TUE DAILY EYEMKG TELEGRAPH-TCIPI.E SHEET TOIL ADELPm A, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 18C9.
10
U1C UNITED STATES MINT.
A Walk Tnrnh th Innlltnllon.
ite of tho most iirunilnent plai-cs of Inters). In
tkiH f it j in the United Htateii Mint, on ( tiemmt ntrept,
low Hroal. It Is visited by ttinuaamta of stranger
wry year, and yet tln-re are many people who have
brn honi within RlRlit of Itatiill clilmncy (130 feet
4ilffh) who know Utile or nothing about it. To en
lighten this claxn tho following simple statement of
facts has been written.
The hours for visiting the Mint are from 9 to it
o'clock A. M. Polite and courteous nshers mt
yoo at the door, and aveompuny yon through ' huh j
departments of the Institution which are opuu to
visitors.
Standing In the small rotunda at tho entrance,
and looking into the liulldlng, we have the onice of
the Treasurer of the Mint on our left: on the right Is
the Cashier's office, on the right, proceeding Into
the yard, Is the Treasurer's clerks ; on the left is the
deposit room, of which more will be said hereafter.
Adams Express occupies a portion of the Treasurer's
clerks' room.
The Copper Mrltln( ltoom.
The (irst object of lut rent after pausing Into the
yard is the room wherein all the base metals owed In
coinage by the Mint are melted and mixed. I'p to
J 867 the base coin of the t'nlted (States was exclu
elvely copper. In the year above mentioned, the
coinage of what was called the nickel cents was
commenced. These pieces, although called nickel,
were composed of one-eighth nickel ; the balance waa
copper.
HI nee the lirst coinage of nickel money, the pieces
have changed two or three times, both In design and
mixture. The present coinage of base coins Is as
follows:
NICKEL.
Three Cent.. ii2gr. . lsfl pieces to the lit.
Klve " ..77 10-100 oralout74 " " "
BRONZE.
ftnecent ... 4gr. 120 pieces to the lb.
Two " .... Mgr. 0 " " " "
The composition of the live ami three cent pieces
Is one-fourth nickel ; the balance Is copper.
The bronze pieces are a mixture of copper, zinc.,
and tin, about equal parts of each, of the two last,
the former contributing 96 percent.
There arc seven furnaces in this room, each capa
ble of melting Ave hundred pounds of metal per day.
When the metal Is heated and sufficiently mixed, it
Is poured Into iron moulds, and when cool and the
rough ends clipped off, li ready to be conveyed to
the rolling room.
The Silver nnd Geld Melting Room.
The next place of Interest Is the gold and silver
melting room. The visitor Is not permitted to enter
this room, but takes his view from the doorway.
The room is divided In the centre by a partition,
(in the right is the silver department. Here all the
silver used by the Mint in coining money, as well as
the fine merchant bars, Is mixed (alloyed) and
melted. On the left is the gold department. Both
gold and silver go through nearly the same process
or refining, so In describing one we describe both.
The silver or gold having paused through a sepa
rating and purifying process, Is brought to this
room, where It is properly mixed, heated, and then
poured into an Iron mould. When cool, it is knocked
out of the mould, ami although It Is rich-looking, It
is without that brilliant lustre which we see in new
coin. The piece taken from the monld is now called
an ingot. It Is obont twelve inches long, and Is
wedge-shaped at one end. This end Is made
wedgs-slmned to facilitate its passage through the
rollers.
A gold Ingot is worth about $1200 in gold. A silver
ingot (one dollar) Is worth about too in silver. Hllver
Ingots dlit'er in value and size, according to the de
nomination of the coin to be cut from them.
The false floor in this room excites considerable
attention. It is laid in sections, and can be taken
tip. The Bweeplngs are very valuable.
The Rolling Room.
On passing from the gold-meltlng-room, through
the corridor leading to the rolling-room, the Urst
object of Interest which meets the attention Is an
npright engine on the right. This engine is eighty
horse power, and supplies the motive power to the
rolling-machines.
