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The annual report of the Mint of the United States.
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March 28, 1856. - Laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.
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To the House of Representatives of the United States:
I transmit, herewith, a report of the operations of the mint of the United States and its branches, including the assay office, for the year 1855.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WASHINGTON, March 27, 1856.
. . . . . . . .
MINT OF THE UNITED STATES,
Philadelplhia, January 31, 1856.
SIR: I have the honor to present the following report of the Operations of the mint of the United States and its branches, including the assay office, for the year 1855.
The deposits received and coinage executed at the principal mint during the past year were as follows: gold deposits, $10,534,103 84; gold coins struck, $10,594,454; fine gold bars, $16,298 14; silver deposits, including silver separated from the California gold, and silver purchased pursuant to the act of March 3, 1853, $2,680,556 75; silver coinage, $1,419,170; copper coinage, $16,030 79 total deposits of gold and silver, $13,214,660 59; total coinage, $12,045,952 93. The coinage was comprised in 10,885,619 pieces.
The operations of the mint, except the receiving of deposits and melting, assaying, and paying the same, were suspended on the 19th of July last, at which time the repairs authorized by an appropriation made by the last Congress to the mint building were commenced. The construction of these repairs was entrusted to officers designated by the Treasury Department, and they are being completed in the most thorough and substantial manner, so as to render the mint edifice, in all its departments, entirely fire-proof. Advantage has also been taken of the opportunity thus offered to introduce useful changes and improvements in the rooms appropriated to the different branches of business, whereby the efficiency of the mint and the security of the treasure therein will be greatly advanced and promoted. During the suspension of coinage deposits were received and paid as heretofore, so that no inconvenience to depositors has resulted therefrom. But the accumulation of bullion, and the necessity of supplying coin, especially to the treasury of the United States, have made it necessary to resume the coinage operations, notwithstanding the work upon the repairs is in an unfinished state. The preparation of standard ingots for coinage was commenced on the 4th of the present month, and the delivery of coins to the treasurer was resumed on the 19th instant. The mint is now in active and efficient operation, although considerable inconvenience is experienced in consequence of the repairs not being fully completed. The suspension of coinage for the period of six months will sufficiently account for the diminished operations at the principal mint during the past year.
The deposits received at the branch mint at New Orleans amounted to $2,852,510 69; of which the sum of $431,156 83 was in gold, and $2,420,953 86 in silver. The coinage was $450,500 in gold, and $1,918,000 in silver; total coinage, $2,368,500; the number of pieces struck was 5,556,100.
The branch mint at San Francisco received of gold deposits the sum of $20,876,310 08; of silver, the sum of $259,787 47. The coinage operations were as follows: gold coin, $17,598,300; fine gold bars, $88,782 50; unparted or unrefined gold bars, $3,270,594 93; silver coinage, $164,075 total coinage operations, $21,121,752 43; comprised in 1,471,212 pieces.
The deposits received at the branch mint at Dahlonega were, in gold, $116,662 07; the coinage (gold) $116,778 50; the number of pieces struck was 25,366.
At the branch mint at Charlotte, the sum of $216,988 86 was deposited for coinage; the coinage, comprised in 53,268 pieces, amounted to $217,935 50. The operations of this branch, as well as that established at Dahlonega are confined to gold.
The assay office at New York received, during the year, the sum of $26,687,701 24 in gold bullion, and the further sum of $350,150 08 in silver; of this amount, the sum of $195,241 44 was parted from gold, and $2,061 87 was derived from the Lake Superior mines. The number of fine gold bars stamped at this office was 6,182, of the aggregate value of $20,441,813 63. For the bullion deposited during the year, payment has been made in fine gold bars to the amount of $17,246,247 74; and in coins to the amount of $9,791,603 58.
The entire amounts received at the mint and its branches, including the assay office, during the year, were as follows: gold, $58,862,922 92; silver, $5,711,448 16; total, $64,574,381 08. The coinage operations for the same period were as follows: gold coins, $28,977,968; fine gold bars, $20,546,894 27; imported bars, $3,270,594 93; silver coins, $3,501,245; copper coins, $16,030 79; total coinage, $56,312,732 99; comprised in 16,997,807 pieces.
It is proper to remark that the aggregate of the deposits above presented embraces a considerable amount of re-deposits; as, for example, unparted or unrefined bars made at San Francisco are sometimes re-deposited at the other minting establishments, and a portion of the fine bars formed at the assay office are transferred to the mint for coinage. Deducting these re-deposits, the actual amount of the precious metals brought into the mint and its branches, during the year, was $55,151,902 37.
The amount of gold of domestic production deposited in 1855 was $49,351,789 11, viz: from the Pacific side of the Union, including a deposit of $900 from New Mexico, $48,989,439 54; and from the Atlantic States $362,349 57.
Since the passage of the act of March 3, 1853, authorizing a reduction in the weight of the silver coinage, there have been issued the following amounts, viz: In 1853, $8,654,161; in 1854, $8,619,270; in 1855, $3,501,245; making a total of $20,774,676. As few, if any, of these coins have been exported, and but a small amount used in the arts, it will be seen that a large addition has been made to the silver coinage in circulation. The issuing of a few millions more of silver coins may be all that may be required in view of the exclusion of the circulation of silver, and of the small denominations of the gold coinage, in many of the States of the Union by the use of bank notes of a low denomination. We shall never, it is believed, fully realize the benefits of a sound specie circulation until all bank notes, at least below the denomination of twenty dollars, shall be excluded from circulation. And it seems well worthy the consideration of Congress, as suggested in the mint report of 1853, whether some provision is not practicable, either by taxation or other efficient means, to remedy the evil in question.
It may be interesting to present, in one view, the entire coinage operations at all the mints and the assay offices since their organization. They are as follows:
| Mint of the United States, Philadelphia, (1793) | $377,383,808 87 |
| Branch mint at New Orleans, (1838) | 57,386,665 00 |
| Branch mint at Dahlonega, (1838) | 5,690,266 00 |
| Branch mint at Charlotte, (1838) | 4,222,626 50 |
| Branch mint at San Francisco, (1854) | 30,853,326 64 |
| Assay office at New York, (1854) | 23,329,872 81 |
| Total | 498,866,565 82 |
The chief part of this large amount has been received since December, 1848, and is the production of the mines of California, viz: $313,234,502 77. In a former report some reasons were suggested tending to show that the large amount of gold from California, and that produced from Australia, need excite no apprehensions in regard to any material disturbance in the value of the precious metals; yet it cannot but be apparent that this increase renders it highly important that States and nations should extend the uses of gold and drive out of existence that which circulates in the place of it.
