26th Congress,
1st Session.
Doc. No. 91.
Ho. of Reps.
Executive.

Operations of the Mint of the United States, 1839.


MESSAGE
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

Transmitting
A report showing the operations of the mint during the year 1839.


February 12, 1840.

Referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.


To the House of Representatives of the United States:

I transmit herewith to the House of Representatives, a report from the director of the mint, showing the operations of that institution during the year 1839.

M. VAN BUREN.

Washington, D.C., February 1, 1840.


Mint of the United States,
Philadelphia, January 30, 1840.

Sir: In compliance with the law which requires that “in the month of January of every year the director shall make report to the President of the United States of the operations of the mint and its branches for the year preceding,” I have the honor to submit to you the following statements:

The coinage executed at this mint, in 1839, amounted to $3,021,170 11, comprising $1,040,747 50 in gold, $1,949,136 in silver, and $31,286 61 in copper, and composed of 9,260,345 pieces. (Statement A.)

The deposites of gold within the year amounted to $1,042,500, of which $138,500 was derived from the mines of the United States. (Statements B and C.)

The deposites of silver amounted to $1,851,500, and consisted principally of Mexican dollars. (Statement E.)

At the close of the year, the public funds in our vaults under the laws authorizing deposites with the mint for the purchase of metals for coinage, and for securing prompt payments to depositors, amounted to $516,697 04, in gold and silver. The amount withdrawn during the year, on Treasury drafts, was $648,730 58, and the amount added $33,000.

The coinage at the New Orleans branch mint, up to the 17th of August, when operations were suspended, amounted to $227,160 in silver, composed of 2,401,600 pieces of coin. (Statement D.)

The deposites for coinage during the same period amounted to $85,159 in gold, and $173,901 in silver. (Statement F.)

I have to regret that after keeping back this annual report to the last day allowed by the law, in the expectation of obtaining from the New Orleans mint the information necessary to enable me to include its operations to the close of the year, this information has not been received; and that my report, so far as it regards this branch, is, therefore, necessarily incomplete. I may state, however, that the amount of deposites and coinage thus left unreported must be inconsiderable.

The efficiency of this branch of the mint has been greatly reduced during the year by causes which are deeply to be deplored. First, disagreements arose among the officers, which ended in mutual denunciations, and rendered an investigation necessary as to the characters of those implicated and the state of the institution generally. The task was committed to the United States district attorney at New Orleans, and was executed with ability and impartiality. The result showed that, although there was no reason for suspecting the integrity of any of the officers, the condition of things at the mint was such as to require painful measures of reform, which the Government did not hesitate to apply. Scarcely was this investigation ended, before the fatal epidemic, to which New Orleans is subject, made its appearance at the mint, and rendered an entire suspension of its operations absolutely necessary. The melter and refiner, and the coiner, both officers of great merit, fell at their posts, victims to the disease; and four of the workmen also lost their lives, while scarcely one escaped without an attack.

Under these circumstances, it cannot be matter of surprise that so little has yet been accomplished at the New Orleans mint. The prospects for the future, however, are more cheering. The institution has now an able corps of officers, all of whom are acclimated, as are also nearly all the workmen. There is reason, therefore, to believe that the operations of the mint may go on without further interruption, and that the just expectations of the public with regard to it may be no longer disappointed.

The branch mint at Charlotte received, during the year, deposites of gold to the value of $126,836. The amount of its coinage was $162,767 50, composed of 23,467 half-eagles, and 18,173 quarter-eagles. (Statements D and F.)

The branch mint at Dahlonega received, during the year, deposites of gold to the value of $113,035; and its coinage amounted to $128,880, composed of 18,939 half-eagles, and 13,674 quarter-eagles. (Statements D and F.)

Thes two mints, established for the exclusive coinage of gold, are in a very satisfactory condition, and are fully able to execute much more work than has yet been required of them.

In my last annual report I took the liberty of calling your attention to the fact that the law of June 28, 1834, gave too high of a valuation to foreign gold coins, so as to lead the community into error with regard to them, and to prevent, in a great measure, their recoinage. As the capacity of the mint and its branches is now abundantly sufficient for all the gold coinage necessary for the metallic circulation of the country, the reasons which led to the act making foreign gold coins a legal tender are presumed to be removed; and as, moreover, the conditions of this tender are certainly erroneous, I would again express my hope that the attention of Congress may be directed to the subject, and would respectfully recommend that the act in question be repealed.

