MINT.

Communicated to the Senate, January 15, 1806.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

I communicate, for the information of Congress, the report of the Director of the Mint, of the operations of that institution during the last year.

TH: JEFFERSON.

January 15, 1806.

. . . . . . . .

Mint of the United States, Philadelphia, January 3d, 1806.   

From this statement, it appears that, of gold coins issued from the mint, the whole amount is 2,613,972½ dollars; of silver coins, 1,953,917¾ dollars: and of copper coins, 179,453 dollars 47½ cents; making the total amount 4,747,343 dollars 72½ cents; and the total number of pieces 22,594,832.

During the last year, as will appear in particular detail from schedule No. 1, there have been struck at the mint, of gold coins, 34,964 pieces, amounting in value to 170,367½ dollars; of silver coins, 469,496 pieces, value 149,067½ dollars; and of copper coins, 1,755,580 pieces, value 13,483 dollars 48 cents; making the total number of pieces of the precious metals 504,460, and of copper coins 1,755,580; and the total value 332,918 dollars 48 cents. This amount is indeed somewhat less than that of the preceding year, ($371,827  94) yet the number of pieces is much greater, being all of the smaller coins; and this latter circumstance will readily account for the small difference in value; since the labor and time necessary to prepare and strike an equal number of large and small pieces of coin, will be nearly equal.

Of the precious metals, the number of pieces coined in the last year far exceeds that in any former year since the establishment of the mint; indeed, it is considerably more than double of what it has been in any one of the four last years.

The striking of small coins is a measure which has been adopted to accommodate the banks and other depositors, and at their particular request, both with a view of furnishing a supply of small change, and to prevent the exportation of the specie of the United States to foreign countries.

I am authorized, sir, to assure you, that the Bank of the United Stales (with perhaps the other banks in this city) will furnish the mint an ample supply of bullion during the current year; and to avoid, as far as practicable, all inconvenient delay in the issue of coins, I am, with your approbation. about to employ a few additional workmen. The utmost economy, however, in the expenses of the institution, will be carefully observed.

The schedule No. 3 exhibits an abstract of the expenditures of the mint during the last year. From this it will be observed that the contingent expenses, in the last six months, have been pretty considerable. This has arisen from sundry repairs, particularly of the stable, coal house, a pair of rollers, and one of the coining presses, which could no longer be dispensed with, but which will not again occur in many years.

Schedule No. 2 exhibits a general statement of the gain on the copper coinage fur the last year, amounting to $2,187  68, exclusive of 51 dollars 96 cents of spoiled planchettes, used in the alloy of the precious metals. This gain would have been still greater, had not the planchettes proved to be somewhat over weight, though the late Director had given the most particular charges and instructions on this head to the person of whom they were purchased.

I have, sir, the honor to be, with the greatest esteem, your most obedient servant,

ROBERT PATTERSON, Director.

To the President of the United States.

No. 1.

An abstract of the Coins struck at the Mint of the United States, from the 1st January to 31st December, 1805.

Mint of the United States, Treasurer's Office, Philadelphia, 31st December, 1805.

BENJAMIN RUSH.

No. 2.

A Statement of the gain on Copper coined at the Mint of the United States, from the 1st January to the 31st December, 1805.

Mint of the United States, Treasurer's Office, Philadelphia, 31st December, 1805.

BENJAMIN RUSH.

No. 3.

An Abstract of the Expenditures of the Mint of the United States, from 1st January to 31st December, 1805.

Mint of the United States, Treasurer's Office, Philadelphia, 31st December, 1805.

BENJAMIN RUSH.

No. 4.

A Statement of the Gold, Silver, and Copper Coins, struck at the Mint of the United States, from the commencement of that Institution to the 31st December, 1805.

Mint of the United States, Treasurer's Office, Philadelphia, 31st December, 1805.

BENJAMIN RUSH.