_Twenty-Cent Piece._
Authorized to be coined, Act of March 3, 1875. Weight, 5 grammes, or
77.16 grains; fineness, 900. Coinage discontinued, Act of May 2, 1878.
1875 to 1878, inclusive. Obverse: Same type as the dollar of 1840.
Reverse: An eagle with displayed wings, three arrows, and an olive
branch, two of the leaves of which nearest the stem, together with those
drooping from the centre, overlap; the terminating leaves on the end of
the branch, however, do not. On each side a star. Plain edge. “UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.” “TWENTY CENTS.” Size, 14.
_Dime._
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 41.6 grains;
fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 41¼ grains.
Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed, Act of
February 21, 1853, to 38.4 grains. Weight changed, Act of February 12,
1873, to 2½ grammes, or 38.58 grains.
1796. Same type as the No. 2 dollar of 1795; size 13; fifteen stars.
1797. No. 1. Same, with sixteen stars on the obverse. No. 2. Same, with
thirteen stars on the obverse.
1798. No. 1. Same type as No. 3 dollar of 1798, with sixteen stars. No.
2. With thirteen stars on the obverse.
1799. None issued.
1800 to 1805, inclusive. Same as No. 3 of 1798.
1806. None issued.
1807. Same as No. 2 of 1798.
1808. None issued.
1809. Same type as No. 2 half-dollar of 1807; size, 12.
1810. None issued.
1811. Same as 1809.
1812 to 1813, inclusive. None issued.
1814. Same as 1809.
1815 to 1819, inclusive. None issued.
1820 to 1825, inclusive. Same as 1809.
1826. None issued.
1827 to 1836, inclusive. Same as 1809.
1837. No. 1. Same as 1809. No. 2. Obverse: Liberty seated. No stars.
Reverse: “ONE DIME” within a wreath of laurel. “UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.” Size, 11.
1838. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1837. No. 2. Same, with thirteen stars.
1839 to 1852, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1838.
1853. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with an arrow head on each side of the
date.
1854 and 1855. Same as No. 2 of 1853.
1856 to 1859, inclusive. Same, without arrow heads.
1860 to 1872, inclusive. Obverse: Same, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”
instead of stars.
Reverse: “ONE DIME” within a wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco.
1873. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with an arrow head on each side of the
date.
1874. Same as No. 2 of 1873.
1875. Same, without arrow heads.
_Half Dime._
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 20.8 grains;
fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 20⅝ grains.
Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed, Act of
February 21, 1853, to 19.2 grains. Coinage discontinued, Act of February
12, 1873.
1794 and 1795. Same type as the half dollar; size, 10.
1796. Same type as No. 2 dollar of 1795; fifteen stars.
1797. No. 1. Same, with fifteen stars. No. 2. Same, with sixteen stars.
No. 3. Same, with thirteen stars.
1798 and 1799. None issued.
1800 to 1803, inclusive. Same type as No. 3 dollar of 1798.
1804. None issued.
1805. Same as 1800.
1806 to 1828, inclusive. None issued.
1829 to 1873. See dime.
_Three Cent Piece._
Authorized to be coined, Act of March 3, 1851. Weight, 12⅜ grains;
fineness, 750. Weight changed, Act of March 3, 1853, to 11.52 grains.
Fineness changed, Act of March 3, 1853, to 900. Coinage discontinued, Act
of February 12, 1873.
1851 to 1853, inclusive. Obverse: A star bearing the United States
shield. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
Reverse: An ornamented “C,” within which is the denomination “III,”
around the border, thirteen stars; size, 9.
1854 to 1858. Obverse: Same, with two lines around the star.
Reverse: An olive branch above the “III,” and three arrows below, all
within the “C.”
1858 to 1873, inclusive. Same, with one line around the star.
MINOR COINS.
_Five cent piece. (Nickle.)_
Authorized to be coined, Act of May 16, 1866. Weight, 77.16 grains;
composed of 75 per cent. copper, and 25 per cent. nickle.
1866. Obverse: A United States shield surmounted by a cross, an olive
branch pendent at each side, back of the base of the shield are two
arrows, the heads and feathers are only visible; beneath, “1866;” above,
in the field, “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
Reverse: “5” within a circle of thirteen stars, and rays, “UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.” Size, 13.
