPT. STUART, Capture of the Cyane and Levant.... 40 i 50 
 3 9 a. CAPT. ED. PREBLE, before Tripoli 4 I 5 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 40. RESCUE of Officers and Crew, brig Somers 3 6 x 5 
 
 41. CAPT. INGRAHAM, for Rescue of Martin Koszta 64 3 oo 
 
 42. SHIPWRECK MEDAL 4 15 
 
 43. U. S. COAST SURVEY, for Gallantry and Humanity.. 21 i oo 
 
 44. JAPANESE EMBASSY MEDAL 48 2 oo 
 
 45. DR. FREDERICK ROSE, for Skill and Humanity 48 3 oo 
 
 46 ALLEGIANCE MEDAL 18 25 
 
 PRESIDENTIAL. 
 
 47. THOMAS JEFFERSON 47 2 5<> 
 
 48. JAMES MADISON 4 * 5 
 
 49. JAMES MONROE 4 * 5 
 
 50. JOHN Q.ADAMS 4O 15 
 
 51. ANDREW JACKSON 4 * 5 
 
 52. MARTIN VAN BURBN 4 i 5<> 
 
 53. JOHN TYLER 4 i So 
 
 54. JAMES K. POLK 4 I 5 
 
 55. ZACHARY TAYLOR 4 I 5 
 
 56. M1LLARD FILLMORE... 4 I 5 
 
 57. FRANKLIN PIERCE 4 * 5 
 
 58. JAMES BUCHANAN 48 2 oo 
 
 59. ABRAHAM LINCOLN 4 2 oo 
 
 60. ANDREW JOHNSON 48 200 
 
 61. ULYSSES S. GRANT... 48 2 oo 
 
 SUB-NATIONAL MEDALS. 
 
 62. CAPT. PERRY (State of Pennsylvania), for the Capture 
 
 of the British fleet on Lake Erie 4 x 5 
 
 63. PENNA. VOLUNTEERS, Action on Lake Erie 40 i 50 
 
 64. MAJ. GEN. SCOTT (Commonwealth of Virginia) 5^ 3
 
 S7 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS AMERICAN. 
 
 Size. Price. 
 
 64*. PROF. AGASSIZ MEDAL 3 $i 5 
 
 65. COL. ARMSTRONG, for destruction of the Indian Vil- 
 
 lage of Kittaning 27 J 
 
 66. INDIAN PEACE MEDAL 27 i oo 
 
 67. CAPT.'S CREIGHTON, LOW, and STOUFFER, 
 
 Wreck of Steamer San Francisco 47 200 
 
 6ja. CAPT.'S CREIGHTON, LOW, and STOUFFER, 
 
 Wreck of Steamer San Francisco, by Congress 50 3 oo 
 
 67^. CORNELIUS VANDERBILT, by Congress 48 250 
 
 68. DR. HOSACK 21 25 
 
 69. FIRST STEAM COINAGE 16 25 
 
 70. COM. M. C. PERRY, from Merchants of Boston 40 2 oo 
 
 71. PACIFIC RAILROAD MEDAL 29 i 25 
 
 72. EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION MEDAL 29 i oo 
 
 73. CYRUS W. FIELD, Atlantic Cable 64 800 
 
 74. DR. JOSEPH PANCOAST 48 300 
 
 75. GRANT'S INDIAN PEACE MEDAL 40 3 oo 
 
 76. " LET US HAVE PEACE" 29 125 
 
 76*. SEWARD-ROBINSON 48 2 50 
 
 WASHINGTON MEDALS. 
 
 77. PRESIDENCY RELINQUISHED 25 i oo 
 
 78. THE CABINET MEDAL 37 i oo 
 
 79. TIME INCREASES HIS FAME 16 50 
 
 80. COMMENCEMENT OF CABINET 12 25 
 
 DIRECTORS OF THE MINT. 
 
 81. DAVID RITTENHOUSE 28 I 25 
 
 82. J. R. SNOWDEN 50 250 
 
 83. EX-GOV. JAS. POLLOCK 29 i 25 
 
 FINE GOLD MEDALS. 
 See Rule 3.* 
 
 TIME INCREASES HIS FAME 16 12 oo 
 
 COMMENCEMENT OF CABINET 12 6 25 
 
 WASHINGTON AND JACKSON 10 4 50 
 
 * RULE 3. When a Pattern Piece is adopted and used in the regular 
 coinage in the same year, it shall then be issued as a Proof, at a price near 
 
 its current value ; or, if it comes out early in the year, it will be placed in
 
 FINE SILVER MEDALS. 
 
