The need of a mint in
the Colonies was keenly felt to be a serious grievance against
England for years before the Revolution, and as soon as
practicable
after the establishment of Independence, the
United States Mint was authorized by an Act of Congress -
April 2, 1792.
A lot of ground was
purchased on Seventh Street near Arch, and appropriations were
made for erecting the requisite buildings. An old still-house,
which stood on the lot, had first to be removed. In an account
book of that time we find an entry on the 31st of July, 1792,
of the sale of some old materials of the still-house for seven
shillings and sixpence, which "Mr. Rittenhouse directed
should be laid out for punch in laying the foundation
stone."
The first building
erected in the United States for public use, under the
authority of the Federal Government, was a structure for the
United States Mint. This was a plain brick edifice, on the
east side of Seventh street, near Arch, the corner-stone of
which was laid by David Rittenhouse, Director of the Mint, on
July 31, 1792. In the following October operations of coining
commenced. It was occupied for about forty years. On the 19th
of May, 1829, an Act was passed by Congress locating the
United States Mint on its present site.
The first coinage of
the United States, was silver half-dimes in October, 1792, of
which Washington makes mention in his address to Congress, on
November 6, 1792, as follows: "There has been a small
beginning in the coinage of half-dimes; the want of small
coins in circulation, calling the first attention to
them." The first metal purchased for coinage was six
pounds of old copper at one shilling and three pence per
pound, which was coined and delivered to the Treasurer, in
1793. The first deposit of silver bullion was made on July 18,
1794, by the Bank of Maryland. It consisted of "coins of
France," amounting to $80,715.73 1/2. The first returns
of silver coins to the Treasurer, was made on October 15,
1794. The first deposit of gold bullion for coinage, was made
by Moses Brown, merchant, of Boston, on February 12, 1795; it
was of gold ingots, worth $2,276.72, which was paid for in
silver coins.
The first return of
gold coinage, was on July 31, 1795, and consisted of 744 half
eagles. The first delivery of eagles was in September 22, same
year, and consisted of four hundred pieces.
Previous to the
coinage of silver dollars, at the Philadelphia Mint, in 1794,
the following amusing incidents occurred in Congress, while
the emblems and devices proposed for the reverse field of that
coin were being discussed.
A member of the House
from the South bitterly opposed the choice of the eagle, on
the ground of its being the "king of birds," and
hence neither proper nor suitable to represent a nation whose
institutions and interests were wholly inimical to monarchical
forms of government. Judge Thatcher playfully, in reply,
suggested that perhaps a goose might suit the gentleman, as it
was a rather humble and republican bird, and would also be
serviceable in other respects, as the goslings would answer to
place upon the dimes. This answer created considerable
merriment, and the irate Southerner, conceiving the humorous
rejoinder as an insult, sent a challenge to the Judge, who
promptly declined it. The bearer, rather astonished, asked,
"Will you be branded as a coward?" "Certainly,
if he pleases," replied Thatcher; "I always was one
and he knew it, or he would never have risked a
challenge." The affair occasioned much mirth, and, in due
time, former existing cordial relations were restored between
the parties; the irritable Southerner concluding there was
nothing to be gained in fighting with one who fired nothing
but jokes.