1867. Same. No. 2. Same, without the rays.
1868. Same as No. 2 of 1867.
1869 to 1882. Same as No. 2 of 1867.
1883. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Obverse: Liberty head wearing a coronet which
is inscribed “LIBERTY,” thirteen stars, and date, “1883.”
Reverse: A “V” within a wreath of corn and cotton. Legend, “UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.” Exergue, “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” No. 3, Obverse: Same as No. 2.
Reverse: Same, with “CENTS” as the exergue, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” above
the wreath.
1884. Same as No. 3 of the preceding.
_Three cent piece. (Nickle.)_
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 3, 1865. Weight, 30 grains;
composed of 75 per cent. copper, and 25 per cent. nickle.
1865. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, hair bound by a ribbon, on the
forehead a coronet inscribed “LIBERTY;” beneath, the date, “UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.”
Reverse: “III” within a laurel wreath.
_Two Cent Piece (bronze)._
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 22, 1864. Weight, 96 grains,
composed of ninety-five per cent. copper and five per cent. of tin and
zinc. Coinage discontinued, Act of February 12, 1873.
1864 to 1873, inclusive. Obverse: The United States shield, behind which
are two arrows, crossed, on each side a branch of laurel; above, a scroll
inscribed “IN GOD WE TRUST”; beneath, the date.
Reverse: “2 CENTS” within a wreath of wheat. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
Size, 14.
_Cent (copper)._
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 22, 1792. Weight, 264 grains.
Weight changed, Act of January 14, 1793, to 208 grains. Weight changed
by proclamation of the President, January 26, 1796, in conformity with
an Act of March 3, 1795, to 168 grains. Coinage discontinued, Act of
February 21, 1857.
1793. No. 1. Obverse: Liberty head, facing right, flowing hair. Above,
“LIBERTY”: beneath, “1793.”
Reverse: A chain of fifteen links, within which is inscribed “ONE CENT”
and the fraction “⅟₁₀₀.” United States of America; reeded edge; size, 17.
No. 2. Same, with the abbreviation “AMERI.” in the Legend.
No. 3. Obverse: Same as No. 1, with a sprig beneath.
Reverse: “ONE CENT” within a wreath of laurel. “UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.” Reeded edge.
No. 4. Obverse: A bust of Liberty, facing right, with pole and liberty
cap. Above, “LIBERTY”; beneath, “1793.”
Reverse: Same as No. 3; on the edge, “ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR.” Size, 18.
1794 and 1795. Same as No. 4 of 1793.
1796. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with hair bound by a ribbon, and without
pole and liberty cap on the obverse. Plain edge.
1797 to 1807 inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1796.
1808 to 1814, inclusive. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, hair
confined by a band, inscribed “LIBERTY.” Thirteen stars and date.
Reverse: “ONE CENT,” within a laurel wreath. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
The fraction “⅟₁₀₀” is omitted.
1815. None issued.
1816. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, the hair is confined by a
roll, and tied by a cord, while the forehead is bedecked with a tiara,
inscribed “LIBERTY.”
Reverse: Same as 1808.
1817. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with fifteen stars.
1818 to 1836. Same as No. 1 of 1817.
1837. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with the hair tied by a string of beads
instead of a cord.
1838 to 1857, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1837.
_Cent (Nickle)._
Authorized to be coined, Act of February 21, 1857. Weight 72 grains;
composed of 88 per cent. copper and 12 per cent. nickle. Coinage
discontinued, Act of April 22, 1864.
1857 and 1858, Obverse: An eagle flying to the left. “UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.”
Reverse: “ONE CENT,” within a wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco.
Size, 11.
1859. Obverse: An Indian-head, facing left, bedecked with eagle plumes,
confined. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Beneath, the date.
Reverse: “ONE CENT.” within a wreath of laurel.
1860 to 1864, inclusive. Obverse: Same.
Reverse: “ONE CENT,” within an oak wreath and shield.
_Cent (Bronze)._
Coinage authorized, Act of April 22, 1857. Weight, 48 grains; composed of
95 per cent. copper and 5 per cent. of tin and zinc.
1864. Same type as nickle cent of 1860. Size, 12.
_Half Cent (Copper)._
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 132 grains. Weight
changed, Act of January 14, 1793, to 104 grains. Weight changed by
proclamation of the President, January 26, 1796, in conformity with Act
of March 3, 1795, to 84 grains. Coinage discontinued, Act of February 21,
1857.
