Something for fantastic fanatic fans of Feuchtwanger.
RogerB
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A couple of letters relating to dentist Lewis Feuchtwanger and the patented alloy he was trying to sell to the government.
“New York,
April 18, 1837
Dr. Robert Patterson,
Director of the U.S. Mint,
Philadelphia
Dear Sir,
As I have devised a new dye [sic] for the purpose of exhibiting the issued general form of a one cent piece made of my German Silver composition, specimens of which I had the honor to lay before you a month ago, and as I perceived from the conversation I had with you and the other members of the Mint, that my proposition for substituting for copper coins of the U.S. by my own coins found at such a rate that will keep the same within its intrinsic value was approved of by you, I therefore take the present liberty of inquiring, whether you will allow me to have my new coins, representing one cent pieces, milled at the Mint, in order to improve their external appearance.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Lewis Feuchtwanger”
Answered the next day by Director Patterson
“Mint of the United States
April 19, 1837
Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger
[New York]
Dear Sir,
I have informed the request made in your letter of yesterday to our Chief Coiner, who regrets to be obliged to state that the machinery of the Mint is so entirely occupied at present that he cannot undertake the milling of your new pieces. Indeed, by striking them in a close collar this process will be rendered wholly unnecessary.
We should be glad to see your specimens, when coined.
Respectfully
R.M. P., Director”
That's all for a while.
Comments
Good stuff.
Very timely post since I acquired a Feuchtwanger Cent on Saturday.
Joseph J. Singleton - First Superintendent of the U.S. Branch Mint in Dahlonega Georgia
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Ambro used to be...
Always liked his pieces, but never owned any.
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Thanks for the info, I absolutely love his story and coinage. Here is my example (now CAC).
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Quite a string of "F" words there. Thanks for sharing.
Amazing history in those two letters!
Very nice token CoinCast!
My homage to Feuchtwanger
Mine
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Great coins, great alliteration too.
Intereseting history of Feuchtwanger cents. I had always thought that Feuchtwanger's were pre-US Mint. Given that his proposal was 1837, why was a silver composition proposed by Feuchtwanger even be considered?
RE: "...why was a silver composition proposed by Feuchtwanger even be considered?"
The Treasury and Mint recognized that copper cents and half cents were cumbersome and inconvenient, but they were stuck to the idea that they had to contain considerable intrinsic value. Feuchtwanger's German silver suggestion was appealing because the coin could contain enough nickel to bring raise the intrinsic value to near face. The Mint also recognized that Feuchtwanger's alloy was tertiary and not binary which would increase cost of manufacture. Further, German silver is a generic alloy with no fixed percentage of metals, thus, if it were adopted for coinage, there wold be not need to pay Feuchtwanger to use his alloy. ["German silver" - aka 'nickel silver' 'argentan' etc. - it contains copper, nickel and zinc but not silver.]
When time is available, I'll compile all of the correspondence relating to Feuchtwanger's composition, and publish it.
An interesting read, look forward to seeing more material. Thanks Roger!
Love the 1 and 3 c. pieces posted so far.
Wow, that coin is technically better than mine for sure, the strike is just perfect and no planchet lines. Only on the PCGS Board could you find two of the four CAC MS 66 examples! Awesome coin Cardinal, probably the best example known.
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