Apart from a slight artistic interest to be derived from comparison among themselves of objects that in but few cases rise above mediocrity, the chief interest of the large number of patterns for United States coins lies in numerous proposals of unusual denominations. Some of the patterns of this class embody the results of serious efforts to reach a solution of monetary problems, while others represent purely visionary theories. In the former class belong the goloid Dollar (Pl. VII, 4), and the goloid metric Dollar, coins which, as their inscriptions reveal, were made of an alloy of silver and gold, in equal value, on the theory that the coin would preserve the same value amid the fluctuations in the value of silver. If the theory were sound, the coin would be unpractical because only an assayer could detect the presence of the gold in the piece, the color remaining that of silver. Another group of patterns is composed of those which were to serve as international coins (Pl. VII, 5). The proposition to add a four-dollar gold piece, to be denominated a Stella, was also considered in 1879 (Pl. VI, 5), and in spite of the patent absurdity of it there seems to have been sufficient discussion to warrant the production of a few patterns in the following year, 1880.

In 1850 a gold pattern Dollar with a large central hole (No. 1393) was submitted for consideration to the Treasury authorities, and in 1884 nickel Five-cent (No. 1546) and One-cent patterns of similar design were offered. The purpose of the earlier suggestion was evidently to make a piece of larger diameter, and thus overcome the valid objection to the small size of a gold piece of that denomination. The suggestion of a nickel piece with a central hole probably came from the practice of certain other countries. But there was no such reason for the device as existed where it served as a ready means of distinguishing the coins from those of a contiguous country using the same denomination and module.

Other unusual patterns are those of a Fifty-dollar gold piece produced in 1877. The question of larger gold coins had been mooted in Congress, suggested apparently by the rather extensive use of pieces of that value in the West, over which they had spread in former years from the private coinage establishments in California. Two splendid patterns (Pl. VI, 1) were produced by Mr. William Barber, then engraver at the mint, but the project never advanced beyond that initial stage.

It would not be desirable here to enter into any discussion of the numerous patterns and varieties of these patterns which have been produced for the regular series of our coins. The subject is sufficiently large to warrant a separate treatise, and which it is now understood will presently appear.

MINOR ELEMENTS OF THE COIN TYPES.

The mottoes.-Two legends have appeared on many of the coins of the United States, the one from almost the beginning of the national coinage, the other since the Civil War. Neither, however, has had an uninterrupted history, nor has either been employed on all the denominations of the series.

The motto E Pluribus Unum was first used on the coins in 1795, when the reverse type of the Half-eagle presented the main features of the Great Seal, on the scroll of which the motto belongs. The same device was a few years later extended to the other denominations in gold and silver, so that the motto was soon found on all the coins in the precious metals, and of course in its proper position on the scroll held in the beak of the eagle. But when a new type of eagle was introduced on the Half-dollar and Halfeagle in 1807, a scroll bearing the motto was placed in the field above the eagle as a purely decorative feature, for its presence was not required on the coins by law, nor was it an essential part of the new device as it had been of the preceding one. And in 1834 the scroll and motto were removed from the gold coins then issued, the Half-eagle and Quarter-eagle, and did not reappear on those denominations until 1908, when it was restored on the new issue. But the motto was placed on the Double-eagle when first issued in 1849, on the scroll held by the eagle, and has always been retained thereon. This motto was also omitted from the silver with the obverse type of Liberty seated—that is, from 1840 to 1873, in the case of the Dollar, and from 1836, when it was removed from the older type, until 1892, for the Half-dollar. In 1878 the motto was placed on the Dollar again, but with even less regard for its original relation and significance than shown by Mr. Reich in 1807, for on the Dollar of 1878 it was removed from the reverse and from the eagle, the emblem of the united power and authority of the States, and placed as a principal inscription on the obverse. On the gold coins of recent issue this motto is placed again on the reverse as a secondary legend in the field, except on the Double-eagle, where together with the thirteen stars it adorns and protects the edge.

