7th Congress.
No. 180.
1st Session.

MINT.

Communicated to the House of Representatives, March 24, 1802.

Treasury Department, March 22, 1802.

Sir:

I have the honor to transmit, herewith, a letter from the Comptroller of the Treasury, of this date, accompanied with sundry statements, which have been prepared in obedience to the act, entitled “An act establishing a mint, and regulating the coins of the United States,” passed on the second of April, 1792.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

ALBERT GALLATIN.

The Hon. the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States.

. . . . . . . .

Treasury Department, Comptroller’s Office, March 22d, 1802.

Sir:

The statements marked A, B, C, D, and E, which I now lay before you, have been prepared in obedience to the seventh section of an act of Congress, of the second of April, 1792, entitled “An act establishing a mint, and regulating the coins of the United States.” The Legislature will obtain from these statements all the information concerning the principal operations of the mint, which the settlements made at the treasury enable me to give.

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

JOHN STEELE.

The Hon. Albert Gallatin, Esq.

A.

Statement of appropriations made by law for the Mint establishment, for the year 1800, with the amount of warrants drawn by the Secretary of the Treasury on said appropriations.

Amount of warrants drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the mint, for the services for the year 1800, $30,981 43
Amount carried to the surplus fund, on 31st December, 1799, not included in statement for that year, 105 79
Balance unexpended on 1st January, 1801, 50,333 89
Balance of the several appropriations made by law for the mint establishment, unexpended on the 1st January, 1800, $31,202 79
Acts respecting the mint, dated 27th May, 1796, and 24th April, 1800:
For amount of cents and half cents paid into the treasury in the year 1799, but not included in the statement for that year, $9,386 68
Cents and half cents paid into treasury in 1800, $31,202 79
---------- 36,918 32
An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year 1800, dated 7th May, 1800, 13,300 00
---------- ----------
$81,421 11 $81,421 11

 

A—Continued.

Statement of appropriations made by law for the payment of the salaries of the officers and clerks of the Mint, for the year 1800.

Amount of warrants drawn on the Treasurer of the United States, for the salaries of the officers and clerks of the mint, for the year 1800, $10,600 00
An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year 1800, dated 7th May, 1800, $10,600 00

 

A—Continued.

Statement of the application of moneys advanced front the Treasury of the United States, for the support of the Mint establishment, from the 1st January to the 31st December, 1800.

The moneys paid by the treasurer of the mint, on warrants drawn on him by the Director, and admitted by the accounting officers of the Treasury of the United States, on the adjustment of his accounts, were as follow, viz:
Incidental and contingent expenses, and repairs of the Mint.
For ten thousand three hundred and eighty-six dollars and twenty-nine cents, being the amount expended for the requisite repairs, apparatus, machines, wages of workmen, and other expenses:
Paid in the first quarter, $2,559 63
Paid in the second quarter, 2,330 77
Paid in the third quarter, 2,444 29
Paid in the fourth quarter, 3,051 60
---------- $10,386 29
Copper purchased for coinage.
For nine thousand eight hundred and eighty-two dollars and seventy cents, being the amount of the cost and charges of copper purchased for coinage:
Pounds oz.
300 Purchased from 1st April to 30th June, 83 33
To which add this sum, for loss on a bill of exchange remited for the purchase of copper, 444 45
----------
527 78
24,684 13 Purchased from 1st July to 30th September, 9,354 92
---------- ---------- 9,882 70
24,984 13 ----------
======== 20,268 99
Wastage in the coinage of Gold and Silver.
Applied to make good deficiencies arising from wastage in the coinage of gold and silver, per Auditor’s report, No, 12,397, 3,148 10
Salaries of the officers and clerks of the Mint.
Paid in the first quarter, 2,650 00
Paid in the second quarter, 2,650 00
Paid in the third quarter, 2,650 00
Paid in the fourth quarter, 2,650 00
---------- 10,600 00
Benjamin Rush, Treasurer of the Mint:
His suspense account, for this amount, suspensed in the year 1799, being for the purchase of a bill of exchange, for which a receipt was not, till now, produced, 5,373 33
Balance to be accounted for by by the treasurer of the mint, on 1st Jan. 1801, *8,237 18
----------
$47,627 60
Balance to be accounted for by Benjamin Rush, treasurer of the mint, on the 1st January 1800, per Auditor’s report, No. 11,242, $5,059 74
Advanced to the Treasurer of the Mint, viz.
For the salaries of the officers and clerks, 10,600 00
For the mint establishment, advanced from the treasury, $30,981 43
Paid by John Vaughan, for expenses incurred in the separation of gold from a silver deposite made by him, 557 96
For silver recovered from test bottoms and litharge, used in refining silver deposited by the Bank of Maryland, and for which an appropriation has been made by Congress, 428 47
---------- 31,967 86
---------- ----------
$47,627 60 $47,627 60

