The construction of this edifice was suggested by M. LAVERDY,
Minister of State, and executed under the direction of M. ANTOINE,
architect. I do not recollect any building of the kind in Europe that
can be compared to it, since it far surpasses the _Zecca_ at Venice.
The Abbé Terray (whose name will not be readily forgotten by the
State-annuitants of his time, and for whom Voltaire, as one, said
that he preserved his only tooth) when Comptroller-general of the
Finances, laid the first stone of the _Hôtél de la Monnaie_, in April
1771.
An avant-corps, decorated with six Ionic pillars, and supported by
two wings, from the division of the façade, which is three hundred
and thirty-six feet in breadth by eighty-four in elevation. It is
distributed into two stories above the ground-floor. Perpendicularly
to the six pillars, rise six statues, representing Peace, Commerce,
Prudence, Law, Strength, and Plenty.
In this avant-corps are three arches, the centre one of which is the
principal entrance of the building. The vestibule is decorated with
twenty-four fluted Doric pillars, and on the right hand, is a
stair-case, leading to the apartments intended for the use of the
officers belonging to the Mint, and in which they hold their
meetings. This stair-case is lighted by a dome supported by sixteen
fluted pillars of the Ionic order.
The whole building contains six courts: the principal court is one
hundred and ten feet in depth by ninety-two in breadth. All round it
are covered galleries, terminated by a circular wall alternately
pierced with arches and gates.
The entrance of the hall for the money-presses is ornamented by four
Doric pillars. This hall is sixty-two feet long by about forty broad,
and contains nine money-presses. Above it is the hall of the sizers
or persons who prepare the blank pieces for stamping. Next come the
flatting-mills. Here, in a word, are all the apartments necessary for
the different operations, and aptly arranged for the labours of
coinage.
In the principal apartment of the avant-corps of the _Hôtel de la
Monnaie_, towards the _Quai de Conti_, is the cabinet known in Paris
by the name of the