There is one point connected with this subject and with the general management of the national coinage, which although left by law to the discretion of the director of the mint, and cannot be made the subject of particular legislation, yet is of so much importance to the community generally, that this occasion seems appropriate to give it a fair and general understanding. The thirtieth section of the general mint law - act of January 18, 1837 - provides that "in the denominations of coin delivered, the treasurer shall comply with the wishes of the depositor, unless when impracticable or inconvenient to do so; in which case the denomination of coin shall be designated by the director." In view of the fact that depositors are always paid before their bullion is operated upon, out of a stock of coin previously made ready, it is evident that in the preparation of such a supply of coin the director is to use his discretion in regard to the denomination before conferring with depositors; and they may or may not be exactly suited in the payment. Undoubtedly, in the issue of coins, every proper attention should be given to the probable demand, and especially in the silver coinage, which, it is to be presumed, is wanted for immediate use, and not for storage in vaults. Heretofore, the general practice has been to pay depositors in the coin they have desired, and it is not intended by these observations to give notice that this usage will be entirely abandoned. But the chief design of a national mint is to subserve the interests of the people at large preferably to a few large owners of bullion or coin. The interests of the public and of depositors are not always concurrent in the matter under discussion. Depositors of large amounts call for coin in a form which gives the least trouble to count; and banking institutions, in addition to that, may prefer it in a form not likely to be drawn out. Many who present their checks at these institutions would, doubtless, ask for specie, but are deterred from doing so by the expectation of securing double eagles instead of half or quarter eagles. In a word, the plain effect of issuing gold coin of a large size is to keep down the circulation of specie and increase the use of paper money. This remark, of course, does not apply to such localities where paper money is prohibited, as, for example, in the State of California, because, in such cases, the different currencies cannot come in conflict.
Before the act of Congress authorizing the issuing of gold in stamped bars, there was, it is true, a necessity for the issue of large coins, as well to meet the demands for shipment to Europe as, in some measure, to relieve the pressure upon the mint. There was no kind of propriety in going through the manipulations and bearing the expense of making small gold coins to be directly melted down in foreign mints or refineries. But since the important change in our mint laws, before referred to, a distinction has been made to meet the demands of trade, by which gold intended for exportation is cast into fine bars, whilst that which is needed for home currency is converted into coin. If we look to the example of the wealthiest and most civilized nations of the globe we shall find that their largest gold coin, to speak in a general way, does not exceed our half eagle in value. Such is the case in Great Britain, France, Russia, the Netherlands, and other countries. There are pieces of ten thalers - about eight dollars of our money - coined in Germany, but apparently for international use. The same may be said of the American doubloon, of which the amount coined is small. It would no longer be an embarrassment to the principal mint, nor to the branches, except perhaps the branch at San Francisco, (and to that institution these views are not intended particularly to apply,) to coin all the gold that is likely to be offered in pieces of five dollars and less. It is true that nearly as much labor is expended in the manufacture of a gold dollar or a quarter eagle as of an eagle or double eagle; and in thus offering to make the smaller denominations a large increase of work is assumed; but this consideration is met by another - that the division of labor, and the present efficiency of the mint establishments, especially when the repairs at the principal mint are fully completed, will enable us to meet such increase without additional expenditures. The manufacture of fine bars at the assay office in New York, and the coinage of the branch mint at San Francisco, have so divided the work upon gold bullion as to remove all apprehension of difficulty or delay. In the coinage of half eagles particularly we shall be materially aided by a very remarkable machine lately invented for the final adjustment of the weight of the individual planchets. This instrument was manufactured at Paris, and has been introduced into the mint there, and one of similar powers is also employed in the mint of England. The one imported for the United States mint is adapted to the half eagle only. It is justly regarded as a triumph of mechanism. It is not by any means assumed that the coinage of the eagle and the double eagle should be discontinued. On the contrary, they will be indispensable at San Francisco; they may, in some emergencies, be required at Philadelphia and at New Orleans; but, as a general rule, adapted to the principal mint and to the branches in the Atlantic States, it is believed that the time has come to return to the smaller denominations of gold coin, issuing almost the whole in pieces not larger than the half eagle; and this, upon the ground already adverted to - particularly applicable to a country so greatly favored with the original production of the precious metal - that the people at large are entitled to a greater portion of real, imperishable money, and that a cardinal point, at which this reform is to be begun or aided, is the place where the gold is put into shape and size for circulation.