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

R.M. PATTERSON,
Director of the Mint.

To the President of the United States.


A.

Statement of the coinage at the Mint of the United States, Philadelphia, in the year 1839.

Denominations. Pieces. Whole number of pieces. Value. Whole value.





Gold. Dollars. Dollars.
Eagles 38,248 382,480 00
Half-eagles 118,143 590,715 00
Quarter-eagles 27,021 67,552 50
Quarter-dollars  
183,412
1,040,747 50
Silver.
Dollars 300 300 00
Half-dollars 3,334,561 1,667,280 50
Quarter-dollars 491,146 122,786 50
Dimes 1,053,115 105,311 50
Half-dimes 1,069,150 53,457 50

5,948,272
1,949,136 00
Copper.
Cents 3,128,661 31,286 61


9,260,345 3,021,170 11


B.

Statement of deposites of gold, for coinage, at the Mint of the United States, Philadelphia, in the year 1839.

The deposites of gold, for coinage, amounted to $1,042,500
   Of which was received from the United States, viz:
Virginia $57,600
North Carolina 53,500
South Carolina 6,300
Georgia 20,300
Alabama 500
Tennesse 300

$138,500
Coins of the United States, old standard 7,000
Foreign bullion 167,000
Foreign coins 730,000
   Of which was received from the United States, viz: 
$1,042,500


C.

Statement of the annual amounts of deposites of gold for coinage at the Mint of the United States and its branches, from the mines of the United States.

Deposited at the United States Mint, Philadelphia. Deposited at the branch mints. Mint and branches.
Periods. Virginia. North
Carolina.
South
Carolina.
Georgia. Tennessee. Various
sources.
Total at U.S. Mint. Branch at Charlotte, N. Carolina. Branch at Dahlonega, Georgia. Branch at New Orleans, Louisiana. Total at branch Mints. Total deposites of U.S. gold.
1824 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000
1825 17,000 17,000 17,000
1826 20,000 20,000 20,000
1827 21,000 21,000 21,000
1828 46,000 46,000 46,000
1829 $2,500 134,000 $3,500 140,000 140,000
1830 24,000 204,000 26,000 $212,000 466,000 466,000
1831 26,000 294,000 22,000 176,000 $1,000 $1,000 520,000 520,000
1832 34,000 458,000 45,000 140,000 1,000 678,000 678,000
1833 104,000 475,000 66,000 216,000 7,000 868,000 868,000
1834 62,000 380,000 38,000 415,000 3,000 898,000 898,000
1835 60,400 263,500 42,400 319,900 100 12,200 698,500 698,500
1836 62,000 148,100 55,200 201,400 300 467,000 467,000
1837 52,100 116,900 29,400 83,600 282,000 282,000
1838 55,000 66,000 13,000 36,000 1,500 200 171,700 $127,000 $135,700 $700 $263,400 435,100
1839 57,600 53,500 6,300 20,300 300 500 138,500 126,836 113,035 6,869 246,740 385,240












539,600 2,702,000 346,800 1,820,200 14,200 13,900 5,436,700 253,836 248,735 7,569 510,140 5,946,840


D.

Statement of the amount of coinage at the branch Mints in the year 1839.

Mints. Gold. Silver. Total.
Half-
eagles.
Quarter-
eagles.
Number of pieces. Value. Half-
dollars.
Dimes. Half-
dimes.
Number of pieces. Value. Whole number of pieces. Whole value.
Charlotte 23,467 18,173 41,640 $162,767 50 41,640 $162,767 50
Dahlonega 18,939 13,674 32,613 128,880 00 32,613 128,880 00
New Orleans 100,000 1,241,600 1,060,000 2,401,600 $227,160 2,401,600 227,160 00
New Orleans  










42,406 31,847 74,253 291,647 50 100,000 1,241,600 1,060,000 2,401,600 227,160 2,475,853 518,807 50


E.

Statement of deposites of silver for coinage, at the Mint of the United States, Philadelphia, in the year 1839.

