Role of clerks in the pre-1950 mints

RogerB

A Mint clerk was not a "secretary" or minor administrative paper pusher.

A clerk was usually thought of as a low-level "officer" of the mint although not officially in that position. Mints had a hierarchy of laborers, workmen/ladies, foremen, clerks, officers. Any time bullion or coin was moved a clerk or other designated person supervised and observed the workmen who actually handled metal and trucks it was transported on. Each department had a "chief clerk" as well as a foreman of workers. The Superintendents each had a 'Chief Clerk" (by title) who was commonly the #2 person and became Acting Superintendent when necessary.

Clerks were sometime proficient in some special area of knowledge such as the "Computing Clerk" or "Calculator" who was adept at handling long columns of numbers. Many of the mint directors began as clerks - often after having attained a professional degree. Henry Linderman was a physician before becoming the director's clerk in the 1850s. The Snowdens were lawyers, etc. This was not considered a step-down. A clerk was actually the closest, most knowledgeable person to the officer under whom they served, and most likely to succeed to the office.

Hemispherical

Thanks @RogerB you answered my question before I posted it in your other thread.

For reference: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/12285068/#Comment_12285068

jabba

That’s cool I guess I always thought of them as the guy who had to drag all those $1000 bags of Morgan’s to the mint window in the early 60s

CaptHenway

Just like “Secretary” could be a stenographer or a Cabinet official.

RogerB

Here's a typical letter concerning the superintendent's clerk becoming Acting Superintendent.

[NARA Fort Worth TX. RG104 E-14 NO 7-5-78 4-23-79 courtesy NNP]