The propriety of the organization of a medal office at the mint is respectfully recommended to your consideration. The reasons for this measure heretofore presented need not be repeated here. The frequent calls upon us to strike medals, and to furnish copies of the public medals from the dies which are deposited at the mint, indicate that the establishment of such an office would be of great public benefit. As the statement of the medal dies annexed to my last report did not embrace all that are at the mint, and was in one or two other particulars not precisely accurate, I have caused a more correct list to be prepared, which is herewith presented.
I also attach to this report several tabular statements, exhibiting the full details of the operations of the mint and its branches, including the assay office, for the past year; also several statistical tables relating to the deposits and coinage of previous years, and showing the States and Territories from whence the precious metals have been received.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your faithful servant,
JAMES ROSS SNOWDEN,
Director United States Mint.
To the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Statement of deposits and coinage at Mint of the United States, branches and assay office, during the year 1855.
| Description | Mint of U. States, Philadelphia. |
Branch Mint, N. Orleans. |
Branch Mint, San Francisco. |
Branch Mint, Dahlonega. |
Branch Mint, Charlotte. |
Assay office, New York. |
Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOLD. | |||||||
| Foreign coin | $37,689 00 | $9,671 81 | $161,682 87 | $209,043 68 | |||
| Foreign bullion | 96,526 00 | 9,967 78 | $15,872 88 | 254,632 26 | 876,998 92 | ||
| United States coin, (O. S.) | 2,622 50 | 2,622 50 | |||||
| United States bullion | 10,397,266 34 | 411,517 24 | 20,860,437 20 | $116,662 07 | $216,988 86 | 26,271,386 11 | 58,274,257 82 |
| Total gold | 10,534,103 84 | 431,156 83 | 20,876,310 08 | 116,662 07 | 216,988 86 | 26,687,701 24 | 58,862,922 92 |
| SILVER. | |||||||
| Deposited, (including purchases) | 2,629,109 37 | 2,418 019 99 | 178,418 63 | 154,908 64 | 5,380,456 63 | ||
| United States bullion, (parted) | 51,447 38 | 2,933 87 | 81,368 84 | 195,241 44 | 330,991 53 | ||
| Total silver | 2,680,556 75 | 2,420,953 86 | 259,787 47 | None. | None. | 350,150 08 | 5,711,448 16 |
| Total deposits | 13,214,660 59 | 2,852,510 69 | 21,136,097 55 | 116,662 07 | 216,988 86 | 27,037,851 32 | 64,574,371 08 |
| Less value of gold ($8,922,468 71) and silver ($500,000) redeposited at the different institutions | 9,422,468 71 | ||||||
| Total | 55,151,902 37 |
| Denomination. | Mint of United States, Philadelphia. |
Branch Mint, New Orleans. |
Branch Mint, San Francisco. |
Branch Mint, Dahlonega. |
Branch Mint, Charlotte. |
Assay office, New York. |
Total. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pieces. | Value. | Pieces. | Value. | Pieces. | Value. | Pieces. | Value. | Pieces. | Value. | Pieces. | Value. | Pieces. | Value. | |
| GOLD. | ||||||||||||||
| Double eagles | 364,666 | $7,293,320 00 | 8,000 | $160,000 | 859,175 | $17,183,500 00 | 1,231,841 | $24,636,820 00 | ||||||
| Eagles | 121,701 | 1,217,010 00 | 18,000 | 180,000 | 9,000 | 90,000 | 148,701 | 1,487,010 00 | ||||||
| Half eagles | 117,098 | 585,490 00 | 11,100 | 55,500 | 61,000 | 305,000 00 | 22,432 | 112,160 00 | 39,788 | $198,940 00 | 251,148 | 1,257,090 00 | ||
| Three dollars | 50,555 | 151,665 00 | 6,600 | 19,800 00 | 57,155 | 171,465 00 | ||||||||
| Quarter eagles | 235,480 | 588,700 00 | 1,123 | 2,807 50 | 3,677 | 9,192 50 | 240,280 | 600,700 00 | ||||||
| Dollars | 758,269 | 758,269 00 | 55,000 | 55,000 | 1,811 | 1,811 00 | 9,803 | 9,803 00 | 824,883 | 824,883 00 | ||||
| Fine bars | 21 | 16,298 14 | 26 | 88,782 50 | 6,182 | $20,441,813 63 | 6,229 | 20,546,894 27 | ||||||
| Unparted bars | 1,121 | 3,270,594 93 | 1,121 | 3,270,594 93 | ||||||||||
| Total gold | 1,647,790 | 10,610,752 14 | 92,100 | 450,500 | 936,922 | 20,957,677 43 | 25,366 | 116,778 50 | 53,268 | 217,935 50 | 6,182 | 20,441,813 63 | 2,761,628 | 52,795,457 20 |
| SILVER. | ||||||||||||||
| Dollars | 26,000 | 26,000 00 | 26,000 | 26,000 00 | ||||||||||
| Half dollars | 759,500 | 379,750 00 | 3,688,000 | 1,844,000 | 121,950 | 60,975 00 | 4,569,450 | 2,284,725 00 | ||||||
| Quarter dollars | 2,857,000 | 714,250 00 | 176,000 | 44,000 | 412,400 | 103,100 00 | 3,445,400 | 861,350 00 | ||||||
| Dimes | 2,075,000 | 207,500 00 | 2,075,000 | 207,500 00 | ||||||||||
| Half dimes | 1,750,000 | 87,500 00 | 600,000 | 30,000 | 2,350,000 | 117,500 00 | ||||||||
| Three cent pieces | 139,000 | 4,170 00 | 139,000 | 4,170 00 | ||||||||||
| Total silver | 7,606,500 | 1,419,170 00 | 4,464,000 | 1,918,000 | 534,350 | 164,075 00 | None. | None. | None. | None. | None. | None. | 12,604,850 | 3,501,245 00 |
| COPPER. | ||||||||||||||
| Cents | 1,574,829 | 15,748 29 | 1,574,829 | 15,748 29 | ||||||||||
| Half cents | 56,500 | 282 50 | 56,500 | 282 50 | ||||||||||
| Total copper | 1,631,329 | 16,030 79 | None. | None. | None. | None. | None. | None. | None. | None. | None. | None. | 1,631,329 | 16,030 79 |
| RECAPITULATION. | ||||||||||||||
| Total gold | 1,647,790 | 10,610,752 14 | 92,100 | 450,500 | 936,922 | 20,957,677 43 | 25,366 | 116,778 50 | 53,268 | 217,935 50 | 6,182 | 20,441,813 63 | 2,761,628 | 52,795,457 20 |
| Total silver | 7,606,500 | 1,419,170 00 | 4,464,000 | 1,918,000 | 534,350 | 164,075 00 | 12,604,850 | 3,501,245 00 | ||||||
| Total copper | 1,631,329 | 16,030 79 | 1,631,329 | 16,030 79 | ||||||||||
| Total coinage | 10,885,619 | 12,045,952 98 | 5,556,100 | 2,368,500 | 1,471,272 | 21,121,752 43 | 25,366 | 116,778 50 | 53,268 | 217,935 50 | 6,182 | 20,441,813 63 | 16,997,807 | 56,312,732 99 |
MINT OF THE UNITED STATES, Philadelphia, December 31, 1856.
Coinage of the mint and branch mints from their organization to the close of the year 1855.
| Periods. | GOLD COINAGE. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double eagles. | Eagles. | Half eagles. | Three dollars. | Quarter eagles. | Dollars. | Fine bars. | |
| Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Value. | |
| 1793 to 1817 | 132,592 | 845,909 | 22,197 | ||||
| 1818 to 1837 | 3,087,925 | 879,903 | |||||
