Minting of the first CC dollars...Feb 4th, 1870.........Just for reference... $10 gold..Feb 14th

AUandAG

It's long been thought that the first dollars were struck and delivered on Feb 11,1870. Here is a page from the Carson City Appeal newspaper that is dated Feb 6, 1870 (Sunday). Clearly says that the new dollars have made their way into circulation. Does not state the date but since it is a Sunday it most likely was Feb 5th or before. $10 gold on Feb 14th.
bob
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84022040/1870-02-06/ed-1/seq-1/

Namvet69

Looks like Lois Lane got a scoop. Great Ceasers ghost!

mustangmanbob

I like the good to jingle part.

Somewhere, a collector is cringing.

kaz

"very good to jingle, and powerful good for sore eyes."
I like that!
thanks Bob!

RogerB

Interesting that the paper claims they are the "...only silver dollars that have been minted for several years." Mint was closed on Sunday the 5th, and operated a 1/2-day on the 4th. For coins to be in circulation that narrows production to the 3rd or before.

RogerB

Something seems odd. Here is a letter from Feb 4, 1870 stating that the fiduciary bond of the Carson Mint M&R, Jacob Ringwalt, was being sent for completion ("...form of bond to be completed"). The M&R could not legally have made any coinage ingots - or in fact done any work - without the bond having been secured.

However, a letter from Pollock dated December 8, 1869 says that the Assayer, Frank Hetrick, should be authorized to act as M&R until someone qualifies. Presumably that explains why dollar ingots were available.

Unfortunately, I do not have a document with the date of first dollar delivery at the Carson Mint.

AUandAG

Col. Abe Curry was antsy and itching to mint coins. He wanted to do so in 1869 and the dies did not get there in time to do so and he returned them. Mr. Hetrick was authorized, as you say, and when the 1870 dies arrived it was off and running. Any day prior to Sunday is fair game in my book. Maybe someday I'll find reference to the actual day. I just know that the history books are wrong when they say it was Feb 11th. There is a story that a Mrs. Wright, who had deposited silver ore some time previous, was paid in 2,304 (?) silver dollars on Feb 11th and took them to the bank.
Well, funny how stories change over the years. What actually happened is that Mr. Wright was seen walking down the street with a bucket of new dollars, accompanied by Col. Curry, on his way to the bank. This was on

wait for it.....

February 11th. lol, the truth got stretched a bit or memories faded by the time books about CC coinage got written.
Mr. Wright became Mrs. Wright. A new bucket of dollars became the "first day coined" on Feb 11th.

There were many newspapers in Carson during this period. Hard to get my hands on them to read and they are not online (that I can find). Research is slow. One of my Northern friends said that our research library here in Las Vegas has a good archive of Carson papers but he doesn't know how far back they go. I've not been there yet but will as time allows. They are all on microfiche and that actually makes it more difficult.....ugh.

bob

Coinosaurus

Some time ago my local library was able to borrow Carson City papers from 1870 on microfilm. Where they got them from I have no recollection.

KeithMS70

I love this kind of stuff. Thanks for sharing

jtlee321

This sort of glimpse into the past is so fascinating. I loved the comment and the end "They are worth just eight cents more than two silver half dollars".

AlexinPA

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

ricko

The comment "They are worth just eight cents more than two silver half dollars." seems to indicate that there was more silver content in the dollar coin than the combined silver of two halves. I wonder if that fact carried over to commercial exchanges. Cheers, RickO

mustangmanbob

@AUandAG said:
There is a story that a Mrs. Wright, who had deposited silver ore some time previous, was paid in 2,304 (?) silver dollars on Feb 11th and took them to the bank.

@ricko said:
The comment "They are worth just eight cents more than two silver half dollars." seems to indicate that there was more silver content in the dollar coin than the combined silver of two halves.

So, trying to visualize this scene: 2304 silver dollars in a bucket? About 150 pounds ? Strong bucket, and don't messed around with Mrs. Wright

2) If Mrs. Wright traded in bullion, got 2304 silver dollars, could she have gotten $2488 instead in 1/2 dollars, due to the silver difference, or how did that work?

RogerB

This is the earliest Carson Mint coinage report I've located so far. Previous ones should have been made and might exist.

AUandAG

Neat letter..

thanks,
bob

AUandAG

@RogerB Well, here it is. February 4th, 1870 was the day they were minted. Below is an excerpt from the daily diary of Alf Doten who was a reporter for several newspapers in Virginia City and Gold Hill. He kept a personal diary for over 53 years which is now in the Nevada archives in Reno at the University. Here, below, is his entry from Sunday February 13th, 1870 denoting his trip to Carson City and tour of the new Mint with Col. Abe Curry.
bob

kaz

Dinner in the prison, with Rattlesnake Dick and Bob Ded-man nearby... a soak in the natural hot tub, and the Gov playing banjo! Darn, I miss the old days!

RogerB

Excellent!

Now. Write a short article for The Numismatist or other hobby publication. You have the ability to correct many years of error and misunderstanding.

Also -- anyone else notice use of the word "bully" in a manner similar to TR?

AUandAG

Will do Roger.

bob

chesterb

Now if we can only figure out how much Mr. Hilger got for that cow and all those choice chickens!