* This sum is composed of the following items, viz: — Balance due the United States, per the treasurer’s accounts rendered, $2,654 98
Add this sum, being the amount of Stewart and Son’s bill of exchange, protested, including expense of protest, &c. deducted per report, No. 12,397, 5,682 20
----------
As above, $8,237 18

A—Continued.

An account of cents and half cents paid into the Treasury of the United States by the Treasurer of the Mint, in the year 1800.

In the first quarter, $8,020 00
In the second quarter, 12,892 31
In the third quarter, 3,063 00
In the fourth quarter, 3,556 33
-----------
$27,531 64

Treasury Department, Register’s Office, February, 26th, 1802.

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

B.

Statement of appropriations made by law for the Mint establishment, for the year 1801, with the amount of warrants drawn by the Secretary of the Treasury on said appropriations.

Amount of warrants drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the mint, for the services of the year 1801,* $39,738 37
Amount of a warrant in favor of Thomas, Pinckney, 154 44
---------- $39,892 81
Balance unexpended on 1st Jan. 1802, 41,187 21
Balance of the several appropriations made by law for the mint establishment, unexpended on the 1st January, 1801, $50,333 89
Acts respecting the mint, dated 27th May, 1796, and 24th April, 1800:
For amount of cents and half cents paid into the treasury in the year 1801, 17,446 13
An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year 1801, dated 3d March, 1801, 13,300 00
---------- ----------
$81,080 02 $81,080 02

* This sum includes a warrant for $4,738.37, dated 6th January, 1802.

B—Continued.

Statement of appropriations made by law for the payment of the salaries of the officers and clerks of the Mint, for the year 1801.

Amount of warrants drawn on the Treasurer of the United States, for the salaries of the officers and clerks of the mint, for the year 1801, $10,593 06
Balance unexpended on 1st Jan. 1802, 6 94
An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year 1801, dated third March, 1801, $10,600 00
---------- ----------
$10,600 00 $10,600 00

 

B—Continued.

Statement of the application of moneys advanced from the Treasury of the United States, for the support of the Mint establishment, from 1st of January to the 31st of December, 1801.

The moneys paid by the treasurer of the mint, on warrants drawn on him by the Director, and admitted by the accounting officers of the treasury of the United States, on the adjustment of his accounts, were as follow, viz:
Incidental and contingent expenses, and repairs of the Mint.
For 8,618 dollars and 32 cents, being the amount expended for the requisite repairs, apparatus, machines, wages of workmen, and other expenses:
   Paid in the first quarter, $2,227 33
   Paid in the second quarter, 2,374 35
   Paid in the third quarter, 1,937 65
   Paid in the fourth quarter, 2,130 94
---------- $8,670 27
Copper purchased for coinage.
For 34,435 dollars and 77 cents, being the amount of the cost and charges of copper purchased for coinage:
Pounds oz.
44,984 13 Purchased from 1st of July to the 30th September, 16,822 79
To which add this sum, deducted from a former invoice for return premium, not allowed, 186 67
56,041 Purchased from 1st October to 31st December, 19,674 34
----------
36,683 80
From which deduct this sum, received for 896 lbs. rough copper, $169 24
Gained on bills of exchange remitted for copper, 1,078 79
---------- ---------- 1,248 03
101,025 13 ---------- 35,435 77
======= ----------
Salaries of the Officers and Clerks of the Mint. 44,106 04
   Paid in the first quarter, 2,643 06
   Paid in the second quarter, 2,650 00
   Paid in the third quarter, 2,650 00
   Paid in the fourth quarter, 2,650 00
---------- 10,593 06
Balance to be accounted for by the treasurer of the mint, on the 1st January, 1802, 3,869 51
----------
  $58,568 61
========