On the left are the 'Rollers.'' About two hun
dred Ingots arc run through per hour on each pair
of JIoUk. Gold, silver, and base metal ingots arc
all put through the same process of rolling.
They are received from the melting rooms In
the same shape and size, and are passed
through the rollers until they assume the shape of
long thin strips of the requisite thickness for the
oort of coin required.
On the right, looking towards the rear of the
room, will be seen a number of furnaces. These
are the annealing furnaces. The metal, arter pass
ing through the "Itolls," becomes very brittle and
hard, from being worked, and It Is necessary to
Hoften It before putting It through any further pro
cess. It Is therefore heated to a red heat, and when
It becomes sort and pliable Is taken out and allowed
to cool. The base metal strips are laid loosely In
the furnace, but more care Is exerclned with the
precious metals. They are placed In copper canis
ters, and carefully guarded from any friction that
may cause them to loose the slightest particle.
Just back of the "Rolls'" are a number of machines
used for cutting, trimming, and flattening the strips.
In the rear of these machines are ranged lu a row
In the extreme back part of the room the cutting
presses. There are nine of these machines, each one
capable of cutting two hundred and twenty-live
pieces (plancheta) per minute. If these planchets
are of the denomination of cents, but (2-25 per
minute Is made, bnt it, on the contrary, the plan
chctts are of gold, of the denomination or double
eagles, we have the sum of f 4&00 per minute.
These presses arc a comparatively recent inven
tion, and each press Is capable or cutting any deno
mination or coins, as they are regulated by the size
ol the punch, which is movable. A sample of plan
chets from each atrip is carefully weighed before
the strip is permitted to be used.
Tho planchets, as cut, fall in boxes beneath the
press and are taken out in quantities and again An
nealed in the furnaces.
on the extreme left, on a line with the cutting
presses, are the "draw benches.'' These machines
are used for regulating accurately the thickness or
the strips of ftold or silver of any lumps or other
nnevenness. This Is done by drawing the strips
between stationary rollers previously set to tho
required thickness. The muchlnoryjjf this end or
tho room Is run by an engine in the cellar beneath.
The Cleaning or Whitening Room.
On the right, between the eutrauce to the rolling
room and the annealing furnaces, is the cleaning or
' whitening-room. (Visitors are not permitted to enter
this room, unless accoinpuuied by au oiiicer of the
institution.) In this room the planchets are cleaned
by heat and acids, and when thoroughly dried are
ready for the coining-room.
The Coining Room.
T1U is probably the most Interesting department
to the casual visitor of any in the Mint. On enter! ug
the door Is seen the engine, one of the finest pieces
of workmanship In this country. It Is almost en
tirely noiseless, and of twelve-horse power. It ope
rates all the machinery In this room. The dial
which Ik attached to the engine, and Ktuudi directly
in front of the visitor, murks the number of revolu
tions and cnubles the Chief Coiner to tell whether
the machinery has beeu stopped at any time without
good cause. A greater part or tho One work of the
engine was made and put up by the workmen of the
Mint In 18.10.
On Uie left, looking towards ihe cmrine, ure I lie
milling machines. These little machines are ope
rated by ladles, and are usvd to turn np the edges or
tho planchets, before they are ready tor tho coining
press. Kach machine Is capable of finishing atiout
live hundred pieces per minute.
Turning to the right, the massive yet delicate coin
ing presses stand before you, scrupulously clean and
11 Duly burnished. There are ten of these presses,
each one capable or making from Heoenty to utr tun
tired and tttenljf coins per liiluuto. They are seldom
run at a greater speed thuu eighty per minute. If
each press la the room was run at its greatest capa
city, and engaged In making double eagles tl i), in
the vhort Hpttce of one minute wo would have the
'nHotilshitiR Mini or f:u.noo miM'tfrfrured. Only the
laige st presses re used In making coins of law
ill-nomination. The small presses aro used for base
coins and the smaller denominations ol silver pieces.
