Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1894 — Coins from Private Mints. [ARTICLE]

Coins from Private Mints.

The Constitution of the United States provides that no State shall coin money; but it seems that individuals might do so, up till about the time of the late civil war. Of course, it has always been against the law to counterfeit or imitate the coinage of the United States, and so, necessarily, a coin issued by a private mint would have to be so distinctive in shape or markings as to show that it was not intended to pass as Federal money. For this reason the 850 gold coins or tokens issued by several private mints in California during the flush times of the 50's were octagonal in shape. Gold coins were also issued by the Mormons of Utah at about the same time, and the same thing had been done by parties in Georgia and North Carolina. Probably the latest of those private mints was the one established in Denver in the early 60s. It is said that the coinage of this establishment being brought to the attention of Secretary Chase, that eminent financier was much astonished to find, a respectable firm of bankers engaged in making and uttering money, and was still further surpri ed when the Attorney General of the United States declared they had the right to do so. This incident caused the passage of a law absolutely prohibiting individuals from issuing or circulating anything intended in any manner to serve as money. —Washington Star.