Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1892 — Paid in Skins. [ARTICLE]

Paid in Skins.

A. E. Anderson, of Arkansas, asks of th® Chicago Free-Trader: “Were coon-skins ever used as money In the United States? If so, where, and Were they a legal tender?’ The following act of the legislature of Franklin (now Tennessee) will answer fully the question which Mr. Anderson asks: “Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Franklin, and it Is hereby enacted by the authority of the same: “That from the Ist day of January, 1789, the salaries of the officers of the Commonwealth be as follows: “His excellenty, the Governor, per annum, 1,000 deer-skins. “His honor, the Chief Justice, per annum, 500 deer-skins. “The secretary to his excellency, the Governor, per annum, 500 raccoonskins. “The Treasurer of the State, 450 rac-coon-skins. “Each county clerk, 300 beaver-skins. “Clerk of the House of Commons, 200 raccoon-skins. “Members of the Assembly, per diem, three raccoon-skins. “Justices’ fees for signing a warrant, one muskrat-skin. “To the constable, for serving a warrant. one mink-skin. "Fnaatid into law on the 18th day of October, 1783, under the great seal of the State.”