|
|
|
Referred to the Committee on Finance, and ordered to be printed.
To the Senate of the United States:
I transmit herewith to the Senate, a report from the director of the mint, showing the operations of that institution during the year 1839.
M. VAN BUREN.
Washington, February 1, 1840.
Mint of the United States,
Philadelphia, January 30, 1840.
Sir: In compliance with the law which requires that “in the month of January, of every year, the director shall make report to the President of the United States of the operations of the mint and its branches for the year preceding,” I have the honor to submit to you the following statements:
The coinage executed at this mint in 1839, amounted to $3,021,17 11, comprising $1,040,747 50 in gold, $1,949,136 in silver, and $31,286 61 in copper, and composed of 9,260,345 pieces. (Statement A.)
The deposites of gold within the year amounted to $1,042,500, of which $138,500 was derived from the mines of the United States. (Statements B and C.)
The deposites of silver amounted to $1,851,500, and consisted principally of Mexican dollars. (Statement D.)
At the close of the year, the public funds in our vaults under the laws authorizing deposites with the mint, for the purchase of metals for coinage, and for securing prompt payments to depositors, amounted to $516,697 04, in gold and silver. The amount withdrawn during the year, on Treasury drafts, was $648,730 58, and the amount added $33,000.
The coinage at the New Orleans branch mint, up to the 17th of August, when operations were suspended, amounted to $227,160 in silver, composed of 2,401,600 pieces of coin. (Statement E.) The deposites for coinage during the same period, amounted to $85,159 in gold, and $173,901 in silver. (Statement F.)
I have to regret that after keeping back this annual report to the last day allowed by the law, in the expectation of obtaining from the New Orleans mint the information necessary to enable me to include its operations to the close of the year, this information has not been received, and that my report, so far as it regards this branch, is therefore necessarily incomplete. I may state, however, that the amount of the deposites and coinage, thus left unreported, must be inconsiderable.
The efficiency of this branch of the mint has been greatly reduced during the year, by causes which are deeply to be deplored. First, disagreements arose among the officers, which ended in mutual denunciations, and rendered an investigation necessary as to the characters of those implicated, and the state of the institution generally. The task was committed to the United States district attorney at New Orleans, and was executed with ability and impartiality. The result showed, that although there was no reason for suspecting the integrity of any of the officers, the condition of things at the mint was such as to require painful measures of reform, which the Government did not hesitate to apply. Scarcely was this investigation ended, before the fatal epidemic, to which New Orleans is subject, made its appearance at the mint, and rendered an entire suspension of its operations absolutely necessary. The melter and refiner, and the coiner, both officers of great merit, fell at their posts, victims to the disease; and four of the workmen also lost their lives, while scarcely one escaped without an attack.
Under these circumstances, it cannot be matter of surprise that so little has yet been accomplished at the New Orleans mint. The prospects for the future, however, are more cheering. The institution now has an able corps of officers, all of whom are acclimated, as are also nearly all the workmen. There is reason therefore to believe that the operations of the mint may go on without further interruption, and that the just expectations of the public with regard to it may be no longer disappointed.
The branch mint at Charlotte received, during the year, deposites of gold to the value of $126,836. The amount of its coinage was $162,767 50, composed of 23,467 half eagles, and 18,173 quarter eagles. (Statements E and F.)
The branch mint at Dahlonega received, during the year, deposites of gold to the value of $113,035; and its coinage amounted to $128,880, composed of 18,939 half eagles and 13,674 quarter eagles. (Statements E and F.)
Thes two mints, established for the exclusive coinage of gold, are in a very satisfactory condition, and are fully able to execute much more work than has yet been required of them.
In my last annual report, I took the liberty of calling your attention to the fact, that the law of June 28, 1834, gave too high of a valuation to foreign gold coins, so as to lead the community into error with regard to them, and to prevent, in a great measure, their recoinage. As the capacity of the mint and its branches is now abundantly sufficient for all the gold coinage necessary for the metallic circulation of the country, and the reasons which led to the act making foreign gold coins a legal tender are certainly erroneous, I would again express my hope that the attention of Congress may be directed to the subject, and would respectfully recommend that the act in question be repealed.
I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your faithful servant,
R.M. PATTERSON,
Director of the Mint.
To the President of the United States.
My first copy of this report, from the Newman Numismatic Portal, ended here, without the referenced Statements. In mid-2018, I found this report as printed in the Commercial & Statistical Register issue dated April 1, 1840 (volume II, number 14); edited by Samuel Hazard, Philadelphia. The main text of the reprint differs slightly from the above text, mostly in the naming of the Statements which present specific details. The following Statements are named as found in the reprint, without any correcting cross-reference. My hope is to find a report with the Statements, so this page can be verified.