| 1838 to 1847 | 1,227,759 | 3,269,921 | 345,526 | ||||
| 1848 | 145,484 | 260,775 | 8,886 | ||||
| 1849 | 653,618 | 133,070 | 23,294 | 688,567 | |||
| 1850 | 1,170,261 | 291,451 | 64,491 | 252,923 | 481,953 | ||
| 1851 | 2,087,155 | 176,328 | 377,505 | 1,372,748 | 3,317,671 | ||
| 1852 | 2,053,026 | 263,106 | 573,901 | 1,159,681 | 2,045,351 | ||
| 1853 | 1,261,326 | 201,253 | 305,770 | 1,404,668 | 4,076,051 | $15,835,997 94 | |
| 1854 | 757,899 | 54,250 | 160,675 | 138,618 | 596,258 | 1,639,445 | 17643,270 58 |
| 1855 | 364,666 | 121,701 | 117,098 | 50,555 | 235,480 | 758,269 | 16,298 14 |
| Total | 7,694,333 | 3,267,542 | 9,197,040 | 189,173 | 6,301,564 | 13,007,307 | 33,495,566 66 |
| Periods. | SILVER COINAGE. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dollars. | Half dollars. | Quarter dollars. | Dimes. | Half dimes. | Three cents. | |
| Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | |
| 1793 to 1817 | 1,439,517 | 13,104,433 | 650,280 | 1,007,151 | 265,543 | |
| 1818 to 1837 | 1,000 | 74,793,560 | 5,041,749 | 11,854,949 | 14,463,700 | |
| 1838 to 1847 | 879,873 | 20,203,333 | 4,952,073 | 11,387,995 | 11,093,235 | |
| 1848 | 15,000 | 580,000 | 146,000 | 451,500 | 668,000 | |
| 1849 | 62,600 | 1,252,000 | 340,000 | 839,000 | 1,309,000 | |
| 1850 | 7,500 | 227,000 | 190,800 | 1,931,500 | 955,000 | |
| 1851 | 1,300 | 200,750 | 160,000 | 1,026,500 | 781,000 | 5,477,400 |
| 1852 | 11,100 | 77,130 | 177,060 | 1,535,500 | 1,000,500 | 18,663,500 |
| 1853 | 46,110 | 3,532,708 | 15,254,220 | 12,173,010 | 13,345,020 | 11,400,000 |
| 1854 | 33,140 | 2,982,000 | 12,380,000 | 4,470,000 | 5,740,000 | 671,000 |
| 1855 | 26,000 | 759,500 | 2,857,000 | 2,075,000 | 1,750,000 | 139,000 |
| Total | 2,513,140 | 117,719,414 | 42,149,182 | 48,752,105 | 51,370,998 | 36,320,900 |
| Periods. | COPPER COINAGE. | TOTAL COINAGE. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cents. | Half cents. | Number of pieces coined |
Value of gold. | Value of silver. | Value of copper. | Total value coined. | |
| Pieces. | Pieces. | ||||||
| 1793 to 1817 | 29,316,272 | 5,235,513 | 52,019,407 | $5,610,957 50 | $8,268,295 75 | $319,340 28 | $14,198,593 53 |
| 1818 to 1837 | 46,554,830 | 2,205,200 | 158,882,816 | 17,639,382 50 | 40,566,897 15 | 476,574 30 | 58,682,853 95 |
| 1838 to 1847 | 34,967,663 | 88,327,378 | 29,491,010 00 | 13,913,019 00 | 349,676 63 | 43,753,705 63 | |
| 1848 | 6,415,799 | 8,691,444 | 2,780,930 00 | 420,050 00 | 64,157 99 | 3,265,137 99 | |
| 1849 | 4,178,500 | 39,864 | 9,519,513 | 7,948,332 00 | 922,950 00 | 41,984 32 | 8,913,266 32 |
| 1850 | 4,426,844 | 39,812 | 10,039,535 | 27,756,445 50 | 409,600 00 | 44,467 50 | 28,210,513 00 |
| 1851 | 9,889,707 | 147,672 | 24,985,736 | 52,143,446 00 | 446,797 00 | 99,635 43 | 52,689,878 43 |
| 1852 | 5,063,094 | 32,612,949 | 51,505,638 50 | 847,410 00 | 50,630 94 | 52,403,679 44 | |
| 1853 | 6,641,131 | 129,694 | 69,775,537 | 52,191,618 94 | 7,852,571 00 | 67,059 78 | 60,111,249 72 |
| 1854 | 4,236 156 | 55,358 | 33,919,921 | 37,693,069 58 | 5,373,270 00 | 42,638 35 | 43,108,977 93 |
| 1855 | 1,574,829 | 56,500 | 10,885,619 | 10,610,752 14 | 1,419,170 00 | 16,030 79 | 12,045,950 93 |
| Total | 153,264,825 | 7,909,613 | 499,659,853 | 295,371,582 66 | 80,440,029 90 | 1,572,196 31 | 377,383,808 87 |
| Periods. | GOLD COINAGE. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double eagles. | Eagles. | Half eagles. | Three dollars. | Quarter eagles. | Dollars. | Unparted bars. | Fine bars. | |
| Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Value. | Value. | |
| 1854 | 141,468 | 123,826 | 268 | 246 | 14,632 | $5,641,504 05 | $5,863 16 | |
| 1855 | 859,175 | 9,000 | 61,000 | 6,600 | 3,270,594 93 | 88,782 50 | ||
| Total | 1,000,643 | 132,826 | 61,268 | 6,600 | 246 | 14,632 | 8,912,098 98 | 94,645 66 |
| Periods. | SILVER COINAGE. | TOTAL COINAGE. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half dollars. | Quarter dollars. | Dimes. | Half dimes. | Number of pieces. |
Value of gold. | Value of silver. | Total value coined. | |
| Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | ||||
| 1854 | 282,712 | $9,731,574 21 | $9,731,574 21 | |||||
| 1855 | 121,950 | 412,400 | 1,471,122 | 20,957,677 43 | $164,075 | 21,121,752 43 | ||
| Total | 121,950 | 412,400 | 1,753,984 | 30,689,251 64 | 164,075 | 30,853,326 64 | ||
| Periods. | GOLD COINAGE. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double eagles. | Eagles. | Half eagles. | Three dollars. | Quarter eagles. | Dollars. | |
| Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | |
| 1838 to 1847 | 1,026,342 | 709,925 | 550,528 | |||
| 1848 | 35,850 | |||||
| 1849 | 23,900 | 215,000 | ||||
| 1850 | 141,000 | 57,500 | 84,000 | 14,000 | ||
| 1851 | 315,000 | 263,000 | 41,000 | 148,000 | 290,000 | |
| 1852 | 190,000 | 18,000 | 140,000 | 140,000 | ||
| 1853 | 71,000 | 51,000 | 290,000 | |||
| 1854 | 3,250 | 52,500 | 46,000 | 24,000 | 153,000 | |
| 1855 | 8,000 | 18,000 | 11,100 | 55,000 | ||
| Total | 728,250 | 1,546,092 | 808,025 | 24,000 | 1,075,528 | 1,004,000 |
| Periods. | SILVER COINAGE. | TOTAL COINAGE. | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dollars. | Half dollars. | Quarter dollars. | Dimes. | Half dimes. | Three cents. | Number of pieces. |
Value of gold. |
Value of silver. |
Total value coined. | |
| Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | |||||
| 1838 to 1847 | 59,000 | 13,509,000 | 3,273,600 | 6,473,500 | 2,789,000 | 28,390,895 | $15,189,365 | $8,418,700 | $23,608,065 | |
| 1848 | 3,180,000 | 600,000 | 3,815,850 | 358,500 | 1,620,000 | 1,978,500 | ||||
| 1849 | 2,310,000 | 300,000 | 140,000 | 2,988,900 | 454,000 | 1,192,000 | 1,646,000 | |||
| 1850 | 40,000 | 2,456,000 | 412,000 | 510,000 | 690,000 | 4,404,500 | 3,619,000 | 1,456,500 | 5,075,500 | |
| 1851 | 402,000 | 88,000 | 400,000 | 860,000 | 720,000 | 3,527,000 | 9,795,000 | 327,600 | 10,122,600 | |
| 1852 | 144,000 | 96,000 | 430,000 | 260,000 | 1,418,000 | 4,470,000 | 152,000 | 4,622,000 | ||
| 1853 | 1,328,000 | 1,332,000 | 1,100,000 | 2,360,000 | 6,532,000 | 2,220,000 | 1,225,000 | 3,445,000 | ||