 See Rule 3. 
 
 Size. Price. 
 
 CABINET MEDAL 37 6 oo 
 
 PRESIDENCY RELINQUISHED 25 3 
 
 ALLEGIANCE MEDAL l8 J I2 
 
 TIME INCREASES HIS FAME 16 
 
 COMMENCEMENT OF CABINET 12 
 
 WASHINGTON AND JACKSON 10 
 
 WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN 10 
 
 WASHINGTON AND GRANT 10 
 
 WASHINGTON WREATH i 
 
 LINCOLN AND GRANT 10 
 
 LINCOLN BROKEN COLUMN 10 3 
 
 The diameter of the Medals is expressed by numbers, each of which 
 indicates the sixteenth of an inch. 
 
 Medals struck to order in Gold, Silver, or Bronze, from dies of Public 
 Institutions. 
 
 Gold Medals, payable in Gold Coin ; Silver Medals, payable in Silver 
 Coin ; Bronze Medals, in U. S. Notes. 
 
 the regular Proof Set. The Superintendent will furnish, without charge, 
 on application therefor, a Pattern Piece to any incorporated Numismatic 
 Society in the United States. In such cases, if the pattern is in gold or 
 silver, the value of the metal will be required.
 
 The following tables, exhibiting the values in United States money of 
 the pure gold or silver representing respectively the monetary units 
 and standard coins of foreign countries, are taken from the report of 
 the Director of the Mint for the year 1875. 
 
 Country. 
 
 Monetary unit. 
 
 Standard. 
 
 Value in 
 U. S. 
 money. 
 
 Standard coins. 
 
 Argentine Rep.... 
 Austria 
 
 Peso fuerte 
 Florin 
 
 Gold 
 Silver 
 Gold and sil. 
 Gold and sil. 
 
 Gold 
 
 Gold 
 Gold 
 
 $1.00 
 
 45,3 
 .19,3 
 9 6 , 5 
 
 54,5 
 
 1. 00 
 .91, 2 
 .91,8 
 .91, 2 
 
 9 2 .5 
 .26,8 
 .91,8 
 
 4-97,4 
 
 .19.3 
 4.86, 6% 
 
 19.3 
 
 .23,8 
 95,2 
 99,7 
 
 43,6 
 19,3 
 
 1. 00 
 
 99,8 
 
 -38,5 
 .26,8 
 
 I.OO 
 
 91,8 
 92.5 
 
 I. 08, 4 
 73,4 
 
 I.OO 
 
 '9.3 
 
 .26,8 
 
 '9.3 
 .82,9 
 .11,8 
 4,3 
 
 .91,8 
 94,9 
 
 None. 
 Florin. 
 5, 10, and 20 francs. 
 Kscudo. YI bolivar 
 and bolivar. 
 None. 
 
 Dollar. 
 Condor, doubloon, 
 and Kscudo. 
 
 10 and 20 crowns. 
 Dollar. 
 5, 10, 25, and 50 
 piasters. 
 5, 10, and 20 francs. 
 % sovereign and 
 sovereign. 
 5, 10, 20, 50, and 
 loo drachmas. 
 5, 10, and 20 marks. 
 
 i, 2, 5, 10, and 20 
 yen. 
 
 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 
 lire. 
 
 Peso or dollar, 5, 10, 
 25, andsocentavo. 
 }4 florin, florin, and 
 2j^ florins. 
 10 and 20 crowns. 
 
 2,5, and lomilreis. 
 1 A> l /z, an d I ruble. 
 
 5, 10, 20, 50, and 
 100 pesetas. 
 10 and 20 crowns. 
 5, 10, and 20 francs. 
 
 25, 5, 100, 250, and 
 500 piasters. 
 
 Bolivia 
 
 Brazil 
 British Possess, 
 in N. America. 
 
 Dollar 
 Milreis of 1000 reis... 
 
 Dollar 
 Peso 
 
 Central America. 
 Chili 
 
 Dollar, 
 
 Silver 
 
 Peso 
 
 Gold 
 
 Cuba 
 
 Peso 
 
 Gold 
 
 Denmark 
 
 Crown 
 Dollar 
 
 Gold 
 Silver 
 
 Egypt 
 
 Pound of 100 piasters. 
 
 Gold 
 
 Gold and sil. 
 Gold 
 
 Gold and sil 
 Gold 
 
 Great Britain 
 
 Pound sterling 
 
 German Empire. 
 