The deposites of silver, for coinage, amount to $1,851,500
Of which, there was in –
Mexican dollars $1,406,000
Five-franc pieces of France 180,000
Other coins 100,000
Bullion and plate 164,000
Parted from gold 1,500
The deposites of silver for coinage amount to   
$1,851,500


F.

Statement of deposites, for coinage, at the Branch Mints, in the year 1839.

United States bullion. Foreign bullion. Foreign coins. Total.
Gold.
Charlotte branch mint $126,836 $126,836
Dahlonega branch mint 113,035 113,035
New Orleans branch mint 6,869 $58,158 $20,132 85,159
New Orleans branch mint   



246,740 58,158 20,132 325,030



Silver.
New Orleans branch mint 70,973 102,928 173,901



Whole amount deposited at the branches 498,931

Recapitulation.
Deposited at the Charlotte branch mint $126,836
Deposited at the Dahlonega branch mint 113,035
Deposited at the New Orleans branch mint 259,060

498,931


G.

Recapitulation of deposites and coinage at the Mint of the United States and branches, in the year 1839.

Mints. Deposites. Coinage.
Gold. Silver. Total. Gold. Silver. Copper. Total.
U.States gold. Foreign gold. Total of gold. Pieces. Value. Pieces. Value. Pieces. Value. Pieces. Value.
Philadelphia $138,500 $904,000 $1,042,500 $1,851,500 $2,894,000 183,412 $1,040,747 50 5,948,272 $1,949,136 3,128,661 $31,286 61 9,260,345 $3,021,170 11
Charlotte 126,836 126,836 126,836 41,640 162,767 50 41,640 162,767 50
Dahlonega 113,035 113,035 113,035 32,613 128,880 00 32,613 128,880 00
New Orleans 6,869 78,290 85,159 173,901 259,060 2,401,600 227,160 2,401,600 227,160 00
New Orleans   












385,240 982,290 1,367,530 2,025,401 3,392,931 257,665 1,332,395 00 8,349,872 2,176,296 3,128,661 31,286 61 11,736,198 3,539,977 61


H.

Tabular statement of the amount of coinage at the Mint of the United States, in the several denominations of coin, from the commencement of its operations until the 31st of December, 1839, inclusive.