1793. Same type as cent No. 4, 1793, with head facing left. On the edge,
“TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR.” Size, 14.
1794. Same type as the cent of 1794.
1795 to 1797, inclusive. Same, with plain edge.
1798 and 1799. None issued.
1800. Same type as No. 2 cent of 1796, with the fraction “⅟₂₀₀” on the
base of the reverse.
1801. None issued.
1802 to 1808, inclusive. Same as 1800. From 1808, the fraction “⅟₂₀₀”
omitted.
1809 to 1811, inclusive. Same type as cent of 1808.
1812 to 1824, inclusive. None issued.
1825 and 1826. Same type as cent of 1808.
1827. None issued.
1828. No. 1. Same type as cent 1808, with thirteen stars. No. 2. Same,
with twelve stars.
1829. Same, with thirteen stars.
1830. None issued.
1831 to 1836, inclusive. Same type as cent of 1808.
1837 to 1839, inclusive. None issued.
1840 to 1857, inclusive. Same type as No. 2 cent of 1837; size, 14.
THOMAS JEFFERSON,
an eminent American Statesman, and third President of the United States,
was born April 2, 1743, at Shadwell, Virginia, near the spot which
afterwards became his residence, with the name of Monticello. He was the
oldest son in a family of eight children. His father, Peter Jefferson,
was a man of great force of character and of extraordinary physical
strength. His mother, Jane Randolph, of Goochland, was descended from
an English family of great note and respectability. Young Jefferson
began his classical studies at the age of nine, and at seventeen he
entered an advance class at William and Mary College; on his way thither,
he formed the acquaintance of Patrick Henry, who was then a bankrupt
merchant, but who afterwards became the great orator of the Revolution.
At college, Jefferson was distinguished by his close application, and
devoted, it is said, from twelve to fifteen hours per day to study, and
we are told became well versed in Latin, Greek, Italian, French, and
Spanish, at the same time proficient in his mathematical studies. After
a few years course of law under Judge Wythe, he was admitted to the bar
in 1767. His success in the legal profession was remarkable; his fees
during the first year amounted to nearly three thousand dollars. In
1769, Jefferson commenced his public career as a member of the Virginia
House of Burgesses, in which he had while a student of law, listened to
Patrick Henry’s great speech on the Stamp Act. In 1773 he united with
Patrick Henry and other revolutionary patriots in devising the celebrated
committee of correspondence for disseminating intelligence between the
Colonies, of which Jefferson was one of the most active and influential
members. He was elected in 1774 to a convention to choose delegates to
the first Continental Congress at Philadelphia, and introduced at that
convention his famous “Summary view of the rights of British America.”
On the 21st of June, 1775, Jefferson took his seat in the Continental
Congress. His reputation as a Statesman and accomplished writer at once
placed him among the leaders of that renowned body. He served on the
most important committees, and among other papers drew up the reply of
Congress to the proposal of Lord North, and assisted in preparing in
behalf of the Colonies, a declaration of the cause of taking up arms
against the Mother Country. The rejection of a final petition to King
George, destroyed all hope of an honorable reconciliation with England.
Congress, early in 1776, appointed a committee to draw up a Declaration
of Independence, of which Jefferson was made Chairman; in this capacity
he drafted, at the request of the other members of the committee,
(Franklin, Adams, Sherman, and Livingston), and reported to Congress,
June 28, the great Charter of Freedom, known as the “Declaration of
American Independence,” which, on July 4, was unanimously adopted, and
signed by every member present, with a single exception. “The Declaration
of Independence,” says Edward Everett, “is equal to anything ever borne
on parchment, or expressed in the visible signs of thought.” “The heart
of Jefferson in writing it,” adds Bancroft, “and of Congress in adopting
it, _beat for all humanity_.” After resigning his seat in Congress,
Jefferson revised the laws of Virginia; among other reforms, he procured
the repeal of the laws of entail, the abolition of primogeniture, and
the restoration of the rights of conscience, a reform which he believed
would abolish “every fibre of ancient or future aristocracy;” he also
originated a complete system of elementary and collegiate education
for Virginia. In 1779, Jefferson succeeded Patrick Henry as Governor
of Virginia, and held the office during the most gloomy period of the
Revolution, and declined a re-election in 1781. In 1783, he returned to
Congress, and reported the treaty of peace, concluded at Paris, September
3, 1783, acknowledging the independence of the United States. He also
proposed and carried through Congress a bill establishing the present
Federal system of coinage, which took the place of the English pounds,
shillings, pence, etc., and also introduced measures for establishing a
Mint in Philadelphia, (the first public building built by the general
Government, still standing on Seventh street, east side, near Filbert).
