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cessity of such judicious care and skill in the device and engraving 

 as shall give the strongest effect to the coin, with the least degree of 

 elevation ; a most desirable object, when it is known that each pair 

 of dies is required to strike off pieces, numbering from 50 to 200 

 thousand, with as little injury to the face as possible, as any differ- 

 ence in appearance of coin from the wear of the dies is to be depre- 

 cated. 



Remarks of importance, in relation to the character of the device, 

 will be introduced in a subsequent part of this communication. 



The foregoing relates principally to the execution of new devices, 

 and it is hoped are sufficiently explicit to show the vast saving of la- 

 bour derived from the process in comparison to the old plans of ope- 

 rating, in prosecuting which, the engraver was obliged to dig out the 

 solid metal by slow and laborious means, taking impressions of parts 

 as he progressed in plastic material, and consuming long periods of 

 time, according to the elaboration, or magnitude of the device. 



Equal, if not superior facilities, have been applied to the prepara- 

 tion of the dies for coinage of money; the process in its most improved 

 condition, was learned in the mint of Paris, and introduced by myself 

 into the mint of the United States, about the year 1836. It is the 

 transfer from an original die, by pressure on a softened steel punch or 

 " hub," as it is technically called, a fac simile in relief, which huh, after 

 hardening, is used to strike in soft steel properly prepared, the impres- 

 sions which, after turning off the superfluous metal, hardening, and 

 tempering, and other preparations, form the ordinary coining dies. 



By the above described process, dies in indefinite and almost un- 

 limited numbers, can be made complete, with the devices, legends 

 and ornaments in perfect similitude, whilst, by the ancient process, 

 they were separate operations, by hand, and, of course, no two could 

 be made exactly alike, requiring skilful die-sinkers to approximate to 

 such a condition, if at all possible, whereas the present process needs 

 only the manipulation of skillful mechanics. 



Were it not for the facilities, of which the above is a condensed 

 notice, the four or five hundred pair of dies, now required for the ser- 

 vice of the mint of the United States and its branches, could not be 

 furnished without a very large and expensive engraving establish- 

 ment. 



When new devices are required, the best talent and highest grade 

 of skill, within the command of the government, should be employed 

 at any cost for its execution in the most perfect style. And, further, 

 I do not hesitate to say, that if artistic talents and skill of sufficient 



