The First Classic Gold Coin Made at the U.S. Mint... Delivered to President Andrew Jackson
Ronyahski
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Here is an interesting synopsis of history that I have uncovered while doing research on Classic Gold coinage of 1834-1839. This is what happened to the first Classic Gold coins stamped at the U.S. Mint.
The minting of Classic Gold commenced on August 1, 1834 with the first strikes of the Half Eagle on the earliest day permitted under the Act of June 28, 1834.
On August 1, 1834 Mint Director Samuel Moore wrote from the Mint in Philadelphia to Secretary of the Treasury Levi Woodbury in Washington, D.C.:
I have the satisfaction of forwarding a few specimens of the new half Eagles, the coinage of which commenced at an early hour this morning.
Enclosed also, I ask leave to commit to your attention, a packet for the President, containing a specimen of the new coins, which, have the goodness to forward to his present residence.
Woodbury forwarded Moore's packet to President Jackson on August 2nd, including a cover letter which said,
I have the honour to inform you that the coinage of gold under the new ratio of gold to silver commenced at an early hour this day. Two half Eagles as specimens of this coinage are herewith enclosed, the execution of which I persuade myself will be approved
The packet containing the first Classic gold coins struck at the Mint found its way to President Andrew Jackson who, at the time, was on an extended stay at his Hermitage residence in Tennessee. President Jackson acknowledged the receipt of the two half eagles in a letter dated August 20, 1834 to Mint Treasurer William Findlay. The President also made his thoughts known on how important the new coinage was to his efforts to rid the country of the financial system spearheaded by the Second Bank. Here is only the first page of the four-page letter: 
To spare you, here is the transcription:
Hermitage, August 20, 1834
Dear Sir,
I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your very kind letter of the 1rst instant just received, enclosing me the first half Eagle coined at the mint in pursuance of the act of Congress of the 28th of June last, and which, through you, is presented by the chief coiner Adam Eckfeeldt Esqr for my acceptance. Assure Mr. Eckfeeldt that I receive this memento of his regard with much pleasure, and that I will treasure it up with others presented by my fellow citizens with your kind letter which shall be handed down for the benefit of the future historian, whose pen may be employed in recording the events of the present day - or as the opposition say, "the revolution.” It is a revolution from a destructive corrupting and demoralising paper system that makes the rich richer, and the poor poorer, to that of a metallic currency, which will give prosperity to our country, by giving to labour a fair and stable reward, and in keeping pauperism from our doors, and must be hailed by posterity, as a glorious revolution.
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Comments
Saw that years ago in a biography of Jackson. Immediately called the Hermitage and they have no gold coins in the collection.
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
“Stamped?”
Sorry. Pet peeve. Struck, coined, or minted would be preferable.
Sorry, get over it. That was the vernacular used at the time. The most prevalent terms in archival documents are coins "stamped", "coined", or "the coinage of gold." Coins were never "minted" and only on occasion were they "struck".
President Jackson's estate filings with lists of assets held in his estate did not include any gold coins. The Jackson family financial situation was not stable, especially during Jackson's retirement years until his death in 1845.
Nice piece of history.... and of course, mystery.... since no one knows what happened to the gold coin(s).... Cheers, RickO
I’m sure you’re right. It just sounds a little philatelic.
Cool bit of history. Ironic isn't it that he expresses a dislike for the paper system and now his portrait is there, front and center.
Pet peeve for me as well. Automatic turn off when I see it in the thread title.
There is a lot of "vernacular" used back then that we don't use today.
BTW, the document itself uses the words "coinage" and "coined" to describe how they were made.
Tough crowd. I changed the title to please the masses.
I've never been so happy......
In all seriousness, great post, and the sort of stuff that makes what we do interesting.
The original title didn't bother me. However, If a stamp isn't coined, I feel it's unfair that a coin can be stamped.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Very cool find. Thanks for sharing. Andrew Jackson is my favorite president. Can’t believe they are taking him off the $20 bill.
Except when it is counterstamped.
nice counter argument!
That's a great find. Congrats.
Nice letter and correlation with other materials !
I bet the gold coins are still sitting in that old Big Cheese Jackson had....