| 1854 | 5,240,000 | 1,484,000 | 1,770,000 | 1,560,000 | 10,332,750 | 1,274,500 | 3,246,000 | 4,520,500 | ||
| 1855 | 3,688,000 | 176,000 | 600,000 | 5,566,100 | 450,500 | 1,918,000 | 2,368,500 | |||
| Total | 99,000 | 32,257,000 | 6,861,600 | 10,983,500 | 9,859,000 | 720,000 | 66,975,895 | 37,830,865 | 19,555,800 | 57,386,665 |
| Periods. | GOLD COINAGE. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half eagles. | Three dollars. | Quarter eagles. | Gold dollars. | Total pieces. | Total value. | |
| Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | |||
| 1838 to 1847 | 269,424 | 123,576 | 393,000 | $1,656,060 00 | ||
| 1848 | 64,472 | 16,788 | 81,260 | 364,330 00 | ||
| 1849 | 64,823 | 10,220 | 11,634 | 86,677 | 361,299 00 | |
| 1850 | 63,591 | 9,148 | 6,966 | 79,705 | 347,791 00 | |
| 1851 | 49,176 | 14,923 | 41,267 | 105,366 | 324,454 50 | |
| 1852 | 72,574 | 9,772 | 9,434 | 91,780 | 396,734 00 | |
| 1853 | 65,571 | 11,515 | 77,086 | 339,370 00 | ||
| 1854 | 39,283 | 7,295 | 46,578 | 214,652 50 | ||
| 1855 | 39,788 | 3,677 | 9,803 | 53,268 | 217,935 50 | |
| Total | 728,702 | 195,399 | 90,619 | 1,014,720 | 4,222,626 50 | |
| Periods. | GOLD COINAGE. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half eagles. | Three dollars. | Quarter eagles. | Gold dollars. | Total pieces. | Total value. | |
| Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | Pieces. | |||
| 1838 to 1847 | 576,553 | 134,101 | 710,654 | $3,218,017 50 | ||
| 1848 | 47,465 | 13,771 | 61,236 | 271,752 50 | ||
| 1849 | 39,036 | 10,945 | 21,588 | 71,569 | 244,130 50 | |
| 1850 | 43,950 | 12,148 | 8,382 | 64,480 | 258,502 00 | |
| 1851 | 62,710 | 11,264 | 9,882 | 83,856 | 351,592 00 | |
| 1852 | 91,452 | 4,078 | 6,360 | 101,890 | 473,815 00 | |
| 1853 | 89,678 | 3,178 | 6,583 | 99,439 | 462,918 00 | |
| 1854 | 56,413 | 1,120 | 1,760 | 2,935 | 62,228 | 292,760 00 |
| 1855 | 22,432 | 1,123 | 1,811 | 25,366 | 116,778 50 | |
| Total | 1,029,689 | 1,120 | 192,368 | 57,541 | 1,280,718 | 5,690,266 00 |
| 1854. | Fine gold bars | 822 | $2,888,059 18 |
| 1855. | Fine gold bars | 6,182 | 20,441,813 63 |
| Total | 7,004 | 23,329,872 81 | |
| Mints. | Commencement of coinage. |
Gold coinage. | Silver coinage. | Copper coinage. | Entire coinage. | Entire coinage. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value. | Value. | Value. | Pieces. | Value. | ||
| Philadelphia | 1793 | $295,371,582 66 | $80,440,029 90 | $1,572,196 31 | 499,659,835 | $377,383,808 87 |
| San Francisco | 1854 | 30,689,251 64 | 164,075 00 | 1,753,984 | 30,853,326 64 | |
| New Orleans | 1838 | 37,830,865 00 | 19,555,800 00 | 66,975,895 | 57,386,665 00 | |
| Charlotte | 1838 | 4,222,626 50 | 1,014,720 | 4,222,626 50 | ||
| Dahlonega | 1838 | 5,690,266 00 | 1,280,718 | 5,690,266 00 | ||
| Assay Office | 1854 | 23,329,872 81 | 7,004 | 23,329,872 81 | ||
| Total | 397,134,464 61 | 100,159,904 90 | 1,572,196 31 | 570,692,156 | 498,866,565 82 | |
Statement of gold of domestic production deposited at the Mint of the United States and its branches to the close of the year 1855.
| Periods. | Virginia. | North Carolina. | South Carolina. | Georgia. | Tennessee. | Alabama. | N. Mexico. | California. | Various sources. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1804 to 1827 | $110,000 | $110,000 00 | ||||||||
| 1828 to 1837 | $427,000 00 | 2,519,500 | $327,500 | $1,763,900 00 | $12,400 | $13,200 | 5,063,500 00 | |||
| 1838 to 1847 | 518,294 00 | 1,303,636 | 152,366 | 566,316 00 | 16,499 | $45,493 | 21,037 | 2,623,641 00 | ||
| 1848 | 57,886 00 | 109,034 | 19,228 | 3,370 00 | 3,497 | 3,670 | $682 | $44,177 00 | 241,544 00 | |
| 1849 | 129,382 00 | 102,688 | 4,309 | 10,525 00 | 2,739 | 2,977 | 32,889 | 5,481,439 00 | 144 | 5,767,092 00 |
| 1850 | 65,991 00 | 43,734 | 759 | 5,114 00 | 307 | 1,178 | 5,392 | 31,667,505 00 | 326 | 31,790,306 |
| 1851 | 69,052 00 | 49,440 | 12,338 | 2,490 00 | 126 | 817 | 890 | 46,939,367 00 | 47,074,520 00 | |
| 1852 | 83,626 00 | 65,248 | 4,505 | 3,420 00 | 254 | 814 | 49,663,623 00 | 49,821,490 00 | ||
| 1853 | 52,200 00 | 45,690 | 3,522 | 1,912 00 | 3,632 | 52,732,227 00 | 18,748 | 52,857,931 00 | ||
| 1854 | 23,347 00 | 9,062 | 1,220 | 7,561 00 | 245 | 738 | 35,671,185 00 | 35,713,358 00 | ||
| 1855 | 28,895 50 | 22,626 | 1,200 | 1,733 50 | 310 | 900 | 2,634,297 63 | 1,535 | 2,691,497 63 | |
| Total | 1,455,673 50 | 4,380,658 | 526,947 | 2,366,341 50 | 35,568 | 54,944 | 45,937 | 224,833,820 63 | 54,990 | 233,754,879 63 |
| Periods. | Virginia. | North Carolina. | South Carolina. | Georgia. | Tennessee. | Alabama. | New Mexico. | California. | Various sources. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1854 | $10,842,281 23 | $10,842,281 23 | ||||||||
| 1855 | 20,860,437 20 | 20,860,437 20 | ||||||||
| Total | 31,702,718 43 | 31,702,718 43 |
| Periods. | Virginia. | North Carolina. | South Carolina. | Georgia. | Tennessee. | Alabama. | New Mexico. | California. | Various sources. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1838 to 1847 | $741 | $14,306 | $37,364 | $1,772 | $61,903 | $3,613 | $119,699 00 | |||
| 1848 | 1,488 | 2,317 | 947 | 6,717 | $1,124 00 | 12,593 00 | ||||
| 1849 | 423 | 4,062 | 669,921 00 | 2,783 | 677,189 00 | |||||
| 1850 | 3,560 | 4,575,567 00 | 894 | 4,580,021 00 | ||||||
| 1851 | 1,040 | 8,769,682 00 | 8,770,722 00 | |||||||
| 1852 | 3,777,784 00 | 3,777,784 00 | ||||||||
| 1853 | 2,006,673 00 | 2,006,673 00 | ||||||||
| 1854 | 981,511 00 | 981,511 00 | ||||||||
| 1855 | 411,517 24 | 411,517 24 | ||||||||
| Total | 741 | 16,217 | 39,681 | 2,719 | 77,282 | 21,193,779 24 | 7,290 | 21,337,709 24 |
| Periods. | Virginia. | North Carolina. | South Carolina. | Georgia. | Tennessee. | Alabama. | New Mexico. | California. | Various sources. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1838 to 1847 | $1,529,777 00 | $143,941 00 | $1,673,718 00 | |||||||
| 1848 | 359,075 00 | 11,710 00 | 370,785 00 | |||||||
| 1849 | 378,223 00 | 12,509 00 | 390,732 00 | |||||||
| 1850 | 307,289 00 | 13,000 00 | 320,289 00 | |||||||
| 1851 | 275,472 00 | 25,478 00 | $15,111 00 | 316,061 00 | ||||||
