11th Congress.
No. 306
2d Session.

ASSAYS OF FOREIGN COINS.

Communicated to the Senate, December 12, 1809.

The Secretary of the Treasury, in obedience to the act, entitled “An act regulating the currency of foreign coins in the United States,” respectfully reports:

That assays of the foreign gold and silver coins, made current by the act aforesaid, have been made in the course of the present year, at the mint of the United States; the result whereof is shown in the annexed letter of the Director of the Mint, dated June 29th, 1809, which is prayed to be received as part of this report.

All which is respectfully submitted.

ALBERT GALLATIN, Secretary of the Treasury.

Treasury Department, December 8th, 1809.

Mint of the United States, June 29th, 1809.

Sir:

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 31st ultimo, and have, according to your desire, caused assays to be made of the several species of foreign coins, made current in the United States by act of Congress; having particular respect to coins of the latest date and importation, so far as these could be procured and discriminated.

The result of these assays, according to the assayer’s report, is as follows:

I. Gold coins of Great Britain.
C. grs.
No. 1, made from 10 pieces of promiscuous dates prior to 1806,  22   0
2, “ “ 5 do. dated 1806, 22   0
3, “ “ 4 do. dated 1808, 22   0
 
II. Gold coins of France.
No. 1, made from 10 pieces of promiscuous dates prior to 1806, 21   21/2
2, “ “ 2 do. dated 1806, 21   21/2
3. “ “ 2 do. dated 1807, 21   21/4
4, “ “ 5 do. dated 1808, 21   21/4
 
III. Gold coins of Spain.
No. 1, made from 10 pieces of promiscuous dates prior to 1806, 20   33/4
2, “ “ 5 do. dated 1806, 20   23/4
3, “ “ 5 do. dated 1807, 20   31/2
4, “ “ 5 do. dated 1808, 20   31/8
 
IV. Gold coins of Portugal.
No. 1, made from 10 half joes of promiscuous dates prior to 1806,  22   0
2, “ “ 5 do. dated 1806, 22   0
3, “ “ 2 moidores, old dates, 21   31/2
4, “ “ 2 do. dated 1805, 21   33/4

V. Silver coins of France.
Oz. dwt. grs.
Made from 10 crowns of dates prior to 1806, 10 18 0
 
VI. Silver coins of Spain.
No. 1, made from 10 dollars of promiscuous dates prior to 1806, 10 15 6
22 “ “ 5 do. dated 1806, 10 15 0
3, “ “ 5 do. dated 1807, 10 15 12
4, “ “ 5 do. dated 1808, 10 15 12
5, “ “ 5 do. (Ferd. VII) dated 1809, 10 15 6
6, “ “ 9 parts of dollars of several denominations and dates, 10 15 12

From the foregoing assays. it appears—

  1. That the gold coins of Great Britain, and the half joes of Portugal, being of the same quality with those of the United States, viz: 22 carats fine, or 1/12 part alloy, are, by the act of Congress, rated at their true intrinsic value of 27 grs. to the dollar or 100 cents.
  2. That the moidores appear to be of somewhat inferior quality, and, according to the average of the foregoing assays, would require about 1/10 of a grain more to the 100 cents than the legal weight.
  3. That the gold coins of France, averaging 21 c. 23/8 grs., would require about 11/100 of a grains to the 100 cents more than the legal weight of 272/5 grs.
  4. That the gold coins of Spain, averaging 20 c. 39/32 grs., would require about 113/100 grs. to the 100 cents more than the legal weight of 272/5 grs.
    It may, however, be observed, that the Spanish gold coins of 1806, both by the assay of the present year, and by that made in 1807, appear to be considerably inferior in quality to those either of former or subsequent dates, and, therefore, taking the average from the other dates, 2847/100 grs. would be equal in value to 100 cents; that is, 17/100 more than the law requires.
  5. That the silver French crown, quality 10 oz. 18 dwt., and weighing 18 dwt. 17 grs., compared with the standard and weight of the silver coins of the United States, would be equal in value to 10986/100 cents, nearly, or 14/100 of a cent less than the value established by law.
  6. That the Spanish silver dollar, the average quality of which is 10 oz. 15 dwt. 6 grs. if of the full weight of 17 dwt. 7 grs. would be equal in value to 1003/10 cents nearly, or 3/10 of a cent more than the value established by law.

It may, however, sir, be remarked, that very little foreign coin, except Spanish dollars and parts, is now circulating in the United States; and, therefore, any further regulations of our Government on that subject, would, I presume, be now unnecessary.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the greatest respect and esteem, your obedient faithful servant,

R. PATTERSON.

The Honorable Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury.