68 United States Coinage. [August, 



diura. Compared with other metals, it is rare. It is malleable 

 and ductile, and also is unaffected by most of the common agents 

 around us. So it answers all the purposes required in money.* 

 It has a clear white color. Its specific gravity is 10.5; 15| or 

 16 ounces equal in value 1 ounce of gold. 



Silver is found in rocks in a state of purity. The region of 

 Lake Superior furnishes it in this condition, where it is found in 

 plates, threads and masses of considerable size, in igneous rocks. 

 It is also alloyed with the native copper which is so abundant 

 here. A large supply of silver, however, is derived from the sul- 

 phuret intermixed with the sulphuret of lead — other ores of lead 

 contain silver. 



By the improved methods of working the ores of lead, it is 

 found that when a ton of lead ore contains 3 ounces, it will pay 

 the expense of extraction. This proportion is only about one part 

 in ten thousand. Cornwall, in England, in 1835, furnished 36,- 

 000 ounces of silver from its ores. Silver requires to be alloyed, 

 also, in order to increase its hardness. The law of Congress regu- 

 lates this matter. The metal for the alloy is always copper. The 

 dollar and its legalized parts must be 900 thousandths fine, and must 

 weigh 412| grains, and it is allowed to deviate from this stan- 

 dard from 897 to 903. This standard, then, makes it nine-tenths 

 fine, in which particular it conforms to the standard previously 

 adopted by France. This is a convenient proportion, as it is 

 easily remembered, and answers the purposes for which the alloy 

 is made. 



Both gold and silver are extensively used in the arts and for 

 domestic purposes. In the latter case it is called ^j/a^e. The 

 English plate possesses the same degree of fineness as its coin. 

 Hence the wrought silver or plate is 925 thousandths fine. All 

 those articles of English manufacture which are of sufficient size 

 and thickness, are stamped with a lion and the initials of the ma- 

 ker's name. Gold and silver, when cast, or put in the form of large 

 bars, is called bullion. When in small bars, they are called ingots. 



For personal ornaments and trinkets, Great Britain has a pre- 

 scribed standard. Thus it is necessary that such articles should 

 be 22 and 18 carats fine; or 916-7 and 750 thousandths. Eigh- 

 teen carats fine is the usual standard for French articles. But 

 there is a great variation from the above. The amount of alloy 

 which may be admitted into use is not determined. For orna- 

 mental articles which are not to be handled much, 14 carats will 

 answer; but for jewelry, which is exposed to wear, it is considered 

 that gold ought to be 18 carats fine, certainly not less than 16. 



• By money is generally understood that medium of exchanse which mea- 

 sures the value of all other commodities, and which also regulates their price 

 or value. 