The amount of pressure necessary to making a
perfect coin In from twenty to eighty tons. The
larger the piece the more pressure is required.
These machines are attended by ladles, and do
their work In the most perfect manner. The devi
ation of a hair's breadth would spoil the coin.
The impressions on both sides or the coin are made
with one motion of the press. A steel die, wherein
the characters to be placed on the coin have been
engraved, or dug out, la welded on to what Is called
a "stake," and placed below or on the bed or the
press. It Is set about the thickness of the coin bo
low the surface, and Is surrounded by a "collar."
It makes no material difference whether the obverse
or reverse of the coin is below, all hough the latter Is
generally placed there. On a portion of the machine
made to receive It, working directly over the lower
die, the obverse die Is fixed, and on this portion the
pressure is regulated.
The process by which the coins are made is very
similar In all denominations, with the exception
spoken of below. Tho planchets are placed In a
brass tube by hand, and at each revolution of the
press two Iron arms, called "feeders,'' working like
a pair of toags, slide rapidly ont, grasp aplanchet
from the bottom of the tube, and put It on the lower
die. Almost at the same moment the lower die
sinks below the "collar," the upper one descends,
the planchet Is pressed between them both, receives
the impression, and In a twinkling this one la caught
by the arms, Is thrown Into a box beneath the press,
and another planchet takes Its place, and so on
throughout. After tbe planchet passes through this
process it Is coin, and not till then, according to au
thority. It is noticeable that the base coins have smooth
edges, while gold and silver have "reeded" or nicked
edges. The difference In tbe edges Is caused by the
"collars," In which the planoheta are pressed ; those
for the gold and silver coins are delicately nicked,
while those for the base coins are perfectly smooth.
The subjoined statement exhibits the proportion of
precious metals and alloy In our gold and silver
coins, together with the welgbta of the several de
nominations of the same allowed by law; also, a
statement of the base metals, composing our minor
or token coinage, with weights of the several pieces,
and lawful deviation from the same:
'?
S-s
5"
0
.
"rVr
Critins.
.'iltf
la
f'rfmi-tiottlt A Hoy.
4
(--Dmihle
fogies
Fugles.
Half Kaglea..
Three Dollars.
Onart?rKalea
Dollars
Bilitrr-
Wfilt(i.gold,la0pt. copper
un. no.
l0. flr.
Do. do.
Oo. do.
IXj. do.
7710
a- ti tit 1
Pnlluin
Half DalUra
POO POOptn.nilvev, K Opts.cop'r
V4
I
2
4
'1M
iuart'rDullara
MR '
J to.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
It)
"M 4 10
2-tO
U W 'i
7716
ru
!i
WW
(tool
mo,
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
imiieft
Half OiniPR...
Three deals. .
A7r,W
Fiva Cent
T)i ree Cent....
One Cent
Two Cent......
2'iptK. nickel, 75 pto.cop'r
Do. do.
....;9upt.cop'r,5tinundziBO 4
....I Do. do. 1 4
IVotr. 40 grains 1 Tray ounce.
The Deposit Room.
Leaving the Coining Room, and passing through
the yard, the next object of Interest Is the Deposit
ltoom. In this room all the precious metal nsed by
the Mint Is received and weighed.
About Ave hundred million dollars worth of gold ha
been received In this room since the precious metal
was first discovered In California, In 1848. Previous
to that the gold came from different places, bnt
principally from Virginia, North Carolina, and
Georgia. Considerable quantities, of a very flue
quality, have come from Nova Scotia during the past
four or five years. Most of the gold which
reaches the Mint at the present time' comes from
Montana Territory. Nearly all west of that goes to
the liranch Mint ai Han Francisco, California.
Before the discovery of the Immense lodesof silver
which exist in the Territories or the United States,
the silver used by the Mint came principally from
Mexico and South America.
The precious metals are now found in most of the
Territories through which the Rocky and other
mountains run.
