5th Congress.
No. 141
3d Session.

MINT.

Communicated to the House of Representatives, January 31, 1799.

Treasury Department, January 31st, 1799.

Sir:

I have the honor to transmit, herewith, a letter from the Comptroller of the Treasury, dated the 30th instant, accompanied with certain statements, which have been prepared under the direction of that officer, in pursuance of the seventh section of the act passed on the 2d of April, 1792, entitled “An act establishing a mint, and regulating the coins of the United States.”

I have the honor to be, with perfect respect, sir, your obedient servant,

OLIVER WOLCOTT.

The Honorable the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

. . . . . . . .

Treasury Department, Comptroller’s Office, January 30th, 1799.

Sir:

In obedience to the seventh section of an act, passed the 2d of April, 1792, entitled “An act establishing a mint, and regulating the coins of the United States,” I have caused to be prepared certain statements, marked A, B, C, D, and E, which are herewith laid before you, for the purpose of being transmitted to the Legislature. In future, similar statements will be prepared, annually, as the law directs, and the manner of keeping and rendering the accounts of the mint, will be so modified as to shew, at proper periods, the exact loss or gain upon the coinage of copper.

I have the honor to be, sir, with perfect respect, your most obedient servant,

JOHN STEELE.

The Honorable Oliver Wolcott,Esq.

A.

A Statement of appropriations, made by law, for the Mint Establishment, from its institution to 31st December, 1797, with the amount of Warrants drawn by the Secretary of the Treasury, in favor of the Mint.

Salaries. Mint
Establishment.		 Total. Date of Act. Salaries. Mint
Establishment.		 Total.
Amount of warrants drawn on the treasurer in favor of the mint in 1792, $7,000  00 April 2d, 1792, An act establishing a mint, and regulating the coins of the United States, $7,000  00 $7,000  00
    Do.      1793, 18,648  28 March 2d, 1793, An act making certain appropriations therein mentioned, $11,594  88 14,679  78 26,274  66
Amount carried to the credit of surplus fund, as per public accounts, No. 4. 4,699  50 ------------
$11,594  88
========		 ------------
$21,679  78
========		 ------------
$33,274  66
========
Amount which remained for the payment of salaries of the officers, 2,850  50
Amount to the credit of new account of appropriations, as per public accounts for 1794, 76  38 March 14th, 1794, Balance carried to the mint establishment, unexpended on 31st December, 1793, as appears by the public accounts for 1794, $76  38
----------
$33,274  66
========		 January 2d, 1795, An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year 1794, 30,785  00
February 5th, 1796, An act making provision for the support of Government, for the year 1795, 15,200  00
Amount of warrants drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the mint in 1794, $23,799  22 May 27th, 1796, An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year 1796, 51,264  00
  Do.    do.    1795, 13,000  00 March 3d, 1797, An act respecting the mint, 10,072  40
  Do.    do.    1796, 50,150  90 May 27th, 1796, An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year 1797, 17,220  72
  Do.    do.    1797, 14,000  00 An act respecting the mint, 10,110  34
Balance remaining of the appropriations by law, applicable to the mint establishment, on 1st January, 1798, 33,778  72
------------
$134,728  84
=========		 ------------
$134,728  84
========
Balance unexpended of the several appropriations, by law, for the mint establishment, 1st January, 1798, as per public accounts, $33,778  72
========

Treasury Department, Register's Office, December, 24th, 1798.

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

A—Continued.

A Statement of Appropriations, made by law, for the payment of the Salaries of the Officers of the Mint.

Page of
public acc’ts.		 Dolls.  Cts.
33 Amount of warrants drawn on the Treasurer of the United States for salaries of the officers, in 1794, 8,947  11
34 Do. do. for the year 1795, 11,267  93
38 Do. do. do. 1796, 6,825  00
Do. do. do. “   2,495  10
Do. do. do. 1797, 10,314  13
Amount carried to the surplus fund, remaining at the end of 1796, 578  39
Do. do. do. 1797, 557  07
Balance remaining of the appropriations, by law, for the payment of the officers of the mint, on, 1st January, 1798, 1,565  77
Date of Act. Dolls.  Cts.
Amount brought from the statement, No. 1, being so much which remained applicable to the payment of salaries of the officers, on 31st December, 1793, 2,850  50
March 14th, 1794, An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year 1794, 8,900  00
January 2nd, 1795, An act making provision for do., 1795, 9,600  00
February 5th, 1796, An act making appropriations for do., 1796, 10,400  00
June 1st, 1796, An act making further appropriations for the year 1796, 200  00
March 3rd, 1797, An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year 1797, 10,600  00
---------- ----------
$42,550  50 $42,550  50
==========
            Balance unexpended of the several appropriations, by law, for the payment of the officers, 1st January, 1798, $1,565  77