Periods. Eagles. Half eagles. Quarter eagles. Dollars. Half dollars. Quarter dollars. Dimes. Half dimes. Cents. Half Cents. Pieces of gold. Value of gold. Pieces of silver. Value of silver. Pieces of copper. Value of copper.
Pieces. Pieces. Pieces. Pieces. Pieces. Pieces. Pieces. Pieces. Pieces. Pieces. Dolls. cts. Dolls. cts. Dolls. cts.
1793
to
1795
2,795 8,707 204,791 323,144 86,416 1,066,033 142,534 11,502 71,485 00 614,351 370,683 80 1,208,567 11,373 00
1796 6,934 6,196 963 72,920 3,918 5,894 22,135 10,230 974,700 115,480 14,093 102,727 50 115,097 79,077 50 1,090,180 10,324 40
1797 8,323 3,609 859 7,776 252 25,261 44,527 897,510 107,048 12,791 103,422 50 77,816 12,591 45 1,004,558 9,510 34
1798 7,974 24,867 614 327,536 27,550 979,700 33,455 205,610 00 355,086 330,291 00 979,700 9,797 00
1799 17,483 7,451 480 423,515 904,585 12,167 25,414 213,285 00 423,515 423,515 00 916,752 9,106 68
1800 25,965 11,622 220,920 21,760 24,000 2,822,175 211,530 37,587 317,760 00 266,680 224,296 00 3,033,705 29,279 40
1801 29,254 26,006 54,454 30,289 34,640 33,910 1,362,837 55,260 422,570 00 153,293 74,758 00 1,362,837 13,628 37
1802 15,090 53,176 2,612 41,650 29,890 10,975 13,010 3,435,100 14,366 70,878 423,310 00 95,525 58,343 00 3,449,466 34,422 83
1803 8,979 33,506 423 66,064 31,715 33,040 37,850 2,471,353 97,900 42,908 258,377 50 168,669 87,118 00 2,569,253 25,203 03
1804 9,795 30,475 3,327 19,570 156,519 6,738 8,265 756,838 1,055,312 43,597 258,642 50 191,092 100,340 50 1,812,150 12,844 94
1805 33,183 1,781 321 211,722 121,394 120,780 15,600 941,116 814,464 34,964 170,367 50 469,817 149,388 50 1,755,580 13,483 48
1806 64,093 1,616 839,576 206,124 348,000 356,000 65,709 324,505 00 1,045,700 471,319 00 704,000 5,260 00
1807 84,093 6,812 1,051,576 220,643 165,000 727,221 476,000 90,905 437,495 00 1,437,219 597,448 75 1,203,221 9,652 21
1808 55,578 2,710 1,368,600 1,109,000 400,000 58,288 284,665 00 1,368,600 684,300 00 1,509,000 13,090 00
1809 33,875 1,405,810 44,710 222,867 1,154,572 33,875 169,375 00 1,450,520 707,376 00 1,377,439 8,001 53
1810 100,287 1,276,276 6,355 1,458,500 215,000 100,287 501,435 00 1,282,631 638,773 50 1,673,500 15,660 00
1811 99,581 1,203,644 65,180 218,025 63,140 99,581 497,905 00 1,268,824 608,340 00 281,165 2,495 95
1812 58,087 1,628,059 1,075,500 58,087 290,435 00 1,628,059 814,029 50 1,075,500 10,755 00
1813 95,428 1,241,903 418,000 95,428 477,140 00 1,241,903 620,951 50 418,000 4,180 00
1814 15,454 1,039,075 421,500 357,830 15,454 77,270 00 1,460,575 561,687 50 357,830 3,578 30
1815 635 69,232 635 3,175 00 69,232 17,308 00
1816 47,150 20,003 2,820,982 67,153 28,575 75 2,820,982 28,209 82
1817 1,215,567 3,948,400 1,215,567 607,783 50 3,948,400 39,484 00
1818 48,588 1,960,322 361,174 3,167,000 48,588 242,940 00 2,321,496 1,070,454 50 3,167,000 31,670 00
1819 51,723 2,208,000 144,000 2,671,000 51,723 258,615 00 2,352,000 1,140,000 00 2,671,000 26,710 00
1820 263,806 751,122 127,444 942,587 4,407,550 263,806 1,319,030 00 1,821,153 501,680 70 4,407,550 44,075 50
1821 34,641 6,448 1,305,797 216,851 1,186,512 389,000 41,089 189,325 00 2,709,160 825,762 45 389,000 3,890 00
1822 17,796 1,559,573 64,080 100,000 2,072,339 17,796 88,980 00 1,723,653 805,806 50 2,072,339 20,723 39
1823 14,485 1,694,200 17,800 440,000 14,485 72,425 00 2,152,000 895,550 00
1824 17,340 2,600 3,504,954 1,262,000 19,940 93,200 00 3,504,954 1,752,477 00 1,262,000 12,620 00
1825 29,060 4,434 2,943,166 168,000 510,000 1,461,100 63,000 33,494 156,385 00 3,621,166 1,564,583 00 1,524,100 14,926 00
1826 18,069 760 4,004,180 1,517,425 234,000 18,829 92,245 00 4,004,180 2,002,090 00 1,751,425 16,344 25
1827 24,913 2,800 5,493,400 4,000 1,215,000 2,357,732 27,713 131,565 00 6,712,400 2,869,200 00 2,357,732 23,577 32
1828 28,029 3,075,200 102,000 125,000 2,260,624 606,000 28,029 140,145 00 3,302,200 1,575,600 00 2,866,624 25,636 24
1829 57,442 3,403 3,712,156 770,000 1,230,000 1,414,500 487,000 60,845 295,717 50 5,712,156 1,994,578 00 1,901,500 16,580 00
1830 126,351 4,540 4,764,800 510,000 1,240,000 1,711,500 130,891 643,105 00 6,514,800 2,495,400 00 1,711,500 17,115 00
1831 140,594 4,520 5,873,660 398,000 771,350 1,242,700 3,359,260 2,200 145,114 714,270 00 8,285,710 3,175,600 00 3,361,460 33,603 60
1832 157,487 4,400 4,797,000 320,000 522,500 965,000 2,362,000 161,887 798,435 00 6,604,500 2,579,000 00 2,362,000 23,620 00
1833 193,630 4,160 5,206,000 156,000 485,000 1,370,000 2,739,000 154,000 197,790 978,550 00 7,217,000 2,759,000 00 2,893,000 28,160 00
1834 732,169 117,370 6,412,004 286,000 635,000 1,480,000 1,855,100 120,000 849,539 3,954,270 00 8,813,004 3,415,002 00 1,975,100 19,151 00
1835 371,534 131,402 5,352,006 1,952,000 1,410,000 2,760,000 3,878,400 141,000 502,936 2,186,175 00 11,474,006 3,443,003 00 4,019,400 39,489 00
1836 553,147 547,986 1,000 6,546,200 472,000 1,190,000 1,900,000 2,111,000 398,000 1,101,133 4,135,700 00 10,109,200 3,606,100 00 2,509,000 23,100 00
1837 207,121 45,080 3,629,820 252,400 1,042,000 2,276,000 5,558,300 252,201 1,148,305 00 7,200,220 2,096,010 00 5,558,300 55,583 00
1838 7,200 286,588 47,030 3,546,000 832,000 1,992,500 2,255,000 6,370,200 340,818 1,622,515 00 8,625,500 2,293,000 00 6,370,200 63,702 00
1839 38,248 118,143 27,021 300 3,334,561 491,146 1,053,115 1,069,150 3,128,661 183,412 1,040,747 50 5,948,272 1,949,136 00 3,128,661 31,286 61
