The copper used by the Mint comes principally
from the mines of Lake Superior. The finest is found
in Minnesota, The nickel Is principally from Lan
caster county, Va.
Looking Into the Deposit ttoora from the yard are
seen the scales used In weighing gold and silver.
The largest weight used by the Mint Is seen in this
room; It Is tlve hundred ounces. The smallest
weight used in the Mint is round in the Assay
Room; It Is the twelve-hundredth part of la
grain, and can be scarcely seen with the naked
eye, unless on a white ground. The smallest weight
nsed In the Deposit Room is the one-hundredth part
of an ounce, or ,what Is more readily comprehended,
the one-lirth of a pennyweight.
The largest scale in this room will weigh from six
thousand ounces to the one-hundredth of an ounce.
The next size weighs as much us three thousand
ounces at a draft. The smallest weighs as much as
three hundred ounces at a draft. The reader can
Imagine the delicacy or these scales much better
than they can be described. They are examined
and adjusted alternate days, sometimes oftener.
On the right-hand side of the room la the vaults.
There are twelve of these vaults lu the Institution.
They are of solid masonry. The most Important of
them are lined with Iron.
There has never beon an attempt to break Into the
Institution or the vaults. An attempt would be
fruitless, for not only are the doors of extraordinary
strength but every quarter Is guarded. The only rob
bery of import which ever occurred In the Mint
was perpetrated by a trusted servant of the Govern
ment In ISM. He purloined small particles of gold
from the different lots brought In by the miners. Ue
was detected, anil a great portion of the stolen gold
made good. Since then, new regulations have been
made, which render a recurrence of the same thing
Impossible.
In regard to the discovery of gold In California,
the following extract from a letter from the Director
of the Mint to the Secretary of the Treasury, dated
December 11, IMS, will prove interesting, it reads as
follows :
"On the 8th instant we received the first deposit of
gold from Culifornla. it was deposited by Mr.
Daniel Carter, who brought It from ttau Francisco
by the Isthmus route. It weighed 1804-fi9ouuc.es
troy. on the nth, another deposit was sent
by the Secretary of War, which weighed 22s ounces.
The average value per ounce of the bullion
belore mulling Is le-0.V.,."
The purest gold in this country has been found lu
the suite of Georgia. It Is seldom round In any great
quantity lu any of the Southern States.
The largest nugget of gold ever brought to the
Mint came from California in lsr.2, and was worth
nearly six thousand dollars in gold.
Attempts have boon made to deposit spurious or
manaruclured nuggets at the 11 tut; but uo matter
how nicely the fraud has leen concealed, the cheat
bus always been delected before the "stun"" wan
melted.
Gold, as received from the hands of tho miner. In
lt.s native state, is often of curious formation, and
diil'ers ciNislderaiiiy in outward appearance. It is
round In fine dust, in grains from the size of a pin's
head to that of a pea, and In lumps varying in sl.e
from a pcu to the size of a man's hand. It Is o;ca
sionuiiy found In crystalline form.
The Ilepoi.lt Melting Room.
russiug again Into the building, on the right, Just
Inside the hall door, will be seen the deposit melting-
room. There are four furnaces in this room, and
the lirst process of melting which the gold or silver
goes through after falling Into the hand of the Mint
tukes place in this room.
Tbe metal la weighed carefully In the deposit room,
In the presence or the depositor and officers of tbe
Mint. It is then locked up In Iron boxes, and
conveyed to the melting room, whore they are uu.
looked by two mn. each one having a key. The
metal la then placed lu pots and melted. It is then
poured Into Iron moulds, and when cool Is again car
ried to the deposit room and re-welghed, after which
a tmall piece, weighing abont three dwts., Is cnt off
from each deposited lot by the Assayer. From thto
small piece the Oneness of the whole lot (perhaps
110,000 worth) Is ascertained, Its value calculated,
and the depositor paid.
The gold in Its rough state Is then ready to be
transferred to the melter and refiner to oe refined,
and rendered fit for coinage.