Treasury Department, Register's Office, December, 24th, 1798.

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

B.

A Statement of the application of moneys advanced from the Treasury of the United Slates, for the support of the Mint establishment, from the institution thereof, to the 31st December, 1797.

The moneys paid by the Treasurer of the Mint, upon warrants drawn on him by the Director, and admitted at the treasury of the United States, on the adjustment of his quarter yearly accounts, were as follow:
Incidental and Contingent Expenses and Repairs of the Mint.
For seventy-three thousand seven hundred and seventy-three dollars and ninety-six cents, being the amount expended for the requisite buildings and repairs, and procuring apparatus, making machines, wages of the workmen, and other expenses, including three lots of ground, with buildings thereon, purchased for carrying on the operations of the mint, viz:
Two lots, with a house thereon, cost, $4,266  66
Paid from 19th July, 1792, to 31st March, 1793, 9,736  74
from 1st April, 1793, to 30th June following, 2,122  07
from 1st July, 1793, to 30th September, 1,172  94
from 1st Oct. “ to 31st December, 1,536  15
-------------
$18,834  56
       from 1st January, 1794, to 31st March following, 2,658  71
from 1st April, “ to 30th June “ 1,828  80
from 1st July, “ to 30th Sept. “ 3,665  04
from 1st Oct. “ to 31st December following, including
     1,200 dollars paid for a large lot of ground, 4,244  51
-------------
12,397  06
       from 1st January, 1795, to 31st March following, 7,147  20
from 1st April, “ to 30th June “ 5,371  91
from 1st July, “ to 30th Sept. “ 5,180  50
from 1st October, “ to 31st Dec. “ 6,979  85
-------------
24,679  46
       from 1st January, 1796, to 31st March following, 3,146  52
from 1st April, “ to 30th June “ 2,695  13
from 1st July, “ to 30th Sept. “ 2,879  69
from 1st October, 1796, to 31st August, 1797 7,063  61
from 1st Sept. 1797 to 31st Dec. following 2,077  93
-------------
17,862  88
------------- $73,773  96
Copper Purchased for Coinage.
Pounds.
6,235 purchased from 19th July, 1792, to 31st March following
11,745 “ from 1st April, 1793, to 30th June “ 2,721  36
2,435 “ from 1st July, “ to 30th Sept. “ 608  50
12,807 “ from 1st October, “ to 31st Dec. “ 2,022  13
-------------
1,486  69
5,351  99
29,637 purchased in London, by Thomas Pinckney, minister plenipotentiary, 7,568  58
646 purchased for coining, and freight of thirty cases of copper, in November, 1793, 180  73
4,264 including freight of five cases, from. London, purchased and shipped by Thomas Pinckney, 1,115  72
Charges at New York, for the storage of ten casks of copper nails, the property of the United States, 111  80
-------------
8,976  83
162 ¾ purchased from 1st July, 1794, to 30th September following,
316 “ from 1st Jan. 1795, to 31st March “ 79  40
1,188 “ from 1st April, “ to 30th June “ 218  32
  6,476 “ from 1st Oct. “ to 31st Dec. “ 2,020  75
-------------
28  93
2,318  47
11,565     “     from 1st January, 1796, to 31st March following, 3,224  86
3,794 “ from 1st April, “ to 30th June “ 1,094  50
623 “ from 1st July, “ to 30th Sept. “ 176  82
24,324 “ from 1st Oct, “ to 31st August, 1797, 5,963  88
19,281 “ from 1st September, 1797, to 31st Dec. following, 5,804  51
----------- -------------
16,264  57
135,498¾ ------------- 34,427  48
------------
Salaries to the Officers of the Mint.
For forty-six thousand four hundred and ninety-four dollars and fifteen cents, being the amount paid to the officers of the mint and their clerks, for their respective compensations, allowed by law:
From its institution, to the 31st March, 1793, 4,094  88
1st April, 1793, to 30th June following, 1,275  00
1st July, “ to 30th Sept. “ 1,275  00
1st Oct. “ to 31st Dec. “ 2,744  00
-------------
9,388  88
         1st January, 1794, to 31st March following, 2,067  00
1st April, “ to 30th June “ 2,008  33
1st July, “ to 30th Sept. “ 2,127  78
1st Oct. “ to 31st Dec. “ 2,225  00
-------------
8,428  11
         1st January, 1795, to 31st March following, 2,275  00
1st April, “ to 30th June “ 2,275  00
1st July, “ to 30th Sept. “ 2,275  00
1st Oct. “ to 31st Dec. “ 2,217  93
-------------
9,042  93
         1st January, 1796, to 31st March following, 2,275  00
1st April, “ to 30th June “ 2,275  00
1st July, “ to 30th Sept. “ 2,275  00
1st October, 1796, to 31st August, 1797 8,978  43
1st Sept. 1797, to 31st Dec. do.   3,830  80
-------------
19,634  23
------------- 46,494  15
Balance, eleven thousand seven hundred and fifty-two dollars and eight cents, which remained in the hands of the treasurer of the mint, on the 1st January, 1798, to be thereafter accounted for by him, agreeably to treasury settlement, No. 9,543.
11,752  08
-------------
$166,447  67
==========
The moneys advanced to the treasurer of the mint, for the time being, during that period, were one hundred and sixty-six thousand four hundred and forty-seven dollars and sixty-seven cents, viz:
In 1792, $7,000  00
1793, 18,648  28
    1794, for the mint establishment, $23,799  22
for salaries of the officers, 8,947  11
-------------
32,746  33
    1795, for the mint, 13,000  00
for salaries, 11,267  93
-------------
24,267  93
    1796, for the mint, 50,150  90
for salaries, 9,320  10
-------------
59,471  00
    1797, for the mint, 14,000  00
for salaries, 10,314  13
-------------
24,314  13
-------------
$166,447  67
==========

