107 



though no special means have yet been taken to add to it, but which 

 can be done readily when the necessity shall arise. 



Before proceeding with the immediate subject under consideration, 

 a Cew words will be devoted to the coinage of small gold pieces. 



Peculiar circumstances, whose influence has been powerful, but, it 

 is hoped, transient, have made it necessary to coin large quantities of 

 gold dollars. 



A dispassionate view of this coin and its history will, in a candid 

 and just spirit, be appreciated. 



It is not a recent invention. Historical records, and our cabinets, 

 show that pieces of approximate value, have been issued by almost 

 all governments at some period of their career, and that they are now 

 almost entirely abandoned. The reasons are obvious, but may be 

 briefly stated. 



The piece is too small for convenient handling and inspection in 

 proportion to its value. 



It is too liable and easy of counterfeit imitation In consequence of 

 its light weight and diminutive size; and too difficult of detection, 

 when even indifl!erently counterfeited, because not appreciable by the 

 sensible tests (feeling of weight, the sight, &c.), and, finally, it will 

 be unnecessary, when a sufficient supply of silver change shall be 

 spread abroad among the community. 



The quarter eagle, on the contrary, is of sufficient value and size 

 to authorize sufficient care in its reception and payment; it is entirely 

 appreciable by the sensible tests, and admits of easy detection when 

 fraudulent attempts have been made at imitation or alteration. 



The half and quarter eagle have their places in our monetary sys- 

 tem, for certain natural reasons, which may be illustrated thus. It 

 is easy and simple to divide and add, by halving and doubling, &;c. ; 

 hence the hold that the Spanish currency of reals has upon our affec- 

 tions (to say nothing of the habit of its use), whereas a decimal sys- 

 tem, such as our money of account and currency, requires some 

 education. 



The pons asinorum being once passed, however, in the use of a 

 decimal system, its advantages and facilities are without bounds. 

 Why, or how, we should tolerate, for one hour, the stupid and false 

 nomenclature of shillings and sixpences, so common in some parts of 

 the Union, is past comprehension or explanation, and will not be at- 

 tempted. 



The quarter eagle, and the three dollar gold-pieces, authorized by 

 the late law, are incongruous, being too nearly of the same value to 