Receipts.
Balance to be accounted for by Benjamin Rush, treasurer of the mint, on the 1st of January, 1801, per Auditor’s report, $8,237 18
Advanced to the Treasurer of the Mint, viz.
For the salaries of the officers and clerks, 10,593 06
For the mint establishment, advanced from the treasury, 39,738 37
----------
$58,568 61
========
Balance due the Treasurer, per his account rendered, $6,451 06
Balance due the United States, as above, 3,869 51
----------
Difference,       $10,320 57
========
     Which difference is thus accounted for:
Amount of Stewart and Sons’ bill of exchange, protested, and suspended from the credit of the treasurer, $5,582 20
Treasury warrant in his favor, dated 6th January, 1802, not credited by him, 4,738 37
----------
$10,320 57
========

B—Continued.

Account of cents and half cents paid into the Treasury of the United States by the Treasurer of the Mint, in the year 1801.

In the first quarter, $1,755 00
In the second quarter, 2,058 76
In the third quarter, 3,103 20
In the fourth quarter, 10,529 17
-----------
$17,446 13

Treasury Department, Register’s Office, February, 26th, 1802.

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

C.

Mint of the United States, for Copper Coinage, shewing the amount purchased and coined, from the first of January, 1800, to the 31st December, 1801, and the profit arising thereon, from the establishment thereof to the latter period.

Dr. Cr.
Avoirdupois
weight.		 Troy weight. Cost of
Copper.
lbs. oz. drms. lbs. oz. dwt. Dolls. Cts.
To amount of rough copper purchased from the commencement of the institution to the 31st Dec. 1799, per statement marked C, accompanying the Comptroller’s report of the 25th of April, 1800, 155,398 0 0   39,913 12
Ditto of planchettes,     do.     do.     do. 112,829 02 13 28,970 94
Amount of planchettes on hand at the mint, on Dec. 31, 1799, per same statement, 55,101 05 01 18,891 91
Amount of cents and half cents on hand at the mint, at that period, per same statement, 6,037 06 0 2,070 00
Amount of copper sold, for which the cash has not been received, 12,744 07 09 1,980 87
This sum, remitted to the Rev. I. G. Bend, of Baltimore, in full of a bill of exchange purchased by him of D. Stewart and Sons, of said place, on the 16th of Dec. 1799, at 1.61 per cent. $5,373 33
Add difference between the rate of purchase and par, 189 11
Cost of protest, &c. at London, 19 76
---------- *5,582 20
This sum, paid for a bill of exchange more than the par value thereof, charged in the quarter ending June 30, 1800, 444 45
Sheet copper purchased in the quarter ending June 30, 1800, 300 0 153,137 11 12 83 33
This sum, paid for copper planchettes, and charged in the quarter ending March 31, 1801, 24,684 13 9,354 92
This sum, paid for ditto, and charged in the quarter ending 30th September, 1801, 44,984 13 16,031 69
This sum paid for ditto, and charged in the quarter ending December 31, 1801, 56,041 0 19,573 32
---------- ---------------- ----------
495,248 08 15 135,896 75
Balance, being the amount gained on copper coinage, 19,234 43
Avoirdupois
weight.		 Troy weight. Value.
lbs. oz. drms. lbs. oz. dwt. Dolls. Cts.
By amount of rough copper, accounted for, per statement marked C, which accompanied the Comptroller’s report of the 25th of April, 1800, 153,228 03 09   39,439 70
Ditto of planchettes,     do.     do.     do. 112,829 02 13 40,170 05
Amount of copper credited in the account of T. Francis, late purveyor of public supplies, being part of the item on the statement marked C, above referred to, “amount of copper sold for which the cash has not been received,” 9,591 0 12,744 07 09 1,811 63
Amount of copper credited by the treasurer of the mint, in the quarter ending 31st December, 1801, being the residue of the item in the statement marked C, above mentioned, 896 0 169 24
Amount of cents and half cents paid into the treasury, from 1st January to 30th June, 1800, 131,185 01 19 †20,912 31
Amount do. in the quarter ending 30th September, 1800, 9,604 33
Amount do. in the quarter ending 31st December, 1800, 832 76
Amount do. in the quarter ending 30th September, 1801, 5,050 00
Amount do. in the quarter ending 31st December, 1801, 8,578 37
     Balance of copper remaining; viz:
In the hands of the treasurer, 68,105 04 11 23,350 41.5
Ditto, chief coiner, 14,878 03 14 5,101 13
Ditto, melter and refiner, 324 05 14 111 24.5
---------------- ----------
493,295 05 09   155,131 18
Balance of copper, for which no account has been given, 1,953 03 06
---------------- ------------ ---------------- ------------
495,248 08 15   155,131 18 495,248 08 15   155,131 18
It will be observed, that the quantity of copper unaccounted for on this statement, is two hundred and sixteen pounds five ounces five pennyweights less than that exhibited by the former statement marked C, and is supposed to arise from the cents being lighter than seven pennyweights.
* Any part of this sum that may be recovered will be an addition to the gain on copper coinage.
† This amount includes the sum of two thousand and seventy dollars, being the value of cents and half cents which were on hand on the 31st of December, 1799.