 Mark 
 Dollar 
 
 
 Yen 
 
 Gold 
 
 India 
 
 Rupee of 16 annas... 
 
 Silver 
 Gold and sil. 
 
 Gold 
 Silver 
 
 Silver 
 
 Gold 
 Gold 
 
 Liberia 
 Mexico 
 
 Netherlands 
 Norway 
 
 Dollar 
 Dollar 
 
 Florin 
 
 Crown 
 Peso 
 
 Peru 
 Porto Rico 
 
 Dollar 
 Peso 
 
 Silver 
 Gold 
 Gold 
 
 Russia 
 Sandwich Isl'ds. 
 
 Ruble of loo copecks. 
 Dollar 
 Peseta of 100 centimes 
 
 Crown 
 
 Silver..' 
 Gold 
 Gold and sil. 
 
 Gold 
 
 Gold and sil. 
 Silver 
 Silver ... 
 
 Sweden 
 
 Tripoli 
 
 M ahbub of 20 piasters 
 
 
 
 U.S. of Colombia 
 Uruguay 
 
 Peso 
 Patacon 
 
 Silver 
 Gold
 
 STATEMENT SHOWING THE AVERAGE WEIGHT, FINENESS 
 AND VALUE OF FOREIGN COINS, AS DETERMINED BY 
 UNITED STATES MINT ASSAYS 
 
 EXPLANATORY REMARKS. 
 
 1. The weight is expressed in fractions of an ounce 
 troy, agreeing with the terms used in the United States 
 mints. 
 
 If it is desired to have the weight of any piece in grai 
 regard the thousandths of an ounce as integers, take their 
 half, from which deduct four per cent, of that half, and the 
 remainder will be grains. 
 
 2. The fineness is expressed in thousandth parts; i.e., 
 so many parts of pure gold or silver in 1000 parts of the 
 coin. The old carat system is generally abandoned 
 cept for jewelry), but it may be worth while to say that 
 4 1 ^i thousandths equal one carat. 
 
 3. The valuation of gold is at the legal rate of 25.8 
 grains, 900 fine, being equal to one dollar; or $20.672 
 (nearly) per ounce of fine gold. 
 
 4. The valuation of silver is at the trade-dollar rate, 
 viz. : 420 grains, 900 fine, to the dollar. 
 
 5. These tables generally give the one principal coin of 
 each country, from which the other sizes are easily deduced. 
 Thus when the franc system is used, there are generally gold 
 pieces of 40, 20, 10, and 5 francs, all in due proportion. 
 But in silver, the fractional coins are very often of less in- 
 trinsic value than the normal coin, proportionally. These 
 are seldom exported. 
 
 90
 
 GOLD COINS. 
 
 Country. 
 
 Denomination. 
 
 Gross 
 weight. 
 
 Fineness. 
 
 Standard 
 weight. 
 
 Value in 
 U.S. 
 money. 
 
 Austria 
 Do 
 
 Fourfold ducat 
 Souverain (no longer 
 
 Ounces. 
 0.448 
 
 0.363 
 0.104 
 0.1119 
 0.254 
 
 0-575 
 0.209 
 0.027 
 0.491 
 
 0.867 
 !-33 
 i-34 
 1.029 
 0.476 
 0.288 
 0.427 
 0.275 
 
 0.2568 
 0.2563 
 0.207 
 0.256 
 
 0.427 
 0.185 
 0-375 
 0.207 
 1.072 
 0.86735 
 i. 086 
 1.084 
 0.215 
 
 0-525 
 0.288 
 
 1-0357 
 0.308 
 
 O.2IO 
 0.268 
 O.2I5 
 0.27045 
 O.I 1 1 
 
 0.104 
 
 0.288 
 0.161 
 0.231 
 
 T/iou'stAs. 
 986 
 
 900 
 900 
 985.5 
 899 
 916.5 
 853-5 
 875 
 898 
 
 870 
 887 
 891.5 
 891.5 
 858.5 
 900 
 895 
 875 
 
 916.5 
 916.5 
 
 899 
 900 
 
 93 
 900 
 916.5 
 899 
 900 
 870.25 
 875 
 873 
 899 
 891-5 
 900 
 898.75 
 912 
 916 
 896.5 
 869 
 897 
 975 
 900 
 900 
 900 
 9 J 5 
 