Statement of the coinage at the Mint of the United States, Philadelphia, in the year 1839.
| Denominations. | Pieces. | Whole number of pieces. | Value. | Whole value. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold. | ||||||
| Eagles | 38,248 | $382,480 | 00 | |||
| Half eagles | 118,143 | 590,715 | 00 | |||
| Quarter eagles | 27,021 | 67,552 | 50 | |||
| Quarter dollars | 183,412 | $1,040,747 | 50 | |||
| Silver. | ||||||
| Dollars | 300 | 300 | 00 | |||
| Half dollars | 3,334,561 | 1,667,280 | 50 | |||
| Quarter dollars | 491,146 | 122,786 | 50 | |||
| Dimes | 1,053,115 | 105,311 | 50 | |||
| Half dimes | 1,069,150 | 53,457 | 50 | |||
| 5,948,272 | 1,949,136 | 00 | ||||
| Copper. | ||||||
| Cents | 3,128,661 | 31,286 | 61 | |||
| 9,260,345 | $3,021,170 | 11 | ||||
Statement of deposites of gold, for coinage, at the Mint of the United States, Philadelphia, in the year 1839.
| The deposites of gold, for coinage, amounted to | $1,042,500 | |||
| Coins and bullion from Mexico and South America | ||||
| Of which was received from the United States, viz: | ||||
| Virginia | $57,600 | |||
| North Carolina | 53,500 | |||
| South Carolina | 6,300 | |||
| Georgia | 20,300 | |||
| Alabama | 500 | |||
| Tennesse | 300 | |||
| $138,500 | ||||
| Coins of the United States, old standard | 7,000 | |||
| Foreign bullion | 167,000 | |||
| Foreign coins | 730,000 | |||
| $1,042,500 | ||||
Statement of the annual amounts of deposites of gold for coinage, at the Mint of the United States and its branches, from mines in the United States.
| Years. | Deposited at the United States Mint, Philadelphia. | Deposited at the branch mints. | Mint and branches. | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia. | North Carolina. |
South Carolina. |
Georgia. | Tennessee. | Various sources. |
Total at U.S. Mint. | Branch at Charlotte, N.C. | Branch at Dahlonega, Geo. | Branch at N.O. La. | Total at branch Mints. | Total deposites of U.S. gold. | ||
| 1824 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||||||||||
| 1825 | 17,000 | 17,000 | 17,000 | ||||||||||
| 1826 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | ||||||||||
| 1827 | 21,000 | 21,000 | 21,000 | ||||||||||
| 1828 | 46,000 | 46,000 | 46,000 | ||||||||||
| 1829 | $2,500 | 134,000 | $3,500 | 140,000 | 140,000 | ||||||||
| 1830 | 24,000 | 204,000 | 26,000 | $212,000 | 466,000 | 466,000 | |||||||
| 1831 | 26,000 | 294,000 | 22,000 | 176,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | 520,000 | 520,000 | |||||
| 1832 | 34,000 | 458,000 | 45,000 | 140,000 | 1,000 | 678,000 | 678,000 | ||||||
| 1833 | 104,000 | 475,000 | 66,000 | 216,000 | 7,000 | 868,000 | 868,000 | ||||||
| 1834 | 62,000 | 380,000 | 38,000 | 415,000 | 3,000 | 898,000 | 898,000 | ||||||
| 1835 | 60,400 | 263,500 | 42,400 | 319,900 | 100 | 12,200 | 698,500 | 698,500 | |||||
| 1836 | 62,000 | 148,100 | 55,200 | 201,400 | 300 | 467,000 | 467,000 | ||||||
| 1837 | 52,100 | 116,900 | 29,400 | 83,600 | 282,000 | 282,000 | |||||||
| 1838 | 55,000 | 66,000 | 13,000 | 36,000 | 1,500 | 200 | 171,700 | $127,000 | $135,700 | $700 | $263,400 | 435,100 | |
| 1839 | 57,600 | 53,500 | 6,300 | 20,300 | 300 | 500 | 138,500 | 126,836 | 113,035 | 6,869 | 246,740 | 385,240 | |
| $539,600 | $2,702,000 | $346,800 | 1,820,200 | 14,200 | 13,900 | 5,436,700 | $253,836 | $248,735 | $7,569 | $510,140 | $5,946,840 | ||
Statement of the amount of coinage at the branch Mints in the year 1839.
| Mints. | Gold. | Silver. | Total. | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half eagles. | Quarter eagles. | Number of pieces. | Value. | Half dollars. | Dimes. | Half dimes. | Number of pieces. | Value. | Whole number of pieces. | Whole value. | |||
| Charlotte | 23,467 | 18,173 | 41,640 | $162,767 | 50 | 41,640 | $162,767 | 50 | |||||
| Dahlonega | 18,939 | 13,674 | 32,613 | 128,880 | 00 | 32,613 | 128,880 | 00 | |||||
| New Orleans | 100,000 | 1,241,600 | 1,060,000 | 2,401,600 | $227,160 | 2,401,600 | 227,160 | 00 | |||||
| New Orleans | |||||||||||||
| 42,406 | 31,847 | 74,253 | $291,647 | 50 | 100,000 | 1,241,600 | 1,060,000 | 2,401,600 | $227,160 | 2,475,853 | $518,807 | 50 | |
Statement of deposites of silver for coinage, at the Mint of the United States, Philadelphia, in the year 1839.