D.

An Abstract Statement of the settlement, at the Treasury, of the accounts of the Treasurer of the Mint, from July 1st, 1799, to December 31st, 1801, exhibiting the balance, in bullion, for which he remained accountable on the last settlement, and also the deposites of Bullion, value of Coins paid, allowance for wastage, and balance remaining in the hands of the Officers of the Mint, and in the Bank of the United States.

PERIODS OF SETTLEMENT. BALANCE WHICH REMAINED TO DE ACCOUNTED FOR, JUNE 30TH, 1799, CONSISTING OF DEPOSITES IN STANDARD
FROM TO Gold in the hands of the Officers of the Mint, and Commissioners of Inspection. Silver in the hands of the Officers of the Mint, and Commissioners of Inspection. Coins in the Bank of the United States. Total value of
balance.		 Gold.
Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Of Gold. Of Silver. Weight. Value.
oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts.
July 1, 1799,    December 31, 1801.  260  11  23 4,632 75½ 31,727   4   9  36,608 24½ 2 50½ 7,892 05½ 49,135 56 49,089   1   4   872,694 07½

D — Continued.

DEPOSITES IN STANDARD Total value of Balance and Deposites. COINS OF GOLD AND SILVER MADE AT THE MINT. VALUE OF COINS PAID AT THE MINT. Total value of Coins paid.
Silver. Total value of
Deposites.		 Gold. Silver. Gold. Silver.
Weight. Value. Weight. Eagles. Half
Eagles.		 Quarter
Eagles.		 Weight.  Dollars.  Dimes. Half
Dimes.
oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. No. No. No. oz. dwt. gr. No. No. No. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts.
374,915   2   8  432,594 22  1,305,288 29½  1,354,423 85½  49,115  16   6 64,977 44,440 480  403,332  16   0 456,848 56,405 57,910  874,158 00½  466,989 28½  1,341,147 29

D — Continued.

ALLOWANCE FOR WASTAGE. BALANCE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR.
Gold. Silver. Total Value
of allowance
for Wastage.		 In the hands of the Chief Coiner. In the hands of the Melter and
Refiner.
Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Gold. Silver. Total Value. Gold.
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.
190  10   4 3,386 79½  3,139  11  22  3,622 59½ 7,009 39 14   0  16 249 30½  94   1  12 108 36½ 357 67 18   1   1 320 73

D — Continued.