In 1785, he succeeded Dr. Franklin as resident Minister at Paris. In
organizing the Government after the adoption of the Constitution, he
accepted the position of Secretary of State, tendered him by President
Washington during his first term. Jefferson was Vice-President of the
United States from 1797 to 1801, and President for the two consecutive
terms following. After participating in the inauguration of his friend
and successor, James Madison, Jefferson returned to Monticello, where
he passed the remainder of his life in directing the educational and
industrial institutions of his native State and entertaining his many
visitors and friends. His death occurred on the same day with that of
John Adams, July 4, 1826.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON,
Statesman, orator, and financier, born in the West Indian island of
Nevis, 11th of January, 1757. His father was a Scotch merchant, and his
mother was the daughter of a French Huguenot. He was educated at King’s
College, N. Y. When he was 18 years of age he surprised the people by his
public speeches and pamphlets in favor of American independence. He was
commissioned Captain of a Company of Artillery in March, 1776, and served
with distinction at the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Trenton,
and Princeton, and was appointed Aid-de-camp and Private Secretary to
General Washington in March, 1777, and gained his special favor and
confidence in planning campaigns and devising means to support the
army. In 1782 he was elected a member of the Continental Congress, and
Washington expressed the opinion that no one excelled him in probity and
sterling virtue. He was an active member of an anti-slavery party in New
York, and offered a resolution in 1784, that every member of that society
should liberate his own slaves. He was a delegate to the convention
which met in Philadelphia in May, 1787, to form a Federal Constitution
and to promote the Union of the States, and it appears was the principal
author of the movement. Hamilton was appointed Secretary of the Treasury
in 1789, at the time the nation was burdened with a heavy debt, almost
destitute of credit, and on the verge of bankruptcy. The results of his
financial policy were the restoration of public credit, protection to
American industry, and a rapid revival of trade and commerce. He resigned
his office to resume his practice of law, January 31, 1795. He declined
the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
previously tendered him. Washington testified his great esteem for
Hamilton by consulting him in the preparation of his Farewell Address, as
well as in many other acts of his noble career.
In 1804, Aaron Burr, presenting himself as a candidate for Governor
of New York, but Hamilton opposed his election expressing the opinion
that “Burr was a dangerous man and unfit to be trusted with power.”
The election of Gen. Lewis blasted the ambitious projects of Burr, who
insolently demanded an explanation of Hamilton, and finally challenged
him, Hamilton accepted the challenge, was mortally wounded at Weehawken,
and died July 12, 1804. His death was profoundly lamented throughout the
country.
NOTE.—His eldest son had been killed in a duel by a political adversary
about 1802. Mr. Hamilton was the principal author of the Federalist, and
the real father of our financial system. Immediately after adopting the
constitution, he strongly advocated the establishment of a Mint, so that
the New World would not be dependant on the Old for a circulating medium.
HON. JAMES PUTNAM KIMBALL,
PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OF ALL THE MINTS,
was born in Salem, Mass., April 26, 1836. After graduating at the High
School of his native town in 1854, he entered the Lawrence Scientific
School of Harvard University. In the summer of the following year he went
to Germany, and matriculated at the University of Frederick Wilhelm,
Berlin, in the Fall of the same year, and was graduated at the University
of George Augusta, at Gottingen, in the Autumn of 1857, with the degrees
of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. Upon his graduation he
entered upon a practical course in Mining and Metallurgy, at the Mining
School of Freiburg, in Saxony.
After making a tour of the Continent and England, he returned home
and engaged as the Assistant of Prof. J. D. Whitney, now of Harvard
University, in the State Geological Surveys of the States of Wisconsin
and Illinois, embracing the Upper Mississippi lead region. He continued
with Prof. Whitney during the survey, comprising the southeastern part of
Iowa.
On the establishment of the New York State Agricultural College at Ovid,
the foundation of which was subsequently merged with that of Cornell
University, Dr. Kimball was appointed to the Chair of Professor of
Chemistry and Economic Geology. Upon the appointment of the President
of the college, Gen. Patrick, as Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Dr.
