A reminder of where U.S. silver coins went during the Civil War
RogerB
Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
The letter writer, William Weir, was instrumental in getting U.S. silver coins exported from Canada following the Civil War.
"August 5, 1869
Hon. James Pollock, Director
U.S. Mint
Philadelphia
Dear Sir,
Having been engaged for some time in exporting the surplus U.S. silver coin now in circulation here, I am desirous to ascertain whether the United States Mint continues to coin silver in such quantities as will be likely to keep the price of silver coin at about its present price as compared with gold. I had a letter from the late Secretary of the Treasury about nine months ago in which he informed me that very little silver was being coined, but since then I have seen quite a quantity of new half dollars pieces (1869) which have found their way here in spite of the prohibitory duty
Would you therefore be so good as to inform me to what extent silver is now being coined at the Mint (and if you can do so), to what market it is principally sent. I would also be glad to know if any person sending bar silver to the Mint, or silver direct from the mines can get it coined the same as gold, or whether the Government only coins what it requires to supply its wants.
I would also esteem it a great favor if you would state the exact gold value of the present silver coins of the United States.
I have the honor to be your
Obedient servant,
W[illiam] Weir, Banker
Montreal
Canada"
Comments
A quick look at mintages almost 2x as many 69's as 68's P mint. Hummmmm...
@RogerB....Why were so many silver coins in Canada?? What advantage was there to sending them North?? Cheers, RickO
American coins circulated in Canada then (1860's), also Canada did not have it's own half dollar until 1870.
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@RogerB these historical counts are such a treasure trove of insight and time will certainly relegate them to obscurity if it were not for the hard work of folks such as yourself to bring them back. Your efforts (past, present and future ) are
greatly appreciated, thank you.
Maybe someone here wants to save these things and then publish a book and make millions and buy all the MegaMillions tickets and become a billionaire and be elected president of some place and play a lot of golf and grab kitty cats and other fun stuff.....
Seriously, all the transcriptions and documents I've posted, and thousands more will be freely available through the Newman Numismatic Portal -- many already are through the efforts of several volunteers who have photographed and scanned file boxes and manuscript volumes.
Canada issued silver 5, 10 and 20 cent coins in 1858 but did not make mint additional pieces until 1870. There are a few assorted Newfy and New Brunswick 10-20 cent coins issued in the 1860’s, but nothing substantial.
Just speculating, but maybe Weir was getting ready for 1870 release of Canadian silver and wanted to make sure his bank didn’t get stuck with redeeming US silver at a loss or if new silver hitting the market from Western mines (US and Canada) upsetting the Gold/Silver ratio.