The religious motto, In God We Trust, first appeared on the coins of the country in 1866, and owes its presence there largely to the increased religious sentiment in the dreaded crisis of the Civil War. Hon. S. P. Chase, then Secretary of the Treasury, received a number of appeals from devout persons throughout the country suggesting and urging that the Deity be recognized suitably on our coins in a manner similar to that commonly found on the coins of other nations. Accordingly, on November 30, 1861, Secretary Chase addressed a letter to the Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, and with the statement of his reason that "no nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins," ordered, "You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest words possible this national recognition." Several forms of motto expressing the intention were suggested. Patterns

1666°-12-2⭑

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for the Half-dollar and Half-eagle prepared in 1862 have “God Our Trust," and a pattern for a bronze Two-cent piece made in 1863 has the bust of Washington on the obverse and the legend "God and Our Country;" but the familiar form of the motto was finally decided upon, and it first appeared on a new Two-cent piece in 1864. In the following year patterns of the Double-eagle, Eagle, and Half-eagle, and of the silver Dollar, Halfdollar, and Quarter-dollar, with the motto were prepared, and in 1866 those denominations were issued bearing the motto. Of the smaller coins this motto has been placed on only the bronze Two-cent piece, as already stated, and on the nickel Five-cent piece from 1868 to 1883.

When the Double-eagle and Eagle of new design appeared in 1907, it was soon discovered that the religious motto had been omitted from them; and in response to a general demand Congress ordered it restored, which was done in 1908, and the popular will was also respected in this regard when the new Half-eagle was brought out in the following year.

The form of the star.-The use of stars as symbols of the States began in the first years of the national coinage. Until 1892 the six-pointed form of the star was employed; but on the reverse of the Half-dollar and Quarter of that year the five-pointed character was introduced, while the traditional six-point star was retained on the obverse. This change was probably due to the presence of a five-point star on the Great Seal, an adaptation of which forms the reverse type of these coins. Mr. Pratt went an ill-advised step further and placed five-pointed stars on the obverse of the Half-eagle and Quarter-eagle of 1908, a disregard of a well-established tradition which Mr. Saint-Gaudens respected in his designs for the Doubleeagle and Eagle of 1907, on the obverses and edges of which the stars are in all cases of the six-point variety.

Signatures on dies.-The custom of placing the signature of the engraver upon a coin die dates from remote antiquity.. Many Greek coins, especially the splendid creations produced by the cities of Sicily and Magna Graecia, are signed with the initials of the artist, and in some cases with his full name. The same practice has prevailed generally in European countries. On the coins of the United States but few signatures occur. There were none until the Double-eagle appeared in 1849, when the signature of Mr. Longacre, J. B. L., was placed on the truncation of the bust. The same signature is of course found on the Three-dollar gold piece of 1854, where the same bust of Liberty is used as on the Double-eagle. Mr. Longacre also signed the die of the Indian-head Cent of 1859, placing an L most unobtrusively on the ribbon that hangs from the back part of the band of the feather bonnet down over the hair.

Before the signed dies of Mr. Longacre appeared Mr. Gobrecht had signed the dies of his silver Dollar in 1836, placing his full name C. GOBRECHT in the exergue at first, then on the base of the figure of Liberty. But only patterns with the signed dies were made, and the name of the artist was unfortunately erased when the design was accepted for the coin.

The silver Dollar of 1878 bears the signature of the engraver, Mr. G. T. Morgan, on both dies, an M on the truncation of the bust and also on the ribbon that unites the branches of the wreath on the reverse. In like manner, the signature of Mr. C. E. Barber occurs as a letter B on the trun

cation of the bust of Liberty on the Half-dollar, Quarter, and Dime of 1892. Of the recent gold coins, Mr. Saint-Gaudens placed his signature, ASG in monogram, beneath the date on the Double-eagle, but left the Eagle dies unsigned; while the Half-eagle bears the initials, B.L.P., of the artist, Bela L. Pratt, prominently beneath the bust of the Indian.

The One-cent piece of 1909, with the bust of Lincoln, originally bore the signature of the artist, V.D.B., Victor D. Brenner, on the reverse, but after an issue of nearly thirty million pieces the initials were removed.

Statements of value.-On the first gold coins of the country there was no statement of the value, the size of the pieces being deemed sufficient to assure a true appreciation of their correct value. The silver Dollar and Half-Dollar had their values, ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT and FIFTY CENTS OR HALF DOLLAR, milled on their edges, so inconspicuously, however, and often so illegibly that they were of but little value as ready aids to the eye in perceiving quickly the values of the pieces.