Kimball became that officer’s Chief of Staff, with a commission from
the President of the United States, as Assistant Adjutant-General of
Volunteers, with the rank of Captain. This was in 1862. His first
service in the field was with the Army of the Rappahannock, under Gen.
McDowell. He took part in numerous engagements, notably, those of
Groveton, Manassas, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg,
Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. General Patrick having been assigned
to duty as Provost-Marshal of the Army of the Potomac, Capt. Kimball
accompanied him, and served on the General Staff of that army under
Generals McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, and Meade, successively.
When the army went into winter quarters, Capt. Kimball, whose health
had become impaired, resigned from the army, and settled in New York.
He resumed the practice of his profession as Mining Engineer and
Metallurgist. Upon his marriage, in 1874, he accepted an honorary
Professorship in Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa., removing from New
York to one of the houses in the beautiful park and grounds of that
institution, though retaining his office and business in New York City.
Dr. Kimball has been largely identified with the mineral development
of Bedford County, Pa., and at the time of his appointment as Director
of the Mints, was President of the Everett Iron Company, whose blast
furnace, built in 1883-84, is one of the largest and finest in this
country. As a scientist he is a contributor to various scientific
journals at home and abroad, and among others the _American Journal of
Science_, published at New Haven. Several of his papers have appeared
in the proceedings of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, of
which he has been Vice President. Dr. Kimball has traveled extensively
in the United States, Mexico, and the West Indies, in prosecuting his
professional practice, and as a man of scientific accomplishments and of
affairs, bears a deservedly high reputation.
Dr. Kimball comes of Revolutionary stock. His paternal great-grandfather,
William Russell, of Boston, was associated with the Sons of Liberty, and
the leaders in public affairs in the times that tried men’s souls. He was
present, disguised as an Indian, and assisted in the famous Tea Party in
Boston harbor on the memorable 16th of December, 1773. Later, Mr. Russell
was adjutant of the Massachusetts Artillery, raised for the defense of
Boston, and which served in the Rhode Island campaign of 1777-78. Still
later, while serving as Secretary to Commander John Manley, of the U. S.
war vessel Jason, Russell was captured by the British frigate Surprise,
and confined in Mill prison till June 24, 1782, when he was exchanged.
But so sturdy a patriot could not rest unemployed, and twenty days after
his liberation, found him again in the naval service. He was again made
prisoner by the British, in November following, and consigned to the
notorious British prison ship, Jersey, lying off New York.
An anecdote is related by Mr. James Kimball, father of the subject of
this sketch, in a memoir on the Tea Party in Boston harbor furnished
the Essex Institute Historical collections (1874), which illustrates
the temper of Mr. Russell as a patriot. Returning to his home after the
destruction of the tea, he took off his shoes, and carefully dusted them
over the fire; he then took the tea canister and emptied its contents.
Next morning he had printed on one side of the canister, “Coffee,” and on
the other, “No Tea.” This was the brief decree of banishment promulgated
by the Tea Destroyers, and the prohibited luxury disappeared from their
tables.
HON. JOHN JAY KNOX.
Late Comptroller of the Currency, now President of the National Bank of
the Republic, New York City, we are indebted to _The Financier, August,
1885_, for the following biographical sketch:
Hon. John Jay Knox was Comptroller or Deputy Comptroller of the National
currency for seventeen years. He was born in Oneida county, New York,
March 19, 1828. His ancestors were Scotch Irish, and came originally
from Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1759. He received his early
education at the Augusta Academy and the Watertown Classical Institute,
and was graduated from Hamilton College in the Class of 1849. Among those
in college with him were Senator Hawley of Connecticut, and Chas. Dudley
Warner. After leaving college he became teller in a bank at Vernon, of
which his father was President, at a salary of $300 a year, where he
remained from 1850 to 1852. He spent some time in the Burnet Bank at
Syracuse, and was afterwards cashier of the Susquehanna Valley Bank at
Binghampton. He and his brother, Henry M. Knox, established a banking
house at St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1857, shortly before that State was
admitted into the Union.
The first steamboat launched on the Red River of the North, establishing
a most important communication for the business interests of Minnesota,
was transported in the dead of winter across country on runners, from
Sauk Rapids to Breckenridge, and Mr. Knox was one of the few who paid the
expenses of the enterprise.