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Philadelphia Mint advertises for workers – anyone interested ?

Of course one might need a time machine ...

..................image

Comments

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,287 ✭✭✭✭✭
    To replace some men who died of yellow fever, perhaps?
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,406 ✭✭✭✭✭
    sounds like back in them days they just wanted body parts.
  • DentuckDentuck Posts: 3,819 ✭✭✭


    << <i>sounds like back in them days they just wanted body parts. >>



    Yeah --- heads and livers!


  • JustacommemanJustacommeman Posts: 22,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

    Ulysses Everett McGill

    Walker Proof Digital Album
    Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 28,505 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I wonder how much pay was back then?
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,287 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

    Ulysses Everett McGill >>



    Oh, brother!
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,294 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>To replace some men who died of yellow fever, perhaps? >>



    I read somewhere that they shut the mint down during the annual yellow fever epidemic during the summer months when mosquitoes were most active.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • Dennis88Dennis88 Posts: 5,797 ✭✭✭
    I have to wonder how many smiths would actually read this...or was it a job that required years of schooling? I mean, if the people were illiterate, what use would such an advertisement have?
  • dengadenga Posts: 920 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I have to wonder how many smiths would actually read this...or was it a job that required years of schooling? I mean, if the people were illiterate, what use would such an advertisement have? >>



    In general the art of blacksmithing in 1798 was learned by working for an established smith. There were no
    schools for such skills. Illiteracy was not all that common in 1798 and the bulk of the citizenry could read and
    write.



  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,797 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have to wonder how many smiths...

    Do you mean fmiths? image

    Re: 1793, my daughter (9) and I are reading a book titled, Fever 1793, about a teenager experiencing the yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia in 1793. It is an especially interesting read for those that are in the position to read to a child or grandchild, and we are both learning a lot about what life was like in that place and era.
  • LongacreLongacre Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
    Just curious-- was the term "heads of families" a common term used in the day? Did it imply that they were only looking for "responsible" people?
    Always took candy from strangers
    Didn't wanna get me no trade
    Never want to be like papa
    Working for the boss every night and day
    --"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
  • epcjimi1epcjimi1 Posts: 3,489 ✭✭✭
    ...And you might be required to give "fecurity" or security as the case may be.

    I wonder what that is? Allowing to be searched?

    And how come all those old time print shops ran out of the letter 's' all the time? I've seen tons of old print where the letter 'f' and 's' are either interchanged or the printed material starts out with an 's' or two, but then the letter 'f' starts appearing.
  • dengadenga Posts: 920 ✭✭✭


    << <i>...And you might be required to give "fecurity" or security as the case may be.

    I wonder what that is? Allowing to be searched?

    And how come all those old time print shops ran out of the letter 's' all the time? I've seen tons of old print where the letter 'f' and 's' are either interchanged or the printed material starts out with an 's' or two, but then the letter 'f' starts appearing. >>



    Security means a bond, in case the person handled coins or bullion.

    The word "ftreet" does not have an "f" as a first letter but rather the so-called Long S where the bar
    does not go all the way through. The Long S was rarely used in this country after about 1804.
  • dengadenga Posts: 920 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Just curious-- was the term "heads of families" a common term used in the day? Did it imply that they were only looking for "responsible" people? >>



    The term "heads of families" is usually seen only with reference to census records. You are no doubt right,
    however, that the phrase was used here to find men likely to be more reliable.
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,782 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

    Ulysses Everett McGill >>



    Oh, brother! >>



    Where art thow?
    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,782 ✭✭✭✭
    I wonder what "reasonable wages" where in those days. Of course I'd be happy with just a few 18th century cents per day.
    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • MrHalfDimeMrHalfDime Posts: 3,440 ✭✭✭✭
    RYK:

    If the subject of the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793 interests you, you should locate a copy of "Bring Out Your Dead - the Great Plague of Yellow Fever in Philadelphia in 1793", by J. M. Powell; University of Pennsylvania Press, 1949. It is a comprehensive, detailed and gripping account of the Yellow Fever epidemic, taken primarily from newspaper stories of the day. It details the spread of the disease, the contemporary theories as to its cause and cure, including the role played by Dr. Benjamin Rush (signer of the Declaration of Independence), and the personal toll paid by fully one-third of Philadelphia's population at the time. This book should be on the 'must-read' list of any numismatist interested in the early Mint in Philadelphia.
    They that can give up essential Liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither Liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin
  • DBSTrader2DBSTrader2 Posts: 3,486 ✭✭✭✭
    "<< ...And you might be required to give "fecurity" or security as the case may be.
    I wonder what that is? Allowing to be searched?
    And how come all those old time print shops ran out of the letter 's' all the time? I've seen tons of old print where the letter 'f' and 's' are either interchanged or the printed material starts out with an 's' or two, but then the letter 'f' starts appearing. >>

    Security means a bond, in case the person handled coins or bullion.

    The word "ftreet" does not have an "f" as a first letter but rather the so-called Long S where the bar
    does not go all the way through. The Long S was rarely used in this country after about 1804."




    I can't help but marvelling at the good luck we all have to be living in this age with the above issue all sorted out............... after all, if not, I doubt we'd be able to give out any "YOU SUCK!" awards!!! imageimageimage


    - - Daveimage
  • pmacpmac Posts: 3,189 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I wonder how much pay was back then? >>


    Pay wasn't much, but smuggling the errors out is very profitable.image
    Paul

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