| 1852 | 337,604 00 | 64,934 00 | 28,362 00 | 430,900 00 | ||||||
| 1853 | 227,847 00 | 61,845 00 | 15,465 00 | 305,157 00 | ||||||
| 1854 | 188,277 00 | 19,001 00 | 6,328 00 | 213,606 00 | ||||||
| 1855 | 196,894 03 | 14,277 17 | 5,817 66 | 216,988 86 | ||||||
| Total | 3,800,458 03 | 366,695 17 | 71,083 66 | 4,238,236 86 |
| Periods. | Virginia. | North Carolina. | South Carolina. | Georgia. | Tennessee. | Alabama. | New Mexico. | California. | Various sources. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1838 to 1847 | $64,351 00 | $95,427 00 | $2,978,353 00 | $32,175 | $47,711 00 | $3,218,017 00 | ||||
| 1848 | 5,434 00 | 8,151 00 | 251,376 00 | 2,717 | 4,075 00 | 271,753 00 | ||||
| 1849 | 4,882 00 | 7,323 00 | 225,824 00 | 2,441 | 3,661 00 | 244,131 00 | ||||
| 1850 | 4,500 00 | 5,700 00 | 204,473 00 | 1,200 | 1,800 00 | $30,025 00 | 247,698 00 | |||
| 1851 | 1,971 00 | 3,236 00 | 154,723 00 | 2,251 | 2,105 00 | 214,072 00 | $951 | 379,309 00 | ||
| 1852 | 443 00 | 57,543 00 | 93,122 00 | 750 | 324,931 00 | 476,789 00 | ||||
| 1853 | 2,085 00 | 33,950 00 | 56,984 00 | 149 | 359,122 00 | 452,290 00 | ||||
| 1854 | 5,818 00 | 15,988 00 | 47,027 00 | 223 | 211,169 00 | 280,225 00 | ||||
| 1855 | 3,145 82 | 9,113 27 | 56,686 36 | 277 92 | 47,428 70 | 116,652 07 | ||||
| Total | 92,629 82 | 236,431 27 | 4,068,568 36 | 41,906 | 59,629 92 | 1,186,747 70 | 951 | 5,686,864 07 |
| Periods. | Virginia. | North Carolina. | South Carolina. | Georgia. | Tennessee. | Alabama. | New Mexico. | California. | Various sources. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1854 | $167 | $3,916 00 | $395 00 | $1,242 00 | $9,221,457 00 | $9,227,177 00 | ||||
| 1855 | 2,370 | 3,750 00 | 7,620 00 | 13,100 00 | $350 00 | 25,025,896 11 | $1,600 | 25,054,686 11 | ||
| Total | 2,537 | 7,666 00 | 8,015 00 | 14,342 00 | 350 00 | 34,247,353 11 | 1,600 | 34,281,863 11 |
| Mints. | Virginia. | North Carolina. | South Carolina. | Georgia. | Tennessee. | Alabama. | New Mexico. | California. | Various sources. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $1,455,673 50 | $4,380,658 00 | $526,947 00 | $2,366,341 50 | $35,568 | $54,944 00 | $45,937 | $224,833,820 63 | $54,990 | $233,754,879 63 |
| San Francisco | 31,702,718 43 | 31,702,718 43 | ||||||||
| New Orleans | 741 00 | 16,217 00 | 39,681 00 | 2,719 | 77,282 00 | 21,193,779 24 | 7,290 | 21,337,709 24 | ||
| Charlotte | 3,800,458 03 | 366,695 17 | 71,083 66 | 4,238,236 86 | ||||||
| Dahlonega | 92,629 82 | 236,431 27 | 4,068,568 36 | 41,906 | 59,629 92 | 1,186,747 70 | 951 | 5,686,864 07 | ||
| Assay office, N.Y. | 2,537 00 | 7,666 00 | 8,015 00 | 14,342 00 | 350 00 | 34,247,353 11 | 1,600 | 34,281,863 11 | ||
| Total | 1,458,210 50 | 8,282,152 85 | 1,154,305 44 | 6,488,932 86 | 80,193 | 192,205 92 | 45,937 | 313,235,502 77 | 64,831 | 331,002,271 34 |
| Deduct re-deposites of 1854 | 8,041,137 00 | |||||||||
| Actual amount of domestic gold deposited at the mint, branches, and the New York assay office, to December 31, 1855 | 322,961,134 34 | |||||||||
Statement of the amount of silver coined at the Mint of the United States, and the branch mints at San Francisco and New Orleans, under the act of February 21, 1853.
| Year. | Mint U. States Philadelphia. |
Branch mint, San Francisco. |
Branch mint, New Orleans. |
Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1853 | $7,517,161 | $1,137,000 | $8,654,161 | |
| 1854 | 5,373,270 | 3,246,000 | 8,619,270 | |
| 1855 | 1,419,170 | $164,075 | 1,918,000 | 3,501,245 |
| Total | 14,309,601 | 164,075 | 6,301,000 | 20,774,676 |
Statement of the amount of silver of domestic production, including silver parted from California gold, deposited at the Mint of the United States, its branches, and the assay office, New York, from January 1, 1841, to December 31, 1855.
| Year. | Value. |
|---|---|
| 1841 | $4,300 |
| 1842 | 6,453 |
| 1843 | 8,640 |
| 1844 | 30,847 |
| 1845 | 4,769 |
| 1846 | 3,066 |
| 1847 | 6,407 |
| 1848 | 6,191 |
| 1849 | 39,112 |
| 1850 | 269,253 |
| 1851 | 389,471 |
| 1852 | 404,494 |
| 1853 | 417,279 |
| 1854 | 328,199 |
| 1855 | 333,053 |
| Total | 2,251,534 |
A descriptive list of the dies of medals, commemmorative of national events, preserved in the Mint of the United States, arranged in chronological order.
OCCASION.-For the destruction of the Indian village of Kittanning
by the troops under his command, the government of Philadelphia
awarded a silver medal to General John Armstrong, of Carlisle, Pa.
OBVERSE.-Device.-An officer, accompanied by two of his men, is
represented pointing to a soldier firing under cover of a tree, with an
lndian prostrate before him. In the back ground the Indian wigwams
are seen in flames.
Legend.-Kittanning destroyed by Col. Armstrong, September 8, 1756.
REVERSE.-Device.-The coat of arms of the corporation of
Philadelphia, consisting of four devices, viz: on the right, a ship represented
under full sail on the left, an evenly balanced pair of scales
above the ship, a sheaf of wheat and to the left, two hands joined.
Legend.-The gift of the corporation of the city of Philadelphia.
NOTE.-Silver medals were awarded also to each of the
commissioned officers under General Armstrong,
OCCASION.-Medals of silver were presented to the Indians by an
association formed for the purpose of promoting peace with the Indian
tribes, and composed chiefly of members of the religious society of
Friends.
OBVERSE.-Device.-A head, in profile, of King George II.
Legend.-Georgius II. Dei Gratia.
REVERSE.-Device.-A white man and an Indian - from whom, as
usual on such occasions, he is separated by a fire - seated beneath a
tree; the former in the act of presenting to his companion the calumet
of peace which he has been smoking. The sun is represented at the
zenith.
Legend.-Let us look to the Most High, who blessed our fathers with
peace.
OCCASION.-The surrender, at Saratoga, of Lieutenant General
Burgoyne and his army, October 17, 1777. A medal of gold was
presented to General Gates, by resolution of Congress of November 4,
1779.
OBVERSE.-Device.-Head of General Gates, the recipient, in
profile.
Legend.-Horatio Gates duci strenuo.
