On the Fineness of the One Yen Silver Coin. 



by 

 Yoshimasa Koga, Rigakushi, F. C. s., 



and 



Osamu Yamagala, Rigakushi, 



Assayers in the Imperial Mint at Osaka. 



Introduction. 



The experiments recorded in the following pages have for their 

 object the ätudy of the nature of segregation of silver in the one yen 

 coin, and of the mode of taking portions for assay from the coin in 

 such a manner thai portion o taken shall represenl the exact com- 

 position of the whole piece. 



The subject is of considerable importance in the technical opera- 

 tions of the mint, and also with regard to the provisions of the law 

 which governs the issue of national coinage. 



It is comparatively easy to determine with exact ness the average 

 fineness of a mass of silver coins, for they may be melted together in 

 a crucible, and a small portion dipped out of the melted mass after a 

 thorough stirring may then be granulated in wafer. The granules 

 thus obtained will exactly represent the average composition of the 

 mass, provided that the coins have been melted in sufficient quantity 

 and with certain precautions in order to prevent oxidation in the 

 process of fusion. 