Treasury Department, Register's Office, December, 24th, 1798.

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

C.

An account of payments, in cents and half cents, into the Treasury of the United Slates, from the institution of the Mint, to the 31st December, 1797.

In the year 1793, as per printed public accounts, $1,281  79
In the year 1794, do.      do.      do. 9,593  21
In the year 1796, do.      do.      do. 10,072  40
In the year 1797, do.      do.      do. 10,110  34
------------- $31,057  74
=========

Treasury Department, Register's Office, December, 24th, 1798.

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

D.

Abstract of Settlements made by the Treasurer of the Mint with the United States, from 18th July, 1794, to 30th June, 1798, exhibiting the deposites of Bullion, the value of Coins paid, allowances forwastage, and the balances at the different periods of settlement, remaining in the hands of the Officers of the Mint, and in the Bank of the United States.

PERIODS OF SETTLEMENT. DEPOSITES IN STANDARD COINS OF GOLD AND SILVER MADE AT THE MINT.
FROM TO Gold. Silver. Total value of
Deposites.		 Gold. Silver.
Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Eagles. Half
Eagles.		 Quarter
Eagles.		  Dollars. Half
Dollars.		 Quarter
Dollars.		  Dimes. Half
Dimes.
oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts.
July 18, 1794,    Sept. 30, 1795.    3,223 12 0 57,308 41 398,596 2 0  459,918 52½ 517,226 93½ 1,297 8,707 126,553  323,144 25,856
Oct. 1, 1795, Aug. 31, 1797. 12,433 12 4  221,041 91½ 4,653 6 8 5,369 15½ 226,411 07 16,755 9,805 1,822  158,934 3,918 6,146 47,396  115,317
Sept. 1, 1797, June 30, 1798. 10,649 18 10 189,331 87½  221,376 2 8 255,433 94 444,765 81½ 7,974 20,755 554 247,206

D — Continued.