 Ounces. 
 0.4908 
 
 0.363 
 0.104 
 0.1225 
 0-2537 
 0.5855 
 0.1982 
 0.0262 
 0.4899 
 
 0.8381 
 1.018 
 1.0242 
 1.0192 
 0-454 
 0.288 
 0.4246 
 0.2673 
 
 0.2615 
 0.2609 
 0.2067 
 0.256 
 
 0.4284 
 0.185 
 0.3818 
 0.2067 
 1.072 
 0.8386 
 1-0558 
 1.0514 
 0.2147 
 0.520 
 0.288 
 1034 
 0.312 
 
 0.2 n7 
 0.2668 
 0.207 
 0.2695 
 
 O.I 202 
 O.IO4 
 0.288 
 
 0.161 
 0.2348 
 
 d. c. tn. 
 9 '3 * 
 
 6 75 4 
 i 93 5 
 2 -27 9 
 4 72 o 
 10 89 3 
 3 8 7 
 o 48 7 
 9 ii 4 
 
 IS 59 2 
 18 94 o 
 '9 05 5 
 18 96 2 
 
 8 44 7 
 5 35 8 
 7 89 8 
 4 97 3 
 
 4 86 5 
 4 85 4 
 3 84 5 
 4 ?6 3 
 
 7 97 o 
 3 44 2 
 7 ' 3 
 3 84 5 
 '9 94 2 
 15 60 o 
 
 19 64 2 
 19 56 I 
 
 3 99 3 
 9 67 4 
 5 35 8 
 '9 2 3 7 
 5 80 5 
 3 97 5 
 4 9 6 3 
 3 86 2 
 5 oi 4 
 2 23 6 
 i 93 4 
 5 35 8 
 2 99 5 
 4 36 8 
 
 Do 
 Do 
 
 4 florins (new) 
 
 Belgium 
 Brazil 
 
 25 francs 
 
 Central America. 
 Do 
 
 
 
 Chili 
 
 
 Colomb i a and 
 South America 
 
 Old doubloons* 
 
 
 20 pesos, " Bogota".... 
 20 pesos, " Medellin".. 
 20 pesos, " Popayan".. 
 10 pesos 
 
 L) 
 
 Do 
 
 Costa Rica 
 
 Do 
 
 Old ten-thaler 
 Bcdidlik (100 piastTs). 
 Pound, o r sovereign 
 
 
 Do 
 
 Pound, average (worn). 
 
 
 German Empire. 
 Do 
 
 
 Old ten-thaler (Prus- 
 
 Greece 
 
 
 India (British)... jMohur, or 15 rupees J.. 
 
 
 
 Mexico 
 Do 
 Do 
 
 Doubloon 
 20 pesos (empire) 
 20 pesos (republic, new) 
 10 gilders 
 10 pesos (dollars) 
 
 Netherlands 
 New Granada.... 
 
 Peru 
 
 
 Portugal 
 
 Coroa (crown) 
 
 Spain 
 Do 
 
 100 reals 
 
 Do 
 Sweden 
 Do 
 Do 
 
 10 escudos 
 Ducat 
 Carolin do francs) 
 New 20 crowns (krone) 
 
 
 Turkey 
 
 100 piasters 
 
 tor all. fopayan pieces were ratntr interior. 
 
 t The sovereigns coined at Melbourne and Sydney, in Australia, and distinguished 
 only by the mint-marks M and S, are the same as those of the London mint. Sov- 
 ereigns generally are up to the legal fineness, 91673 (or 22 carats), but we report to 
 the halt in all cases. 
 
 \ The la>t coinage of tuoliurs was in 1862.
 
 9 2 
 
 SILVER COINS. 
 
 Country. 
 
 Denomination. 
 
 Gross 
 weight. 
 
 Fineness. 
 
 Standard 
 weight. 
 
 Value 
 in U. S. 
 money. 
 
 Austria 
 Do... 
 Do 
 Do 
 
 Old rix-dollar 
 Old scudo crown 
 Florin, before 1858 
 
 Ounces. 
 0.902 
 0836 
 o-45i 
 o-397 
 0.596 
 
 0.895 
 0.803 
 0.320 
 0.801 
 08187 
 0.150 
 0.1875 
 0866 
 0.864 
 0.801 
 0.866 
 0.087 
 0.927 
 0.040 
 0.1825 
 0.178 
 0.365 
 0.8018 
 0.320 
 . o 712 
 0.505 
 0.340 
 0.804 
 0.719 
 0-374 
 0.802 
 0.160 
 0.8667 
 0.402 
 0.870 
 0-435 
 0.861 
 0.804 
 0.027 
 0.803 
 0.866 
 0.766 
 0-433 
 0.802 
 0.400 
 0.322 
 0.667 
 0.800 
 0.160 
 0.273 
 0.320 
 0.511 
 0.770 
 
 Thous'ths. 
 
