66 United States Coinage. [August, 



to us was quite inconclusive; particularly that part of it which 

 related to the method which was frequently pursued in the deter- 

 mination of the character of the coin itself. An important wit- 

 ness, for example, stated that on trial with nitric acid, a green 

 solution was produced. This fact, though an important one when 

 thus stated, yet without its proper explanation, leaves the question 

 as it regards the character of the coin, in an unsettled state; for 

 it is well known that the true coin also gives a green solution 

 with nitric acid. 



Now, there is no principle better settled in this country, than 

 this, that the rights of the accused should be protected, however 

 dark his character may appear, and that his conviction should be 

 established on grounds which upon the whole evidence, scarcely 

 admit of doubt. Hence it should be proved that the coin is in the 

 first place a counterfeit, and as this fact may be freed from all 

 doubt, if proper measures are taken, the guilt of the accused should 

 never be declared so long as the experiments only of an uncertain 

 kind may have been employed. 



The subject may be considered under two heads. 1. The 

 character of the legal coin as it is manufactured under the au- 

 thority of Congress.* 2. The character of spurious coin, and the 

 means by which it may be -letected. 



1. The metals which are suitable for a currency, and fit to be- 

 come the money of any country, are gold, silver and copper. The 

 two first only claim our attention in this article. 



Gold and silver, of all the metals known, are the only ones 

 which in all respects fulfil the requirements demanded in a circu- 

 lating medium. These requirements are, that they shall remain 

 unaffected by the ordinary chemical agents; that they shall be 

 malleable, and that in themselves they shall possess a high intrin- 

 sic value. Beauty is not an indifferent character; and in this 

 respect gold and silver are of higher esteem than all the other 

 metals. 



Gold as found in the earth or in mines. — Gold is found in the 

 sandy rivers in the form of grains, and in small masses. These 

 grains are probably derived from a decomposing rock, which con- 

 tains sulphuret of iron, in which it is mechanically mixed, and 

 which, when it falls to pieces, the gold becomes disseminated with 

 the earth. So also, gold is found m fine grains and irregular masses 

 in quartz belonging to the talcose slates of the primary system. 

 The particles are often so fine as to be invisible. Gold is found 

 in several of the southern states in both conditions. It is called 

 native gold, and is often nearly pure, or free from mixture with 



• We have derived much valuable information upon the siihject under con- 

 sideration, from a wori< eniilled " A manual of sold and silver coins of all 

 nations," etc., by Jacob II. Eckfelt and Wm. E. JDuBois. 1843. 