VALUE OF COINS PAID AT THE MINT. ALLOWANCE FOR WASTAGE. BALANCE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR.
Gold. Silver. Total value
of
Coins paid.		 Gold. Silver. Total
value of
Allowance.		 In the hands of the Chief Coiner.
Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Gold. Silver. Total
Value.
Weight. Value. Weight. Value.
oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts.
3,078 16 21 54,735 00 247,169 6 22 285,195 40 339,930 40 45 3 21 803 41 69,341 7 20  80,009 25½  80,812 66½
12,511 7 23 222,424 84½ 153,225 16 14 176,799 03½ 399,223 88 1,599 16 15 1,845 95½ 1,845 95½ 33 19 20 604 25 896 2 10 1,033 85½ 1,638 10½
9,035 18 3  160,638 33½  212,224 15 10  244,874 73½  405,513 07 63 8 10  1,127 45½  1,820 2 2  2,100 03½  3,227 49 107 9 23  1,911 04½ 5,573 12 23 6,431 09 8,342 13½

D — Continued.

BALANCE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR.
In the hands of the Melter and Refiner. Commissioners of Inspection, for Assay Pieces. Deposited in the hands of the Treasurer.
Gold. Silver. Total Value. Gold. Silver. Total Value. Gold. Silver. Total Value.
Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Weight. Value.
oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts.
78,425 19 0  90,491 47  90,491 47
6 4 23 111 07½ 47 15 55 12 166 19½
640 10 14 739 06 739 06   1 18 19 2 23 2 23 93 3 6  1,656 20 1,656 20

D — Continued.

BALANCE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR.
In the hands of the Treasurer, for Assay Pieces. In the Bank of the United States. Total amount of balance to be accounted for.
Gold. Silver. Total Value. Gold. Silver. Total Value. Gold. Silver. Total Value.
Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Weight. Value.
oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts.
99 11 6 1,770 00 3,659 8 6 4,222 40 5,992 40 144 15 3 2,573 41 151,426 15 2  174,723 12½  177,296 53½
26 14 13 475 15½ 310 10 19 358 31½ 833 47 66 19 8 1,190 48 1,254 8 5 1,447 29 2,637 77
25 9 2 452 50 38 11 8 44 50 497 00 1,391 8 22 24,736 82 2,330 19 9 2,689 58 27,426 40 1,617 11 5 28,756 56½ 8,585 13 1 9,606 46 38,663 02½

Treasury Department, Register's Office, December, 24th, 1798.

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

D — Continued.

Explanation of the balance of Gold and Silver remaining to be accounted for by the Treasurer of the Mint, on the 1st of July, 1798.

Gold. Silver. Total Value.
Weight. Value. Weight. Value.
oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts.
Total amount of deposites from 18th July, 1794, to 30th June, 1798, per abstract,  26,307 2 14  467,682 20 624,625 10 16  720,721 62 1,188,403 82
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Total amount of Coins made and paid during said period, per abstract, 24,626 2 23 437,798 18 612,619 18 22 706,869 17 1,144,667 35
Allowance for wastage, do. 63 8 10 1,127 45½ 3,419 18 17 3,945 99 5,073 44½
Balance remaining to be accounted for, on 1st July, 1798, 1,617 11 5 28,756 56½ 8,585 13 1 9,906 46 38,663 02½
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
26,307 2 14 467,682 20 624,625 10 16 720,721 62 1,188,403 82

Treasury Department, Register's Office, December, 24th, 1798.

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

E.

An abstract of the settlement of accounts made by the Treasurer of the Mint, with the United States, of bullion deposited by individual persons at the Mint, from 18th July, 1794, to 30th June, 1798; of the coins made and delivered; and balance, either in bullion or coin, which remained to be accounted for, by the officers of the Mint, at certain periods.