178,040 4,338,565 976,151 1,440,817 94,778,554 7,015,175 15,907,715 18,053,393 85,369,963 7,440,713 5,492,756 25,913,602 50 137,195,654 53,077,328 90 92,810,676 890,903 19

RECAPITULATION.

Periods. Whole coinage, in pieces. Whole coinage, in value.
1793
to
1795
1,834,420 $453,541 80
1796 1,219,370 192,129 40
1797 1,095,165 125,524 29
1798 1,368,241 545,698 00
1799 1,365,681 645,906 68
1800 3,337,972 571,335 40
1801 1,571,390 510,956 37
1802 3,615,869 516,075 83
1803 2,780,830 370,698 53
1804 2,046,839 371,827 94
1805 2,260,361 333,239 48
1806 1,815,409 801,084 00
1807 2,731,345 1,044,595 96
1808 2,935,888 982,055 00
1809 2,861,834 884,752 53
1810 3,056,418 1,155,868 50
1811 1,649,570 1,108,740 95
1812 2,761,646 1,115,219 50
1813 1,755,331 1,102,271 50
1814 1,833,859 642,535 80
1815 69,867 20,483 00
1816 2,888,135 56,785 57
1817 5,163,967 647,267 50
1818 5,537,084 1,345,064 50
1819 5,074,723 1,425,325 00
1820 6,492,509 1,864,786 20
1821 3,139,249 1,018,977 45
1822 3,813,788 915,509 89
1823 2,166,485 967,975 00
1824 4,786,894 1,858,297 00
1825 5,178,760 1,735,894 00
1826 5,774,434 2,110,679 25
1827 9,097,845 3,024,342 32
1828 6,196,853 1,741,381 24
1829 7,674,501 2,306,875 50
1830 8,357,191 3,155,620 00
1831 11,792,284 3,923,473 60
1832 9,128,387 3,401,055 00
1833 10,307,790 3,765,710 00
1834 11,637,643 7,388,423 00
1835 15,996,342 5,668,667 00
1836 13,719,333 7,764,900 00
1837 13,010,721 3,299,898 00
1838 15,336,518 3,979,217 00
1839 9,260,345 3,021,170 11


Total 235,499,086 79,881,834 59


I.

Recapitulation of the amount of coinage at the Mint of the United States and its branches, from the commencement of operations to December 31, 1839.

Commenced operations. Mints. Whole coinage, in pieces. Whole coinage, in value.
1793 Philadelphia mint 235,499,086 $79,881,834 59
1838 Charlotte branch mint 62,420 246,932 50
1838 Dahlonega branch mint 53,196 231,795 00
1838 New Orleans branch mint 2,804,030 267,403 00
New Orleans branch mint   

Total 238,418,732 80,627,965 09


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