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THE MINT OF THE UNITED STATES,

Philadelphia, January 1, 1912. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a Catalogue of the Coins, Tokens, and Medals in the Numismatic Collection of the Mint of the United States at Philadelphia, prepared pursuant to your instructions by the curator, Mr. T. L. Comparette.

It is believed this publication will commend itself to all interested in the coins of the American continents.

In Part I the coins of the various countries of the American continents and contiguous islands and the medals of the United States of America are described, while only lists of the coins and medals of other countries are given in Part II. Respectfully, JOHN H. LANDIS, Superintendent.

The DIRECTOR OF THE MINT,

Washington, D. C.

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ERRATA.

Page 17, line 17: Read "1864" for "1866".

Page 59, No. 670: Read "7" over "3" for "5".

NOTE.-Other dates similarly changed but not mentioned in the text are: Eagle, 1797 to 1798; Half-eagle, 1795 to 1796; Quartereagle, 1804 to 1806; Dime, 1809 to 1811; Cents, 1790 to 1800, 1822 to 1823; Half-cent, 1802 to 1803.

Page 79, line 5: Read "" for "ro".

000

Page 106, No. 1557: Add "below, 1836" in description of obverse.

Page 113, line 4: Read "Grieg" for "Griggs".

Page 113, No. 1618: Add “Plain edge”; No. 1619: Add “Reeded edge".

Page 191, line 5: Read "1839" for 1832".

Page 194, Nos. 15 to 17 should follow No. 5, p. 192.

Page 207, line 10: Read "1839" for "1832".

Page 295, No. 8, line 2: Read "similar to No. 7".

Page 370, line 11: Read "1638" for "1838".

Page 388, Nos. 357 and 358 should follow No. 398.
Page 392, No. 383, perhaps an admission token.

Page 393, No. 389: Read "INSEPARABLE”.

Page 404, supply CARIA before No. 204. Supply LYDIA before No. 211. Page 405, Nos. 223, 225: Understand AR.

Page 411, supply before No. 25, "IMPERIAL COINAGE OF ROMAN REPUBLIC". Page 475, No. 191: Read "Hesse-Cassel".

Page 515, No. 39: Read "1802" for "1803".

Page 561, Japan, No. 1 ff.: Omit "Tenno".

PART I.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

INTRODUCTION.

The scarcity of money in the colonies of North America, except the Spanish settlements in the Southwest, was a cause of constant distress, for not only was the incipient foreign commerce of the colonies greatly hampered thereby, but, what was even more annoying, the domestic trade was carried on with the greatest difficulty for the want of money, especially coins of small denominations. This made itself felt immediately on the advent of prosperous conditions in the colonies early in the seventeenth century, and at no period for the ensuing two centuries was there any relief from the embarrassing question. In their endeavors to solve the problems of a standard of values and circulating medium the colonists resorted to nearly every means which had been known to primitive man prior to the invention of the coin. Among these makeshifts, barter must have been the most common method of disposing of and procuring goods. The use of staple products as a means of expressing values and also as money in ordinary business transactions soon became of necessity a general practice throughout the colonies.

The product most extensively employed in the place of coined money was the tobacco of the southern colonies, especially of Virginia. For several years nearly all of the business of that colony, both domestic and foreign, was carried on by means of tobacco, until the enormous production of the plant made restriction on its use as money necessary. Powder and bullets were also used as money throughout the colonies, in some of which the legal tender of bullets in payments was limited to a small number. In Massachusetts, and among the New England colonies generally, grain, fish, and furs were in common use as means of exchange; and not only in the settlement of private debts but they were receivable for taxes as well. An order of the General Court of Massachusetts in 1642 (Mass. Records, II, 22) prescribes the valuation per bushel at which wheat, rye, barley, and corn should be received “for the payment of the rate," and then adds, "in these at these prices, or in beaver money, or wampam pay is to bee made." The use of furs, especially beaver skins, as money obtained throughout the colonial period. And wampum, which served the Indians in nearly all their business transactions, was early recognized in New England and valuations placed upon it from time to time by the General Court. Thus in 1636 an order of the court fixed the value of wampum, without mention of color, at six to the penny; in 1642 four white pieces, or two blue ones, were fixed as the value of the penny. Evidently this

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