26th Congress,
1st Session.
[Doc. No. 168]
Ho. of Reps.
Treas. Dept.

MINT OF THE UNITED STATES.


LETTER
from
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,

Transmitting
A report of the Director of the Mint, in relation to the value of certain gold and silver coins, specified in the acts of Congress of April 10, 1806, and June 28, 1834.


April 7, 1840.

Read, and laid upon the table.


Treasury Department,
April 6, 1840.

Sir: In compliance with the provisions of the second section of the act of Congress of June 25, 1834, entitled “An act regulating the value of certain foreign silver coins within the United States,” and the second section of the act of June 28, 1834, entitled “An act regulating the value of certain foreign gold coins within the United States,” I have the honor to enclose a copy of a statement from the Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, showing the result of the assays made at the Mint, of the coins referred to in those acts.

I beg leave to call the attention of Congress to the fact, as appears by this statement, that the gold coins of Great Britain, Portugal, and Brazil, are not equal in fineness to the standard for the gold coins of the United States; and it being assumed by the act of the 28th June, 1834, above referred to, that these coins are twenty-two carats fine, they are virtually overvalued, and pass current for more than their intrinsic worth.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

LEVI WOODBURY,
Secretary of the Treasury.

The Hon. the Speaker of the House of Representatives.


Mint of the United States,
April 2, 1840.

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the fineness, and value by weight, of certain gold and silver coins specified in the acts of Congress of April 10, 1806, and June 28, 1834.

Gold coins.
crown (of 5,000 reis) and half,  Fineness in thousandths. Value per dwt. cts.
Great Britain, sovereign 915.5 94.62
France, pieces of 40 and 20 francs 899 92.92
Spain, doubloon and parts 866 89.51
Mexico, do. 866 89.51
Peru, do. 868 89.71
Chili, do. 868 89.71
Colombia, doubloons of Bogota 870 89.92
do. of Popoyan 858 88.68
New Grenada, doubloons, 1837-’38 871 90.02
Bolivia, do. 870 89.92
Central America, do. 830 85.79
La Plata, do. 815 84.24
Portugal, johannes and half 914 94.46

Portugal,
crown (of 5,000 reis) and half,    since 1838 914 94.46
Brazil, piece of 6,400 reis, of 1838 914 94.46

Silver coins.
Mexico, dollar, average of various mints, and   Fineness in thousandths. Value per oz. cts.
Spain, dollar of the Peninsula 900 116.36
pillar-dollar of Spanish America 898 116.10
France, crown, (ceased to be coined in 1793) 909 117.53
five-franc piece 900 116.36
Mexico, dollar, average of various mints, and    in the proportion usually presented here 897 115.97
Peru and North and South Peru, dollar 901 116.49
Chili, dollar 906 117.13
Central America, dollar 896 115.84
Brazil, restamped dollar of 960 reis 898 116.10

Very respectfully, your faithful servant,

R.M. PATTERSON,
Director of the Mint.

Hon. Levi Woodbury, Secretary of the Treasury.