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Read, and laid upon the table.
Washington, February 8th, 1830.
I transmit to Congress a report from the Director of the Mint, exhibiting the operations of that Institution during the year 1829.
ANDREW JACKSON.
The Honorable the Speaker of the House of Representatives U. S.
Mint of the United States,
Philadelphia, 1st January, 1830.
Sir: I have the honor to submit a report, on the general transactions of the Mint within the past year.
The coinage effected within that period, amounts to $2,306,875 50, comprising $295,717 50 in gold coins, $1,994,578 in silver, and $16,580 in copper; and consisting of 7,694,501 pieces of coin, viz:
| Half Eagles, | 57,442 | pieces, | making | $287,210 | 00 |
| Quarter Eagles, | 3,403 | do. | do. | 8,507 | 50 |
| Half Dollars, | 3,712,156 | do. | do. | 1,856,078 | 00 |
| Dimes, | 770,000 | do. | do. | 77,000 | 00 |
| Half Dimes, | 1,230,000 | do. | do. | 61,500 | 00 |
| Cents, | 1,414,500 | do. | do. | 14,145 | 00 |
| Half Cents, | 487,000 | do. | do. | 2,435 | 00 |
| 7,674,501 | $2,306,875 | 50 | |||
Of the amount of gold bullion, deposited at the Mint, within the last year, about $131,000 were received from Mexico, South America, and the West Indies; $22,000 from Africa; about $12,000 from sources not ascertained; and the residue, about $134,000, from North Carolina, and the adjacent States of South Carolina and Virginia. The proportion from North Carolina may be stated at $128,000; that from South Carolina, at $3,500; and that from Virginia, at $2,500.
The first notice of gold from North Carolina, on the records of the Mint, occurs in the year 1804, within which it was received to the amount of $11,000. It continued to be received during the succeeding years, until 1824, inclusive, in varying amounts, all inferior however to that of the year first mentioned, and on an average not exceeding $2,500 yearly. In 1824, the amount received was $5,000; in 1825, it had increased to $17,000; in 1826, it was $20,000; in 1827, about $21,000; and in 1828, nearly $46,000. In 1829, as above stated, it was $128,000.
This remarkable increase in the amount of gold received from North Carolina, during the years following 1824, has been considered of sufficient interest to be noted in the annual reports from the Mint, since that period. The circumstance will attract additional attention, from the fact now ascertained, that the gold region of the United States extends far beyond the locality to which it has heretofore appeared to be limited. Gold bullion had not been received from Virginia, or South Carolina, until within the last year; or, if at all received, it has been in quantities too inconsiderable to have been specially noticed. The gold from all these localities is found, in its native state, to be, on an average, nearly of the the same fineness as the standard of our gold coin.
A competent supply of silver, consisting of unwrought bullion and foreign coins, has maintained, throughout nearly the whole year, a steady demand on the more productive operations of the Mint. So far, however, as this demand would permit, the issuing of small coins has been an object of particular attention. A new emission of half dimes was, with this view, commenced on the 4th of July, since which period the amount issued has been more than fourfold the whole amount previously coined, of that denomination. The issue of small coins will be continued during the present year, as the degree of pressure on the Mint shall render practicable.
The extended efficiency of the Mint establishment, authorized by the provisions of the act of 2d March last, will be adequate to the execution of an abundant supply of all the subordinate denominations of our silver coin, with the desirable celerity, and without abstracting from the heavier operations of coinage the attention due to the accomodation of depositors of bullion. The edifice erecting for this object, was commenced on the 4th of July, and by assiduous exertion, has been advanced in a satisfactory manner to the extent contemplated for the season. Its completion within the present year, according to the plan which I had the honor of submitting for your approbation, is confidently relied on.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, you obd’t serv’t,
SAMUEL MOORE.
The President of the United States.