The Cabinet.
Passing to the second story of the building, yon
register your name and residence In a book provided
for the purpose, and then pass on to tho Cabinet.
Here much wlir be found of interest to the visitor.
Portraits of the different gentlemen who have acted
as Directors of the Institution at dl ffercnt times grace
the walls, while arranged In cases, around and about
the room, are collections of medals and coins. Each
or the medals has an interesting history attached to
It, as commemorating some Important event In
the annals or this and other nations. Specimen
coins of all the nations in the world will
here bo fonnd. Among these are those
or ancient Rome, A. D. 177 to 222: Ureck Republic,
3to7B.C; together with a collection of Oriental.
China, and Japan. Tasslng on round the room,' a
plaster cast of Oliver Cromwell is seen. It la said to
lie a good likeness. A machine for assorting colna
attracts considerable attention on account of the
delicacy of workmanship. It la not In use. A large
and most elegant collection of agates, petrified
wood, together with specimens of gold in Its native
state, will be fonnd here. At the opposite end of the
room, among a collection of odd and rare coins, will
be seen the "widow's mite," the smallest of all
ancient coins, and which Is spoken of in the Bible.
The visitor will find much in this department which
a entertaining and instructive.
The Director's Room, Etc.
Just ontside or the exit door of the cabinet Is seen,
In a glass case, a One specimen of tho American eagle,
Stuffed, with outstretched wings, as though In the
act of flying. Aa-simifcof this bird will be found
npon the obverse of the lirst nickel cents that were
coined.
To the right, looking down the Btairs, Is the Direc
tor's office. Here this officer receives his visitors
and transacts the business of his office. The next
door, on the same side, Is the Chief Clerk's room.
Further on Is the private office of the Chief Coiner.
This room haa a fine library of scicntiilc and his
torical works. On tbe left Is the messenger's room,
back of which are the medal and other departments
for the transaction of business.
Passing the Chief Coiner's room, and thence out
upon the gallery, which runs completely around the
building, the machine shop Is reached. This depart
ment is stocked with lathes !and all the necessary
tools for doing the light work of the establishment. '
Back of this, and adjoining it, are the engravers
apartments'. Ilete the dies nsed by the Mint are
engraved. The dies fit all the different branch
mints arc also made here.
The Adjusting Room.
Leaving the engravers' department, we pass Im
mediately Into the adjusting room. The work of
this room Is done ent irely by ladles. The plancheta
of gold and silver are conveyed to this room. Here
they are weighed by the ladles.
There Is a certain deviation In the weight allowed
by law. If a planchet Is found too light, It is
thrown aside and Is melted over again, if too heavy,
bnt very near the weight allowed by law, It Is taken
in hand, and a small panicle tiled off the edges;
If too heavy to admit of llling, It Is thrown aside
with the light ones, and melted again Into Ingots.
If the planchet Is found to be of the proper weight,
It Is then ready for tho coining press. The base
coins (nickel, etc.) are not taken to this room. It
belongs to the Chief Coiner's department.
The Hepnrntlng Room.
Occupying a greater part of the west side of the
building (second floor) Is the Separating Room.
Here the gold and silver nsed by the Mint In the
manufacture of coin and flue bars are separated
from each other, or whatever other metals may be
mixed with them, and purified. It goes to this room
after having been once melted and assayed.
In separating and purifying gold it Is always ne
cessary to add to It a certain quantity of pure silver.
The wholo Is then immersed in nitric acid, which
dissolves the e liver into a liquid which looks like
pure water. The acid does not dissolve the gold,
but leaves it pure. The silver solution is then
drawn off, leaving the gold at the bottom of the tub.
It is then gathered up into pans, wushed, and dried,
after which It is ready for the use of the gold-melting
room. The silver used in this process, in Its liquid
state, is then run into tubs prepared for it, and "pre
cipitated," or rendered into a partially hard state, by
being mixed with common salt water. After being
"precipitated" It Is called "chloride," and resembles
very closely newly-slacked lime, or "smearcase." By
putting spelter or zinc on the precipitated chloride
It becomes metallic silver, and only needs washing
and melting to make the purest virgin metal.
The process of refining silver m of two kinds, that
or melting It with saltpetre, etc., which was known
some thousands of years since, and the modern pro
cess of dissolving It In nitric acid, just like the
method of extracting it from gold in the above de
scribed operation.
The AiwaT Rooms.
Passing along tbe gallery we enter the building at
the assay rooms. In the back room are the fires,
stills, and other appliances necessary to performing
all the work of the department.
In the front room are the delicate scales referred
to In the description of the deposit room. These
scales or "balances" are Inclosed In glass cases, ami
when the Assayer Is engaged In weighing the gold
they are kept closed that tho air may not reach them
and thereby Influence either side.
The Prorpae of Aaaaylng (old.
The gold la placed In a black lead crucible, and
covered with borax, to assist the fluxing and to pre
vent oxidation of the alloy. It Is thus melted down
and stirred ; by which a complete mixture Is effected,
bo that an assay piece may be taken from any part
of the bar cast out. The piece taken for this purpose
la rolled out for convenience of cntting. It Is then
taken to an assay balance (sensible to the tea
thousandth of a hall gramme or less), and from it
Is weighed a half gramme, which Is the normal assay
weight for gold, being about 7-7 grains troy. This
weight Is stamped 1000; and all the lesser weights
(afterwards brought Into requisition) are decimal
divisions of this weight, down to one ten-thousandth
part.
Sliver Is next weighed out for the quartatlon ; and
aathe aasay piece, If standard, should contain uoo
thousandths of gold, there must be three times tli is
weight, or 2700 thousandths of silver ; and this 1b
accordingly the quantity used.
The lead used for the cupellatlon Is kept prepared
In thin sheets, cut Into square pieces, which should
each weigh about ten times as much as the gold
under assay.
The lead Is now rolled Into the form of a hollow
cone; and Into this are Introduced the assay gold
and the quartatlon sliver, when the lead Is closed
around them and pressed Into a ball.
The furnace having been properly heated, ami the
cupels placed In It and brought to the same tempera
ture, the leaden boll, with Its contents, la put Into
one of the cupels, the furnace closed, and tho opera
tion allowed to proceed, until all agitation Is ceased
to be observed In the melted metal, and Its surface
has become bright.
This is an indication that the whole of the base
metals have been converted Into oxides and absorbed
by the cupel.
The cupellatlon being thus finished, the metal is
allowed to cool slowly, and the disc or button which
It forms Is detached from the cupel.
The button Is then flattened by a hammer; is an
nealed by bringing it to a red beat; la laminated by
passing it between the rollers; la again annealed ;
and la rolled loosely Into a spiral or coll called a
cornet. It la now ready for the process of quartatlon.
For this purpose It la Introduoed Into a matrass
containing about IK ounces of nltrlo aeid, at 22 deg.
of Daume's hydrometer; and In this acid It la boiled
for ten minutes, as Indicated by a sand-glasa.
The acid la then poured off, and three-fourths of
aa ounce or stronger acid, at 82 deg., is substituted
jlvr It, In which the gold la bollod for ten minutes.
This second .acid ti then also poured off, and
another equal charge of acid of the same atrength is
Introduced, in which the gold Is kept for ten minutes
longer.
It is then presumed that the whole of the silver
haa been removed, and the gold Is taken ont, washed
In pure water, and exposed, In a crnclhie, to a red
beat, for the purpose of drying, strengthening, and
annealing it.
Lastly, the cornet of fine gold thus formed is placed
In the assay nalanco, and the number of thousandths
which It weighs expresses the fineness of the gold
assayed, In thousandths.