Exergue.-Comitia Americana.
REVERSE.-Device.-General Burgoyne, in front of his troops, who,
are grounding their arms and laying down their colors, is represented
in the act of surrendering his sword to General Gates, at the head of
the American line, with their arms shouldered and their colors
advanced. To the side of the commanders are a drum and colors.
Legend.-Salus regionum seplentrional.
Exergue.-Haste ad Saratogum indedition accepto. Die XVII
Oct., MDCCLXXVII.
OCCASION.-By resolution of Congress of September 24, 1779, a gold
medal was directed to be presented to Major (afterwards General) Lee,
for his attack upon a body of British troops and the fort at Paulus
Hook, N. J., in 1779.
OBVERSE.-Device.-The bust of Major Lee.
Legend.-Henrico Lee, legionis Equit. Præfecto.
Exergue.-Comitia Americana.
REVERSE.-(Not in the mint)-No device.
Legend.-Non obstantib. fluminibus, vallis, astutia etvirtute bellica,
parva manu hostes vicit victosq. armis humanitate devinxit. In mem.
pugn. ad Paulus Hook, Die XIX Aug., MDCLXXIX.
[Engraver's error. The year was 1779.]
OCCASION.-Victory of the American arms at Cowpens, North Carolina.
By resolution of Congress of March 9, 1781, a gold medal was
ordered for presentation to General Morgan.
OBVERSE.-Device.-An Indian queen crowned, with a quiver upon
her back, is represented placing a laurel wreath upon the brow of an
officer, leaning upon his sword. Canons and various military
implements are heaped in the back ground.
Legend.-Danieli Morgan duci exercitus.
Exergue.-Comitia Americana.
REVERSE.-Device.-A mounted officer leading his troops, who carry
the American colors, in pursuit of a retreating enemy, bearing the
British flag. A combat between an unhorsed dragoon and an Indian
on foot is represented in front, and a general engagement in the back ground.
Legend.-Victoria libertatis vindex.
Exergue.-Jugatis, captis aut cæsis ad Cowpens hostibus XVII Jan.,
MDCCLXXXI.
OCCASION.-For the capture of the French frigate La Vengeance, of
52 guns, by the United States frigate Constellation, of 38 guns, a gold
medal was voted by resolution of Congress of March 24, 1800, to
Captain Thomas Truxton, commander of the Constellation.
OBVERSE.-Device.-The head of Captain Truxton.
No legend.
REVERSE.-Device.-A representation of the engagement between a
French frigate of two decks and an American frigate; both vessels
are much shattered and their rigging much cut.
No legend.
Exergue.-By vote of Congress to Thomas Truxton, 24 Mar., 1800.
OCCASION.-For the capture, on the 19th August, 1812, after an
engagement of thirty minutes, of the English frigate Guerriere, of 49
guns, Captain J. R. Dacres, by the United States frigate Constitution,
of 44 guns, commanded by Captain Isaac Hull, of Philadelphia, a gold
medal was decreed to Captain Hull, by resolution of Congress of
January 29, 1813.
OBVERSE.-Device.-Bust of Captain Hull.
Legend.-Isaacus Hull peritos arte superat, Jul. MDCCCXII Aug.
certamine fortes.
REVERSE.-Device.-A representation of the contest between the
Constitution and Guerriere at the period when the attempt to board the
former frigate having been repulsed, her raking broadsides have
carried away the main and foremast of the Guerriere, which are falling.
The Constitution is but little injured.
Legend.-Horæ momento victoria.
Exergue.-Inter Const. Nav. Amer. et Guer. Angl.
NOTE.-Silver medals were awarded also to each of the commissioned
officers of the Constitution.
OCCASION.-The capture, on the 18th October, 1812, after an action
of 43 minutes, of the British sloop-of-war Frolic, of 22 guns,
commanded by Captain Whinyates, by the American sloop-of-war Wasp,
of 18 guns, under the command of Captain Jacob Jones, of Delaware,
to whom a gold medal was awarded by resolution of Congress of
January 29, 1813.
OBVERSE.-Device.-Bust of Captain Jones.
Legend.-Jacobus Jones virtus in ardua tendit.
REVERSE.-Device.-A representation of the engagement between
the Wasp and the Frolic. The main topmast of the former has been
shot away, and as she is run across the course of the Frolic, her crew
are in the act of boarding the latter at her bow, and delivering a
broadside as she passes. The bowsprit of the Frolic has run between
the main and mizzen rigging of the Wasp.
Legend.- Victoriam hosti majori celerrime rapuit.
Exergue.-Inter Wasp Nav. Ameri. et Frolic Nav. Anq. Die XVIII
Oct., MDCCCXII.
NOTE.-Silver medals were also awarded to the commissioned officers
under Captain Jones.
OCCASION.-The capture, on the 25th October, 1812, of the English
frigate Macedonian, of forty-nine guns, Captain John S. Carden, by
the American frigate United States, Captain Stephen Decatur, of
Philadelphia, to whom Congress awarded a gold medal, by resolution
of January 29, 1813.
OBVERsE.-Device.-The bust of Stephen Decatur.
Legend.-Stephanus Decatur, navarchus pugnis pluribus, victor.
REVERSE.-Device.-Representing the engagement of the two
frigates. The topmasts of the Macedonian are shot away and her guns
silenced; the United States has but a few shots through her sails.
Legend.-Occidit signum hostile sidera surgunt.
Exergue.-Inter Sta. Uni. Nav. Amer. et Macedo. Nav. Ang. Die
XXV Octobris, MDCCCXII.
NOTE.-Silver medals were also awarded to each of the
commissioned officers under Captain Decatur.
OCCASION.-The capture, on the 29th December, 1812, after an
engagement of two hours and five minutes, of the British frigate Java, of
forty-nine guns, Captain Lambert, by the frigate Constitution, of
forty-four guns, Captain William Bainbridge, of Philadelphia, to
whom Congress awarded a gold medal, by resolution approved March
3, 1813.
OBVERSE.-Device.-The bust of Captain Bainbridge.
Legend.-Gulielmus Bainbridge, patria victisque laudatus.
REVERSE.-Device.-The Java is represented with all her masts shot
away; only the three stumps remain above deck. The Constitution,
on the other hand, has but a few rents in her sails.
Legend.-Pugnando.
Exergue.-Inter Const. Nav. Ameri. et Jav. Nav. Angl. Die XXIX
Decem., MDCCCXII.
NOTE.-Silver medals were also awarded to the commissioned officers
of the frigate Constitution.
OCCASION.-The capture, after an action of less than fifteen minutes,
on the 24th of February, 1813, of the British brig Peacock, of twenty
guns and two swivels, Captain William Peake, by the American
sloop-of-war Hornet, Captain James Lawrence, of New Jersey, who
was killed during the engagement, and to whose nearest male relative
a gold medal was decreed by resolution of Congress of January 11,
1814.
OBVERSE.-Device.-The bust of Captain Lawrence.
Legend.-Jac. Lawrence, Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
REVERSE.-Device.-The Peacock with her mizen-mast shot away is
represented in the act of sinking, bow foremost; a boat from the Hornet
is being rowed towards her.
Legend.-Mansuetud. maj. quam victoria.