But in 1804 the value of the Quarter-dollar was indicated by 25 C on the reverse beneath the eagle, and the practice then begun has had a steady development, until now the value fully written out is found on all the coins, as it was of course from the first on the Cent and Half-cent. In 1807 the values 50 C and 5 D were placed on the Half-dollar and Half-eagle, respectively; in 1838 the value of the Eagle was given as TEN D.; on the Halfdollar of 1836-7 the unusual form 50 CENTS occurs, which was changed to HALF-DOL. the following year. The practice of gradually expanding the abbreviated form went on until the full expressions TRADE DOLLAR and TWENTY DOLLARS were introduced in 1873, and all new designs prepared thereafter have the statement of value written in full.

TOKENS AND PRIVATE COINS.

Merchants' tokens.—At two periods since the nation began to coin money there has arisen a stringency of small coins, which made it necessary for business firms to supply their wants by the issue of copper tokens redeemable in legal money by the firms which issued them. The first period to witness such an issue came in 1837, when many business houses had prepared for their use copper tokens of the size of the large copper Cent. The types of these tokens then, as usually, were of two principal classes, the one strongly political with devices and inscriptions giving vivid expression to the partisan slogans of the day; while the other bore simply the advertisement of the merchant who issued them. Again, in 1863, the dearth of small coins gave rise to an enormous issue of such tokens, at that time again in the module of the current bronze One-cent piece. These pieces are commonly known as "Civil War Tokens" and "Merchants' Cards,” the former bearing types of a political character and the latter, as in 1837, having simply the names of business firms and advertisements.

Thousands of business houses throughout the Northern States resorted to the use of copper tokens issued in their own names; on the other hand, many of the so-called "Civil War Tokens" possess a general character and were evidently produced in quantities and sold wherever there was a demand for them.

Private gold coins.-Of an entirely different character are the privately issued gold pieces which were struck in Georgia and North Carolina, and also in the West after the discovery of gold in California and Colorado. The first privately issued gold pieces which readily went into circulation as coins were struck by Templeton Reid, an assayer, who in 1830 established himself near the gold mines in Lumpkin County, Ga., and converted the gold from the mines into a coin form (Pl. VIII, 1). The example of Mr. Reid was soon followed by à Mr. Bechtler, at Rutherfordton, N. C. (Pl. VIII, 2).

There can hardly have been any reason of necessity for either of these enterprises, since neither community was beyond the reach of assay offices where gold could have been disposed of. But in the case of the far West, the Government connived at the irregularity, regarding it as necessary under the circumstances. In fact, the Government opened negotiations with the firm of Moffat and Company with a view of having that company coin gold for the Treasury of the United States, but the decision to establish a mint at San Francisco rendered such an arrangement unnecessary. The production of gold "coins" of a private character in the West was very extensive and carried on by a large number of mining companies and banking establishments.

The pieces thus issued ranged in value from 21⁄2 dollars up to 50 dollars. While, as a rule, the form of this gold is the normal one of the usual coin, and in many cases the devices of the national coins were employed with legends suitable to the private character of the issuer, yet a few abnormal shapes are found among them. Thus an octagonal piece of the value of $50 was issued by August Humbert, a United States assayer (Pl. VIII, 4); and of simpler form, the bar or ingot, with appropriate inscriptions attesting the fineness, weight, and value, and finally the name of the firm or assayer guaranteeing the correctness of the figures was issued by Moffat and Company (Pl. VIII, 7), and by F. D. Kohler, the State assayer of California.1

THE MINTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

The mints of the United States are under control of a Bureau of the Mint at Washington, D. C., which was established in 1873, and is in charge of a Director of the Mint. The minting establishments of the United States, the marks by which their respective coins are distinguished, and also the dates of organization, and in some cases the dates of their suspension, are as follows:

1838-1861

Charlotte, N. C., mint-mark C; for the coinage of gold only.
Dahlonega, Ga., mint-mark D; for the coinage of gold only ... 1838-1861

See Adams' Premium List of United States, Private and Territorial Gold Coins, and the same writer's articles on Private gold coinage, in American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. XLV, 1911.