The Hllver Amu,
The stiver Is melted In a black lead cmcible, with
the addition of fine charcoal within the pot, to pre
vent oxidation and to allow of dipping out. After
stirring, a small portion of the fluid metal Is poured
quickly Into water, producing a granulation, from
which the portion ror assay Is taken. As this differs
from tho mode pursued with gold, it must be speci
ally noted that in the case of silver alloyed with
copper there la a separation, to a greater or leal de
gree, between the two metals In the act of gradual
solidification. Thus an Ingot cooled In a mould, or
any single coin cut ont of such Ingot, thongh really
900 thousandths fine on the average, will show such
variations, according to the place of cutting, a
might even exceed the limits allowed by law. This
fact has been established by many experiments, both
in this Mint and the Mint of Paris, since the enact
ment of our Mint law, and it possesses the stubborn
ness of a law of chemistry. But the sudden chill
produced by throwing the liquid metal Into water
yields a granulation of entirely homogeneous mix
ture, and It can be proved that the same fineness
results, whether by assaying a single granule, or
part of one, or a number together.
From this sample the weight of Ills thousandth!
Is taken; which is dissolved In a glass bottle, with
nitric acid.
Into this solution the large plpette-full of standard
solution of Bait la Introduced, and It produces Imme
diately a white precipitate, which Is chloride of sil
ver, and which contains, or the metolllo silver, 1009
parts.
To make this chloride subside to the bottom of the
vessel, and leave the liquid clear, It Is necessary that
It 1h3 violently shaken In the bottle ; and this Is
accordingly done, by a mechanical arrangement, for
the necessary time.
I'nless the pieces have chanced to be below the
allowable limit of standard, the liquid will still con
tain silver In solution, and accordingly a portion of
the decimal solution is Introduced, from the small
pipette, capable of precipitating a thousandth of
silver, and a white cloud or chloride will show ltsoir
More doses are added, If the Indications require It.
The liquid Is again shaken, and cleared; acd the
process Is thus repeated, until the addition of the
salt water shows only a faint trace of the chloride
below the upper surface of the liquid.
Let us suppose, for tho sake or an example, that
three measures of the decimal solution have been
used with effect. This will show that the 1115 parts
of the piece contained 1003 of pure silver; and thus
the proportion of pure silver In the whole alloyed
metal Is ascertained.
Chief Colner'a Office.
After passing from the assay rooms and down the
stairs, we cross over to the southeast corner of the
building. Here Is the general business office of the
Chief Coiner. In this room the gold and sliver coins
are weighed and counted, before being transferred
to the Treasurer. This department la provided with
three large vaults, all fire and burglar proof.
The Cellar.
Advancing toward tho coining room, we reach a
stairway leading to the cellar. Passing down, we
find numerous vaults, ased for different purposes,
ranging along the hall fronting on Chesnut street.
Now we pass on Into the main collar.
In the centre Is a large space, the same size as the
yard above. In this space are six large boilers,
which generate the steam for the different engines,
and to heat portions of the building.
On the right la the blacksmith, carpenter, and
paint shops. In the rear of this Is the medal-striking
department. The process or striking a medal
differs from that of coin. Tbey are struck with a
Bcrew-press, worked by hand.
The "Sweep."
On the west side of the cellar is the "Sweep Grind
ing Room." Into this room all the dirt and sweepings
of the Mint are conveyed and ground up Into tine
powder, and after the best haa been selected It Is
taken to the melting room, and all the metal ex
tracted. The residue Is sold.
Tbe Wells.
In this vicinity are also the wells, wherein all tho
water that Is used In washing out the different
rooms, as well as that which comes from the differ
ent portions or tho building in time or rain, Is re
ceived and uitercd. They are cleaned out every few
years, and the dirt disposed or as in tbe case of the
"sweepings."
Of late years the sweepings, etc., have been of
comparatively little value.
General Remarks.
Owing to the Immense amount of precious metal
which is constantly In course of transition from one
form to another, and the care and watchfulness ne
cessory to a correct transaction of business, visitors
are not permitted to visit some of tbe departments.
These are of little Interest to the unscientific, and
are described under their proper beads.