Exergue.-Inter Hornet Nav. Ameri. et Peacock Nav. Ang. Die
XXIV Feb., MDCCCXIII.
NOTE.-Silver medals were also presented by Congress to each of
the commissioned officers of the sloop Hornet.
OCCASION.-The capture, after an action of forty-five minutes, on the
4th of September, 1813, of the British sloop-of-war Boxer, of fourteen
guns, Captain Blythe, by the American brig Enterprise, of fourteen
guns, Lieutenant Burrows, of Philadelphia, whose nearest male relative
was awarded a gold medal by resolution of Congress of January
6, 1814.
OBVERSE.-Device.-An urn placed upon a tomb, surrounded by
various military emblems, and a wreath hanging from a trident. The
pedestal bears the inscription W. Burrows.
Legend.-Victoriam tibi claram, patriæ mæstam.
REVERSE.-Device.-A view of the action between the Enterprise
and Boxer, in sight of the coast; the latter, upon the larboard side of
the Enterprise, has her guns silenced and her main-topmast shot away.
Legend.-Vivere sat vincere.
Exergue.-Inter Enterprize Nav. Ameri. et Boxer Nav. Brit. Die IV
Sept., MDCCCXIII.
OCCASION.-The capture of the British sloop-of-war Boxer, as above.
Gold medal awarded by resolution of Congress of January 6, 1814, to
Lieutenant Edward R. McCall, of South Carolina. the second in
command of the American brig Enterprize during the engagement.
OBVERSE.-Device.-Bust of Lieutenant McCall.
Legend.-Edward B. McCall, navis enterprize præfectus.
Exergue.-Sic itur ad astra.
REVERSE.-Device, legend, and exergue, same as those on the
preceding medal to Lieutenant Burrows.
NOTE.-Silver medals were also awarded by Congress to the
commissioned officers under Lieutenant Burrows.
OCCASION.-By resolution of Congress of February 13, 1835, a gold
medal was presented to Colonel George Croghan, commander of Fort
Stephenson, on Sandusky bay, and its garrison of one hundred and
sixty men, for his gallant defence of that fort, on the 2d of August,
1813, against the attack of a very much superior force of five hundred
British regulars and eight hundred Indians, commanded by
General Proctor.
OBVERSE.-Device.-Bust of Colonel Croghan.
Legend.-Presented by Congress to Colonel George Croghan.
Exergue.-1835.
REVERSE.-Device.-The American Fort Stephenson, at Sandusky,
is represented with the men under arms within. A fire has been
opened upon the English and the Indian line, which is seen in the right
fore ground advancing to the attack upon the fort. Three vessels upon
the bay in the back ground.
Legend.-Pars magna fuit.
Exergue.-Sandusky, 2d August, 1813.
was awarded by resolution of Congress,
OCCASION.-A gold medal was awarded by resolution of Congress,
of January 6, 1814, to Captain Perry, commander of the American
fleet composed of three brigs, five schooners, and one sloop, carrying
fifty-four guns and two swivels, for a signal defeat of the British
squadron composed of two ships, one brig, two schooners, and one
sloop, carrying sixty-three guns, (three on pivots) two howitzers, and
two swivels, obtained upon Lake Erie, September 10, 1813.
OBVERSE.-Device.-Bust of Captain Perry.
Legend.-Oliverus H. Perry, princeps stagno Eriense - classim totam
contudit.
REVERSE.-Device.-The American and British fleets closely engaged
on Lake Erie.
Legend.-Viam invenit virtus aut facit.
Exergue.-Inter class, Ameri. et Brit. die X Sept., MDCCCXIII.
NOTE.-Congress also awarded medals of silver to each of the
commissioned officers (whether of the army or navy) engaged in the action
on Lake Erie, and one to the nearest male relative of Lieutenant
John Brooks of the marine corps, who was killed during the engagement.
OCCASION.-The second gold medal struck in commemoration of the
victory over the British squadron on Lake Erie was awarded by
resolution of Congress of January 6, 1814, to Captain Jesse Duncan
Elliott, of Baltimore, the second in command of the American fleet
during that contest.
REVERSE.-Device.-Bust of Captain Elliott.
Legend.-Jesse, D. Elliott, nil actum reputans si quid superesset agendum.
REVERSE.-Device, legend and exergue same as of the medal presented
by Congress to Captain Perry.
OCCASION.-The third gold medal struck in honor of the victory on
Lake Erie was presented by the legislature of the State of Pennsylvania,
by vote of January 31, 1814, to Captain Perry.
OBVERSE.-Device.-Bust of Captain Perry.
Legend.-Oliverus Hazard Perry, pro patria vicit.
Exergue.-Presented by the government of Pennsylvania.
REVERSE.-Device.-Representation of an engagement between two
fleets of small vessels. His flag ship the Lawrence having been
disabled during the action, Captain Perry is seen erect in a boat passing
to the Niagara, to which vessel he is about shifting his flag, and upon
the truck of which an eagle is about to perch with the American colors
in its talons, and bearing in its beak the inscription, VICTORY!
Legend.-"We have met the enemy and they are ours."
Exergue.-British fleet on Lake Erie, captured September 10, 1813.
OCCASION.-Medals, commemorative of the victory on Lake Erie,
were struck by order of the State of Pennsylvania, for presentation to
those of her citizens who volunteered on board of the American squadron
on that occasion.
OBVERSE.-Device and legend same as of the preceding medal to
Captain Perry.
REVERSE.-Device.-"To______" (a blank being left for the
insertion of the name of the recipient,) enclosed by a wreath of laurel.
Legend.-"We have met the enemy and they are ours." - Perry.
Exergue.-In testimony of his patriotism and bravery in the naval
action on Lake Erie, September 10, 1813.
NOTE.-The State of Pennsylvania presented gold medals also to
Captain Elliott and Lieutenant John J. Yarnell, for their bravery
during the engagement upon Lake Erie.
OCCASION.-By resolution of Congress of April 4, 1818, a gold medal
was directed to be struck for General W. H. Harrison, for his victory
over the combined English and Indian forces at the battle of the
Thames, on the 5th of October, 1813.
OBVERSE.-Device.-Bust of General Harrison.
Legend.-Major General William H. Harrison.
REVERSE.-Device.-A female is represented placing a wreath of
laurel upon bayonets fixed upon a musket, and with a staff of colors
and another musket is stacked above a drum, cannon, quiver of arrows
and box. With her right hand she holds a halbert and rests upon an
American shield. From the point of the stacked muskets and staff
hangs a badge bearing the inscription Fort Meigs, Battle of
Thames.
Legend.-Resolution of Congress, April 4, 1818.
Exergue.-Battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813
OCCASION.-The second gold medal commemorative of the battle of
the Thames was voted by Congress, by resolution of April 4, 1818,
to Governor Isaac Shelby.
OBVERSE.-Device.-Bust of Governor Shelby.
Legend.-Governor Isaac Shelby.
REVERSE.-Device.-The battle of the Thames. The Indian force is
drawn up upon the edge of the wood in the right back ground. On
the left back ground the American force has broken the Indian line
and on the left fore ground a body of American infantry are seen
advancing to the attack. In the fore ground, on the right, Governor
Shelby is charging upon the enemy at the head of his mounted
rangers, and in th