Gold. Silver. Total.
Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Value.
oz. dwt. gr. dolls. cts. oz. dwt. gr. dolls. cts. dolls. cts.
Deposites in standard bullion, from 18th July, 1794, to 30th September, 1795, 3,223 12 0 57,308 41 398,596 2 0 459,918 52½ 517,226 93½
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Coins made at the mint during that period, and paid by the treasurer to the persons who deposited the same, 3,078 16 21 54,735 00 247,169 6 22 285,195 40 339,930 40
Balance remaining to be accounted for on 30th September, 1795:
In the hands of the chief coiner, 45 3 21 803 41 69,341 7 20 80,009 25½ 80,812 66½
Do. treasurer, 78,425 19 0 90,491 47 90,491 47
Do. do. for assay pieces, 99 11 6 1,770 00 3,659 8 6 4,222 40 5,992 40
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
3,223 12 0 57,308 41 398,596 2 0 459,918 52½ 517,226 93½
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Balance remaining to be accounted for on 30th September, 1795, per statement No. 7,468, 144 15 3 2,573 41 151,426 15 2 174,723 12½ 177,296 53½
Deposites from 1st October, 1795, to 31st August, 1797,* 12,433 12 4 221,041 91½ 70,306 8 8 81,122 72½ 302,164 64
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
12,578 7 7 223,615 32½ 221,733 3 10 255,845 85 479,461 17½
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Coins made and paid during the above period, 12,511 7 23 222,424 84½ 155,670 8 22 179,619 74½ 402,044 59
This sum is deducted, being charged in his account of receipts and expenditures, 2,444 12 8 2,820 71 2,820 71
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
12,511 7 23 222,424 84½ 153,225 16 14 176,799 03½ 399,223 88
Balance remaining to be accounted for on 31st August, 1797, per statement No. 10,039, as follows, viz:
In the hands of the chief coiner, 33 19 20 604 25 896 2 10 1,033 85½ 1,638 10½
Do. melter and refiner, 6 4 23 111 07½ 47 15 0 55 12 166 19½
In Bank of United States, 26 14 13 475 15½ 310 10 19 358 31½ 833 47
Allowance for wastage per warrant No. 4, 1,599 16 15 1,845 95½ 1,845 95½
Litharge returned (per receipt) to John Vaughan, 11,637 13 0 13,428 06 13,428 06
Four deposites made by James Swan and assigned to the Bank of the U. States, withdrawn, 54,015 9 0 62,325 51 62,325 51
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
12,578 7 7 223,615 32½ 221,733 3 10 255,845 85 479,461 17½
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Balance remaining to be accounted for on 1st September, 1797, per statement No. 10,039, 66 19 8 1,190 48 1,254 8 5 1,447 29 2,637 77
Deposites, &c. from 1st September, 1797, to 30th June, 1798,† 10,649 18 10 189,331 87½ 221,376 2 8 255,433 94 444,765 81½
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
10,716 17 18 190,522 35½ 222,630 10 13 256,881 23 447,403 58½
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Coins made at the mint, and paid during that period, 9,035 18 3 160,638 33½ 212,224 15 10 244,874 73½ 405,513 07
Balance remaining to be accounted for on 1st July, 1798, viz:
In the hands of the chief coiner, 107 9 23 1,911 04½ 5,573 12 23 6,431 09 8,342 13½
Do. treasurer, 93 3 6 1,656 20 1,656 20
Do. do. assay pieces reserved for inspection, 25 9 2 452 50 38 11 8 44 50 497 00
In Bank of United States, 1,391 8 22 24,736 82 2,330 19 9 2,689 58 27,426 40
In the hands of the melter and refiner, 640 10 14 739 06 739 06
Do. commissioners of inspection, for assay pieces, 1 18 19 2 23 2 23
Allowance for wastage, per warrants No. 1, 2, 6, and 7, and treasury warrant No. 6,730, 63 8 10 1,127 45½ 1,820 2 2 2,100 03½ 3,227 49
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
10,716 17 18 190,522 35½ 222,630 10 13 256,881 23 447,403 58½
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Balance remaining to be accounted for on the 1st July, 1798, 1,617 11 3 28,756 56½ 8,585 12 1 9,906 46 38,663 02½

Treasury Department, Register's Office, December, 24th, 1798.

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

* In this amount of gold deposited, is included the amount gained by retaining fractions, together with an overplus, which arose in the chief coiner’s department.
† In this amount of deposites is included $17 50, in silver, and $330 in gold coins, which were under the inspection of the commissioners, and delivered to the melter and refiner.