The Mint’s Reasons for Using a Cooper- Nickel Alloy for the Flying Eagle Cent
JCH22
Posts: 346 ✭✭✭✭
Below is a letter sent by the Mint to the Sec.. of The Treasury, and by him to the House. The Letter contains the Mint’s recommendations, for the composition of the Flying Eagle, and its rational.
My knowledge of Patterns is admittedly lacking. Not sure of the Judd number for the 50 pieces struck on half cent planchets which were referenced (J-179/180?).
The Mint of the United States,
Philadelphia, July 11, 1856.
Sir: In a former communication respecting an alteration of the cent coinage I took occasion to say that I had requested the melter and refiner to prosecute further experiments, with a view to the ascertainment of the most suitable alloy for that coinage. These experiments were not completed—chiefly because the mint was in a dismantled condition—when the bill relating to the coinage of cents was prepared, in the 5th section of which it was proposed to allow the proportion of metals in the new coin to be determined hereafter, in manner therein stated. Subsequently, the department and the Finance Committee of the Senate deemed it proper that the proportion of metals should be authoritatively fixed by law, whereupon the section was amended as the bill subsequently passed the Senate in which it is enacted that the proportion of other metals than copper shall not exceed five per cent.
Recent experiments have induced us to prefer an alloy in which the proportion of other metal than copper shall be greater than is above stated—namely, an admixture in which in every hundred parts of weight of metal there shall be eighty-eight of copper and twelve of nickel. This alloy seems to possess all the desirable characteristics for a cent piece. I have accordingly caused some specimens to be struck, fifty pieces of which I send you by Mr. Colmesnil, an agent of the department. To prevent expense and delay we have used the half-cent dies. The specimens will show that the mixture receives a good impression from the dies, and exhibits its color and general appearance.
It will be seen that, in its external character, it differs entirely from gold, silver, and copper, preserving the pure red tone of the latter, with the light color of nickel. The color is peculiar, and it is believed will be more acceptable than any of the gray-white or brassy mixtures, or that in which the copper more largely prevails; for it seems to be desired by the public that not only a smaller, cent than the one now in circulation should be struck, but that we should get rid of copper, on account of its liability to blacken and become foul.
The infusion of twelve per cent, of nickel—which is a metal of considerable value—elevates the character of the material, and, besides the advantages of color and general appearance, will enable us to make the cent of less weight, and, at the same time, preserve some just proportion between the intrinsic and the nominal value of the coin. The present legal cent weighs one hundred and sixty-eight grains ; the specimens I send you weigh about seventy-two grains, and I propose that as a proper weight. It gives a sufficient seigniorage, and is represented by a convenient decimal—namely, fifteen (15) hundredths of an ounce—which will afford a proper facility in the calculations of the mint—they being kept, as you are aware, in
troy ounce and decimals of the ounce.
The value of the metal, in rolled sheets, is fifty-four cents per pound; the piece to weigh seventy-two grains, (fifteen hundredths of an ounce,) the seigniorage, without estimating the cost of cutting and striking, would be eighty per cent. This is considerably less than the seigniorage on the pieces as proposed by the bill as it passed the Senate, but it is large enough to effect the re-coinage contemplated, and the withdrawal of the small Spanish coin and old cents, as is provided in other parts of the proposed law.
I cannot speak with certainty, in the absence of actual trials, of the effect of wear and keeping on the color of the metal ; but it will certainly tarnish less from keeping than the alloy which is proposed in the bill which passed the Senate, and far less than pure copper; and in the pocket it will probably maintain nearly the color which it now presents, becoming rather of a darker reddish hue. It cannot be easily imitated by the cheaper brass or bronze, as these have a decided yellow, instead of red, tone, and I know of no other alloy which can readily he substituted for it. To carry into effect the views herein presented it will he necessary to amend the Senate hill now pending in the House….
Comments
When congress actually cared about expenses.
Fascinating read, thanks for posting this.
https://www.autismforums.com/media/albums/acrylic-colors-by-rocco.291/
The factor that left out is the political one. Joseph Wharton, who ran nickel producing operation in near by Camden, New Jersey and who had clout in Congress, was pushing for the copper-nickel alloy.
As for changing color, they can look like this, which the original hue.
or like this.
And sometimes like this.
Yes….. I remember that smell., Roll searching back before Zincolns. Yuk
Very interesting numismatic history!
And I thought that they used copper-nickel so I needed 3 cent coins for a short time interval for my type set, a FE, an 1859, and an 1863 (my chosen post 59 date).
Bingo.