BALANCE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR.
In the hands of the Melter and Refiner. In the hands of the Commissioners of Inspection, for Assay Pieces. Coins in the Bank of the United States. Total amount of balances to be accounted for.
Silver. Total Value. Gold. Silver. Total Value. Gold. Silver. Total Value. Gold. Silver. Total Value.
Weight. Value. Weight. Value. Weight. Value.
oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. oz. dwt. gr. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts. Dolls. Cts.
66  1  16 76 22 396 95  11  5  0  200 00  9  15  15  11 28½ 121 28½ 3 56 8,445 81 8,449 37 773 59½ 8,641 68 9,415 27½

Treasury Department, Register’s Office, February, 16th, 1802.

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

E.

Summary Statement, exhibiting the value of Coins made at the Mint; the amount of disbursements on account of the establishment; the amount allowed for wastage; the amount retained of deposites; and the amount gained on the coinage of Copper.
Dollars. Cts. Dollars. Cts.
Value of gold and silver coins made at the mint of the United States, from the 18th of July, 1794, to the 30th of June, 1799, and of copper coins, from the commencement of the institution to the 31st of December, 1799, per summary statement which accompanied the Comptroller’s report of the 25th of April, 1800, 1,663,630 17
Ditto, of gold coins, made from the 1st of July, 1799, to the 31st of December, 1801, per statement now transmitted, marked D, 873,170 00
Ditto, of silver coins,               do.               do.               do.               do.     465,384 00
Ditto, of copper coins, made from the 1st of January, 1800, to the 31st of Dec. 1801, per statement now transmitted, marked C, 42,907 77
----------------      1,381,461 77
----------------  
Total value of gold, silver, and copper coins, made to the 31st of Dec. 1801, $3,045,091 94
============  
Nett charge on the coinage of bullion, to the 30th of June, and on the coinage of copper to the 31st of December, 1799, including the sum of $2,253 40, paid to John Vaughan under an act of Congress of the 11th of February, 1800, being the amount allowed him for the difference on silver bullion, deposited by him at the mint for coinage, previous to the month of December, 1795, per summary statement above referred to, 211,930 68
Deduct this sum included in the above, being the amount advanced from the treasury to make good a deficiency arising from wastage; the same having been separately exhibited, as will appear from the summary statement above referred to, 5,493 64
----------------   206,437 04
Amount of disbursements on account of the mint, for the year 1800, per statement A, now transmitted, 30,868 99
Ditto,      ditto,     for the year 1801, per statement B, now transmitted, 54,699 10
Add this sum paid at the treasury to T. Pinckney, being for so much advanced by him in London, to Albion Coxe, for the purchase of assay scales and weights, &c. 154 44
----------------   54,853 54
Amount of wastage in the coinage of gold and silver, from the 1st of July, 1799, to the 31st of December, 1801, per statement now transmitted, marked D, 7,009 39
Deduct this sum, retained of deposites from the 1st of July, 1799, to the 31st of Dec. 1801, agreeably to the accounts of the mint, adjusted at the treasury, 703 12
----------------   6,306 27
----------------  
Total amount of wastage and of disbursements, to the 31st of Dec. 1801, 298,465 84
Amount gained on the coinage of copper, from the commencement of the institution to the 31st of December, 1801, per statement now transmitted, marked C, 19,234 43
Deduct this sum, gained to the 31st of December, 1799, per statement marked C, which accompanied the Comptroller’s report of the 25th of April, 1800, 17,725 69
----------------  
Leaves this sum, as gain on such coinage, from the 1st of January, 1800, to the 31st of December, 1801, to be deducted, 1,508 74
----------------  
Nett charge on the coinage of gold, silver, and copper, to the 31st of December, 1801, including the cost of copper purchased for coinage, lots, buildings, machinery, &c. $296,957 10