1793 NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON THE NEW CENTS

 

To the EDITOR of the NATIONAL GAZETTE.

SIR,

I HAVE lately heard much respecting the CENTS of the United States, and have obtained some with difficulty, having called five times at the national bank, and found "no cents to day."

The value of these must increase in general estimation, when it is known that they cost the United States six pence a piece, calculating the salaries of the public and private officers engaged in their manufacture. However, there are many causes to which we may attribute their scarcity – Connoisseurs have been deputed from different antiquarian societies in Europe to collect all the varietys of coins issued by this flourishing country; and as it is necessary to give good impressions, the frequent breaking of the dies must be thus accounted for, and not attributed to the imperfect knowledge of the artists engaged in the work. Another cause of the coins being in demand, we have lately ascertained to arise from speculation for the French, who will at any price buy the head of Liberty engraved so freely and unconfined. It represents natural liberty, which is the most perfect – the face is consequently savage, the hair like wire, or strong Indian hair never combed, despising the easy wave of ringlets as too foppish for republicanism. A chain is on the reverse, shewing clearly that American liberty is the reverse of slavery. The smallness of the coin may be considered in more advantageous lights than one.

1st. It expends less copper, and consequently gives less encouragement to the miners of England, our political enemies.

2ndly. The coin is more portable, and will not necessitate us to call so soon for silver and gold coins;

And the workmanship is so exquisite that no tiro in engraving will ever think of issuing counterfeits, through the temptation of gaining by copper; for though the coins are so various that no person can find two alike, yet the same great masterly touches of the artist, have given them a stamp of originality, that can never be perfectly imitated; and we hear it is in contemplation to cut a die in diamond, which will never suffer injury; but if none can be found in our own mountains, the Regent lately presented by the French to the Emperor of the Turks, will be purchased by our Ambassador for the purpose.

I am, Sir, your most obedient,
And most humble servant!
A FREE MAN.

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