US Mints cleaning coins

islemangu

I read in an old coin mag that around the turn of the century, the mint(s)? had a coin cleaning program in place for circulated coinage because of the fear then of bacteria on them spreading diease. The mag just touched on it briefly and was wondering if really true? and if anyone here knowledgable on this could share some info.

ms70

Maybe they used steam back then?

cladking

I have some doubt that the mint ever cleaned circulated coin but it's hardly impossible.

There were several hotels in that era that cleaned coins with detergent and small steel shot.
Many women wore white gloves and would notice if the coins were dirty. There was at least
talk of the fed or mint cleaning them at one time but I never heard of such a program actually
being instituted.

islemangu

I found the old story. It mentioned that in the 1890s the "washing" of coins was an established practice and that by 1917 the mint was using coin washing machines specially designed to clean, dry and count specifically for silver denominations. It also said that the mint director FJH von Engelken invented the machines and that their purpose was to address the country's concerns then on germs being spread by dirty coins.

Maybe the next time your barber is body bagged for cleaning you can appeal that its "Mint" state.

magikbilly

1917...a response to the influenza? is that the right time period?

billy

JCH22

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jmlanzaf

@JCH22 said:
Mint did have a program for cleaning circulated coinage in the 1880's. It experimented with using potash, nitric acid, and other methods. Can post additional docs if anyone may want--didn't want to clutter thread if not.

You are worried about cluttering a 20 year old thread? Don't worry, I think they were finished talking about it. 😉

JCH22

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PerryHall

I read that the Treasury Department at one time used to wash US paper money. Banks would return currency that was no longer suitable for circulation to the Treasury for replacement with new bills. Many of these bills were heavily soiled but otherwise suitable for use in commerce so the Treasury would launder them using laundry soap and then return them to circulation. Perhaps one of the paper money collectors here can add some more details.

Sapyx

@JCH22 said:
oof.... did a search before I posted. Was researching the laundry at the mint and didn't want to post dup thread. Misread date of old thread as 2024. Should be a demerit button !

Extent of cleaning was not insignificant, but as you please, will not post further about it.

It's too late. It's been bumped, so you may as well run with it. It's your thread now.

Namvet69

Many years ago I saw the coin cleaning operation at the Francis Drake Hotel in SF.

Smudge

I have heard stories about people being concerned about Indian HE’s and QE’s due to germs growing in the incuse designs.

jmlanzaf

@JCH22 said:
oof.... did a search before I posted. Was researching the laundry at the mint and didn't want to post dup thread. Misread date of old thread as 2024. Should be a demerit button !

Extent of cleaning was not insignificant, but as you please, will not post further about it.

No one told you not to post. I told you that you don't need to worry about hijacking a zombie thread.

JCH22

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jmlanzaf

@JCH22 said:
Idea originated from Treasury Secretary Jordan ....

Treasury of the United States,
Washington,
June 4, 1885

Sir:

This office is frequently in receipt of communications complaining of the dirty and tarnished condition of our fractional silver coins, and in this connection it has occurred to me that a great improvement might be effected, either by washing, or by some other method, at no great risk or expense, and that quite a large portion of the opposition or dislike to handle silver coins might be obviated, and a considerable increase of the 50¢ and 25 coins put into circulation, if the same were bright and clean.

I shall be pleased, therefore, if you can suggest some practicable method for cleaning and brightening the coin and advise me at your convenience.

Very respectfully,
C.N. Jordan Treasurer U.S.

A. Loudon Snowden, Esq.
Superintendent Mint
U.S. Philadelphia, Pa.

Mint experiment with various methods of cleaning on thousands of coins in the late 1880s. Quite a few documents on that.

Included nikels, and also "pickling" of cents.
Receipe in case you might like to make your own pickled cents :

Practice was current as of 1894 , at least for type 3 Indian cents:

Stop me if I'm wrong, but those documents are referring to cleaning new coins coming out of the Mint. They still wash blanks before coining. The Minting facility is a dirty, greasy place.

Mr_Spud

So maybe some of those “washing machine” and “dryer” coins that all the newbies keep posting thinking they are rare mint errors really are mint made 🧐😉

JCH22

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Glen2022

IS THIS WHAT YOU CALL MONEY LAUNDERING?

jmlanzaf

@JCH22 said:

@jmlanzaf said:

Stop me if I'm wrong, but those documents are referring to cleaning new coins coming out of the Mint. They still wash blanks before coining. The Minting facility is a dirty, greasy place.

Blanks were routinely cleaned- correct. Documents mostly read--I think--nitric acid for that.

Docs I posted relate to cleaning of circulated coinage. Mint was experimenting with various methods in 1885 at the behest of Secretary Jordan. -Treasury ultimately got an appropriation for the transport back of circulated coinage the following year. Partial transcription of first doc I posted:

Treasury Department,
Bureau of the Mint,
Washington, D.C.,
August 7, 1886

Sir:
The Sundry Civil Appropriation Bill contains an item of five thousand dollars ($5000) for
the transportation of minor coins.

I am informed that it is the intention of the Treasurer to transfer from time to time to you
amounts of these coins to be cleaned and re-issued, upon orders received by you for the same in
sums of twenty dollars ($20) and multiples thereof as heretofore........
Very respectfully,
R.E. Preston
Acting Director of the Mint

I'm referring to the second two letters.
The top letter refers to coins "put into circulation" not pulled from circulation. And the second letter also doesn't indicate coins pulled from circulation, it is an internal menu between Treasury and the Mint about cleaning coins for "release". It's not 100% clear to me that these are circulated coins. They may be.

It is interesting.

291fifth

Many Shield Nickels were cleaned by the mint in the 1880s. Their heavy use in taverns probably contributed to their filthy appearance and there were a lot of taverns in that era. The temperance movement that eventually resulted in prohibition was fueled by a very serious drinking problem that existed during the 19th century.

BStrauss3

@PerryHall said:
I read that the Treasury Department at one time used to wash US paper money. Banks would return currency that was no longer suitable for circulation to the Treasury for replacement with new bills. Many of these bills were heavily soiled but otherwise suitable for use in commerce so the Treasury would launder them using laundry soap and then return them to circulation. Perhaps one of the paper money collectors here can add some more details.

Back when I was pushing for the Where's George comma club, I used to occasionally get really ratty straps of $1 from BofA.

I would wash them on delicate with a few drops of detergent, then iron them dry.

I occasionally get hits on those bills 10, 12 even 15 years later.

DocBenjamin

It is almost Halloween.

Post a song with "slab" in it.

https://youtu.be/u8uvLHnrqdU

CaptHenway

FWIW, in doing my research for my book on the 1922 cents I read a lot of the Denver Mint correspondence files from the early 1920's. Though Denver did receive large quantities of used coins when the Sub-Treasuries closed in 1920 and 1921, including over ten million used cents, there is no mention anywhere that any of the used coins were cleaned before being returned to circulation over the next few years.