| The deposites of silver, for coinage, amount to | $1,851,500 | ||
| Of which, there was in – | |||
| Mexican dollars, | $1,406,000 | ||
| Five-franc pieces of France, | 188,000 | ||
| Other coins, | 100,000 | ||
| Bullion and plate, | 164,000 | ||
| Parted from gold, | 1,500 | ||
| The deposites of silver for coinage amount to | $1,851,500 | ||
Statement of deposites, for coinage, at the Branch Mints, in the year 1839.
| United States bullion. | Foreign bullion. | Foreign coins. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold. | ||||
| Charlotte branch mint, | $126,836 | $126,836 | ||
| Dahlonega branch mint, | 113,035 | 113,035 | ||
| New Orleans branch mint, | 6,869 | $58,158 | $20,132 | 85,159 |
| New Orleans branch mint, | ||||
| $246,740 | $58,158 | $20,132 | 325,030 | |
| Silver. | ||||
| New Orleans branch mint, | $70,973 | $102,928 | 173,901 | |
| Whole amount deposited at the branches, | $498,931 | |||
| Recapitulation. | ||||
| Deposited at the Charlotte branch mint, | $126,836 | |||
| Deposited at the Dahlonega branch mint, | 113,035 | |||
| Deposited at the New Orleans branch mint, | 259,060 | |||
| $498,931 | ||||
Recapitulation of deposites and coinage at the Mint of the United States and branches, in the year 1839.
| Mints. | Deposites. | Coinage. | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold. | Silver. | Total. | Gold. | Silver. | Copper. | Total. | ||||||||||
| U.States gold. | Foreign gold. | Total of gold. | Pieces. | Value. | Pieces. | Value. | Pieces. | Value. | Pieces. | Value. | ||||||
| Philadelphia | $138,500 | $904,000 | $1,042,500 | $1,851,500 | $2,894,000 | 183,412 | $1,040,747 | 50 | 5,948,272 | $1,949,136 | 3,128,661 | $31,286 | 61 | 9,260,345 | $3,021,170 | 11 |
| Charlotte | 126,836 | 126,836 | 126,836 | 41,640 | 162,767 | 50 | 41,640 | 162,767 | 50 | |||||||
| Dahlonega | 113,035 | 113,035 | 113,035 | 32,613 | 128,880 | 00 | 32,613 | 128,880 | 00 | |||||||
| New Orleans | 6,869 | 78,290 | 85,159 | 173,901 | 259,060 | 2,401,600 | 227,160 | 2,401,600 | 227,160 | 00 | ||||||
| New Orleans | ||||||||||||||||
| $385,240 | $982,290 | $1,367,530 | $2,025,401 | $3,392,931 | 257,665 | $1,332,395 | 00 | 8,349,872 | $2,176,296 | 3,128,661 | $31,286 | 61 | 11,736,198 | $3,539,977 | 61 | |
Recapitulation of the amount of coinage at the Mint of the United States and branches, from the commencement of operations to December 31, 1839.
| Commenced operations. | Mint. | Whole coinage, in pieces. | Whole coinage, in value. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1793 | Philadelphia mint | 235,499,086 | $79,881,835 | 59 |
| 1838 | Charlotte branch mint | 62,420 | 246,932 | 50 |
| 1838 | Dahlonega branch mint | 53,196 | 231,795 | 00 |
| 1838 | New Orleans branch mint | 2,804,030 | 267,403 | 00 |
| New Orleans branch mint | ||||
| Total | 238,418,732 | $80,627,966 | 09 | |
This report was also printed in the Commercial & Statistical Register issue dated April 1, 1840 (volume II, number 14); edited by Samuel Hazard of Philadelphia, which provides the following additional information.
Mint of the United States,
Philadelphia, February 6, 1840.
Sir: In the annual report which I had the honour to send to you on the 30th ultimo, I was under the necessity of leaving the statement imperfect in respect to the operations of the New Orleans mint, from which I had not been able to obtain the necessary information. A communication just received from the superintendent of that mint states, that, from the re-commencement of operations, in November, to the end of the year, they coined $23,490 in gold, consisting of 9,396 quarter-eagles; and $13,000 in silver, composed of 16,000 half dollars, and 50,000 dimes. The deposits, during the same period, amounted to $3,748 09, in gold, and 28,267 09 in silver.
The statement of the operations of the New Orleans mint, for the year 1839, may now be presented as follows:
| Amount of coinage in gold, | $23,490 |
| Amount of coinage in silver, | 240,160 |
| Whole number of pieces coined, | |
| Total coinage, | 263,650 |
| Amount of deposites in gold, | $88,907 |
| Amount of deposites in silver, | 202,168 |
| Total deposites, | 291,075 |
| Whole number of pieces coined, 2,476,996 | |
I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your faithful servant,
R.M. PATTERSON,
Director of the Mint.
The President of the United States.