Everything Is weighed so nicely and Be often that
the purloining of the slightest particle would be de
tected within a few moments after the act had been
perpetrated.
The building Is constructed almost entirely of
stone and Iron, and Is therefore fire-proof.
Deposits of less than one hundred dollars in value
are not received by the Mint.
ART GALLERIES.
Q. F. HA8ELTIN E'fl
Galleries of tlie Arte,
No. 1125 CHESNUT STKEET.
rrilK AUTOTYPES
J.ANDSCAPEH
JlMrp
UAVK ARRIVED.
SEVENTEEN NEW CIIUOMOB,
Including live bf Prang, and others i ranch, English,
and ienuan.
LOVELY FEMALE UEAD8 (FranotO.Moentseach.
TWEHTY.FOI.'R NKW ENGRAVINGS,
And a Large Standard Selection, with
TWO HEW WOKK8 OF LANDS EEK.
OTI1EBS BY ROSA BONIIEUR, BKOCHAKT, ETC.
TWO NEW ROGEUH GROUPS.
EXQUISITE rOHCELAIN TIOTUIiES.
, CAKVED EASELS, BRACKETS, ETC.
AND OTHER UNIQUE
Bridal and Christmas Presents.
EARLES' GALLERIES,
No. 816 CHESNUT STREET.
fUE VATICAN,
Io. IOIO CllISNftUT Htreet,
Statuary, Bronzes, and Vases
CHOICE GEMS OF ART,
And article! of taste for tbe adornment of parlor,
library, hall, and boudoir, and for Bridal and (Jurist-
inaa GiOa,
Articles at all prices, from ONE DOLLAR to ONI
BUN USED EACH.
j Spacious show rooms np stain. imlutrp
HOMER. COLLADAY & CO.'S
STOCK OF
DEIESS G
Must le Sold OH
Tjiiiiiiriy.
Homer, Colladay & Co. i
Crape Foplin
Only 23c,
Worth 50.
Homer, Colladay & Co.
XLoubaix Poplins,
Only 25c.
Wortn 50.
Homer, Colladay & Co.
Double Told.
Heavy Corded XVXohairs in Fashion- i
able Dark Shades.
37c, Worth Sl'OO.
Homer, Colladay & Co,
Triko Poplins
Tor Walking Suits,
Only 50c.
Homer, Colladay & Co.
Best Quality Serges
Tor Walking Suits,
Only 45 c.
Homer, Colladay & Co.
Silk Bpinglines,
Only 75c,
Worth $150.
Homer, Colladay & Co.
Fine Empress Cloths in all the
New Colors.
50c.
Homer, Colladay & Co.
Best Quality Green and Blue
Plaids Imported.
Only 87 c
HOMER, COLLADAY & CO.
O L. O AK BEPART3IENT.
In this department we have made an entire revision of
the, Pilces of our Cloths, Astrachans, Cloaks, Suits, and
Velvets, and the greatest bargains are now offered to pur
chasers.
Nos. 1412 and 1414 CHESNUT STREET,
It 16 UDWttt
OODS, SILKS, ETC.,
ly tlic Xil'tccntH of
Homer, Colladay & Co.
Black Silks,
Best Lyons Make,
$150. worth $250.
Homer, Colladay & Co.
Black Silks.
Best Lyons Make,
$2 00, worth $275.
Homer, Colladay & Co.
r
Black Silks, .
Best Lyons Make,
$2 25, worth $300.
Homer, Colladay & Co
Black Silks,
Best Lyons Make,
$250, worth $325.
Homer, Colladay & Co.
Hosiery of all Kinds, from
25 to 33 less than before.
Homer, Colladay & Co.
Linen Housekeeping Goods,
An immense Stock,
At 25 to 33 Less.
Homer, Colladay & Co.
Lyons Silk Velvets,
All Widths,
At Large Concessions.
Homer, Colladay & Co.
Mourning Goods
In Infinite Variety,
Lower than since the War
miLADBLFBlA,