1847.] U7nted States Coinage. 69 



Jewelry undergoes a great loss on melting. This is owing to 

 the collection of dirt in cavities, or in the outside work. The 

 inside is also filled with solder, and in melting all this matter is 

 consumed. There is usually a loss of from 4 to 16 per cent. 



It is pioper to notice the fact that platinum has been coined by 

 the Emperor Nicholas in pieces of the value of three, six and 

 twelve roubles. This coinage, however, has been discontinued, 

 although platinum possesses most of the properties of a precious 

 metal. Still, it requires so much heat to fuse it, even that of a 

 furnace is not sufficient, that it renders it an inconvenient coin 

 to the maker. It is a metal extremely valuable in the arts, and is 

 found in Brazil, Colombia, St. Domingo, and Russia. The latter 

 country furnishes by far the greatest quantity. 



The specific gravity of platinum is 21. The price of platinum 

 is fluctuating, and at the present time is very high. In 1830 the 

 equivalent value of platinum in gold and silver was established as 

 follows: A gold rouble weighed 18.5 grains, a platinum rouble 

 53.16 grains, and a silver rouble 277.4 grains; consequently pla- 

 tinum is worth 5| times more than silver, and gold is worth 3 

 times as much as platinum. These relative values have, however, 

 changed in consequence of the great demand for platinum in the 

 arts, and especially in the construction of batteries for telegraphic 

 lines. 



Russia has not been followed in coining platinum by any of the 

 nations. In fact, the uses for platinum in the arts and its scarcity 

 will ever prevent this metal from being used in coinage. Its price 

 must fluctuate considerably, and hence the difficulty of preserving 

 it in a constant and steady circulation. In one or two respects it 

 possesses advantages over gold; it is hard and requires no alloy; 

 it is heavy, and therefore would be counterfeited rarely. For a 

 coin of a small denomination, it might perhaps be employed to 

 advantage. 



The processes pursued in coining at the mint of the United 

 States are somewhat numerous and complicated. This arises in 

 part from the condition in which the metals come to the mint. In 

 many instances it is amalgamated or dissolved in quicksilver, all 

 the superfluous mercury being pressed out. In most instances it 

 is an alloy, varying greatly in fineness and quality. Whatever 

 form or condition it may be in, it is the duty of an assay er to de- 

 termine both the nature of the alloy and the proportions in which 

 the combination exists. When the metals are refined and brought 

 to the proper standard, it is cast into ingots of a suitable form, a 

 process which will depend upon the size of the coin to be made. 

 These must be approved and annealed by heating to redness and 



Note. — The Russian pound is nearly equivalent to 6319.4 Troy grains, or 

 according to Baron Humboldt, 6312.6 Troy grains. 



