Crime at the San Francisco Mint - Iron Washers Substituted for Silver Dollars

WillieBoyd2

While searching for information on the mysterious Jack Penderboy who was awarded a San Francisco Samuel Bridge Medal in 1913 I found this unrelated article:

San Francisco Call, Saturday, Sept 27, 1913

U.S. Sleuths Seek Mint Thieves
McAdoo says coin was stolen
Iron Washers Substituted for Silver Dollars in Packages; Trusted Employee Suspected

Washington, Sept 27 - Robbery of the United States mint at San Francisco was admitted by treasury officials here today. How extensive the robbery may be is not known. So far the government's losses total $7.

This is believed due to the fact that the count of coin has been stopped pending instructions from Washington. The $7 were taken from stacked silver $1 pieces. The loss was discovered by a slight variation in weight of four stacks each supposed to contain 1,000 silver dollars. Pig Iron washers were substituted. Seals on these stacks were unbroken.

This leads directors of the mint to believe that the theft was perpetrated by a sleight of hand artist in the gang that sacked the coin.

Secret service operatives on the coast have been detailed to the case. No other assistance will be asked.

Refusing to affirm or deny the reports that iron washers have been substituted for thousands of dollars stored in the vaults of the San Francisco mint, Superintendent T. W. H. Shanahan of the local treasury department, and Dr. Frederick Dewey, special representative of the treasury department of Washington, today referred all inquiries regarding the alleged deficit, which is estimated at various sums ranging from $75,000 to $4,000, to Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo.

United States Silver Dollar 1880-S San Francisco
Not a pig iron washer.

CRHer700

Wow, someone was in the right place at the right time.

WillieBoyd2

From the Stockton Independent, November 21, 1913:

Mint Theft of Silver was only $22

Washington, Nov. 20 - An official count of all the silver dollars in the San Francisco mint has revealed that $22 were stolen, probably about 1880, according to a report made today.

Several months ago one of the bags of silver in the mint was found to contain iron washers. Every bag was opened and all the money was counted.

Jacques_Loungecoque

I can’t help but wonder if the Treasury would really tell the truth about the full amount taken if it was significant, to save face?

BLUEJAYWAY

@Jacques_Loungecoque said:
I can’t help but wonder if the Treasury would really tell the truth about the full amount taken if it was significant, to save face?

T-men always get their man or in this case washer.😀

johnny9434

It all comes out in the wash