 833 
 902 
 
 833 
 900 
 900 
 
 838 
 8y7 
 835 
 900 
 9*7-75 
 925 
 925 
 850 
 908 
 900.5 
 901 
 901 
 877 
 755 
 924.5 
 
 9 2 5 
 925 
 900 
 835 
 75 
 900 
 900 
 900 
 900 
 916.5 
 900 
 835 
 900 
 800 
 93 
 898-5 
 902.5 
 
 944 
 877 
 896 
 901 
 900 
 650 
 900 
 912 
 835 
 875 
 900 
 835 
 750 
 835 
 898.5 
 830 
 
 Ounces. 
 0.8348 
 0.8378 
 0.4174 
 0-397 
 0.596 
 
 0.8334 
 0.8003 
 0.2968 
 0.801 
 0.8348 
 0.1541 
 0.1927 
 0.8178 
 0.8716 
 0.8014 
 0.8669 
 0.08709 
 0.90331 
 0.0335 
 0.1874 
 0.1829 
 0.3751 
 0.8018 
 02968 
 0-5933 
 0-595 
 0.340 
 0.804 
 0.7198 
 0.380 
 0.802 
 0.1484 
 0.8667 
 
 0-3573 
 0.8729 
 
 0-4.-43 
 0.8633 
 0.8433 
 0-9033 
 0.7994 
 0.8669 
 0.766 
 0.3127 
 0.802 
 0.4053 
 0.^987 
 0.6484 
 0.800 
 0.1484 
 0.2-J75 
 0.2969 
 0.5101 
 0.7101 . 
 
 d. c. vt. 
 o 95 4 
 o 95 7 
 o 47 7 
 o 45 3 
 o 68 i 
 
 o 95 2 
 o 91 5 
 o 33 9 
 o 9 1 5 
 o 95 4 
 o 17 6 
 
 O 22 O 
 
 o 93 5 
 o 99 6 
 o 91 6 
 o 99 i 
 o 09 9 
 
 1 03 2 
 
 o 03 8 
 o 21 4 
 o 20 9 
 o 42 9 
 o 91 6 
 o 33 9 
 o 67 8 
 o 68 o 
 o 38 9 
 o 91 9 
 
 O 82 2 
 
 o 43 4 
 o 91 7 
 o 16 9 
 o 99 i 
 o 40 8 
 o 99 8 
 o 49 6 
 o 98 7 
 o 96 4 
 
 I 03 2 
 
 o 91 i 
 o 99 o 
 087 5 
 o 35 7 
 o 91 6 
 o 46 3 
 o 34 i 
 o 74 i 
 o 94 4 
 o 16 9 
 o 26 o 
 o 33 9 
 o 58 3 
 o 81 i 
 
 Do 
 
 New Union dollar 
 Maria Theresa dollar, 
 1780 
 
 Do 
 
 Belgium 
 Do 
 
 5 francs 
 
 
 
 
 
 Do 
 Central America ... 
 Chili 
 
 25 cents 
 Dollar 
 Old dollar 
 
 Do 
 China 
 Do 
 
 New dollar 
 Dollar (English mint)... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Do 
 
 Shilling (average) 
 Flurin 
 
 Do 
 
 
 
 L)o 
 
 
 N. German States. 
 Do 
 S. German States.. 
 German Empire.... 
 
 Thaler, before 1857 
 Thaler (new) 
 Florin 
 5 marks (new) 
 
 
 
 Italy 
 
 
 Do 
 
 
 
 
 Do 
 
 
 
 Dollar 
 
 Do 
 
 Half dollar 
 
 Do 
 
 Pesto of Maximilian.... 
 
 Norway 
 New Granada 
 Peru 
 
 Specie daler 
 Dollar of 1857 
 Old dollar 
 
 Do 
 
 Dollar of 1858 
 
 Do . 
 
 Half-dollar of 1835 '38. 
 
 Do 
 
 Sol 
 
 
 
 Roumania 
 Russia 
 Spain 
 Do 
 Sweden 
 
 2 lei (francs), new 
 Ruble 
 5 pesetas (dollars) 
 Peseta (pistareeir 
 Rixdaler '. 
 
 Tunis 
 
 5 piasters 
 

 
 THE 
 
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 Return this material to the library 
 
 from which it was borrowed. 
 
 
 JUN 1 8 1998 
 
 sr 
 
 2 WEEK LC 
 
 Series 9482