ASSAYS – GOLD COINS – MINT OF THE UNITED STATES.

LETTER
from
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,
Transmitting

A report of Assays, made at the Mint of the United States, of Foreign Gold Coins, during the year 1829.

February 8, 1830.
Read, and laid on the table.

Treasury Department,
February 6th, 1830.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit a copy of the Report of the Director of the Mint, of the assays made at the Mint during the year 1829, of foreign gold and silver coins.

I have the honor to remain, with great respect, your ob’t servant,

S. D. INGHAM,
Secretary of the Treasury.

The Hon. The Speaker
of the House of Representatives, U. S.

Mint of the United States,
Philadelphia, 26th January, 1830.

Sir: Conformably to general instructions from the Treasury Department, assays have been made of the following foreign coins, the result of which is now respectfully communicated.

Gold Coins.

From the assayer’s report, it appears that the gold coins of Great Britain contain 22 parts of fine gold in 24 parts; those of Portugal 21‍31⁄32 parts of fine gold in 24 parts; those of France 21‍10⁄16 parts of fine gold in 24 parts, and those of Spain, 21 parts of fine gold in 24 parts.

The value per pennyweight of the gold coins of Great Britain, deduced from the above assay, is, like that of the gold coins of the United States, 88‍88⁄100 cents; that of the gold coins of Portugal, 88‍76⁄100 cents; that of the gold coins of France 87‍37⁄100 cents; and that of the gold coins of Spain 84‍84⁄100 cents.

The above values are conformable to the general results of former assays, except in regard to the gold coins of Spain, in relation to which irregularities have, not unfrequently, been noticed before. This assay was of the coinage of 1824, the latest that has been obtained for trial. It indicates a value, per pennyweight, about half a cent higher than the general estimate founded on an average of former assays, which may be stated at 84‍28⁄100 cents.

Silver Coins.

Spanish milled dollars appear, by the assayer’s report, to contain 10 ounces, 15 pennyweights, 12 grains of fine silver in 12 ounces.

Standard silver of the United States, contains 10 ounces, 14 pennyweights, 4‍5⁄13 grains of fine silver in 12 ounces; and, according to the weight, denomination, and value, of our silver coins, as established by law, is worth 115‍38⁄100 cents per ounce.

The value per ounce of the Spanish milled dollars, as deduced from the above assay thereof, is 116‍1⁄10 cents. Their value by tale, according to the average weight of those coins hitherto deposited at the Mint may be estimated at nearly 100 cents 3 mills – the value stated in my last report.

I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,

SAMUEL MOORE.

Hon. S. D. Ingham,
Secretary of the Treasury.