DATE: July 18, 1829

TOWN: Baltimore

SOURCE: Niles' Weekly Register

MINT OF THE UNITED STATES

The foundation stone of the edifice about to be erected, under the provisions of the law for extending the mint establishment, according to a plan thereof approved by the president, was laid, on the morning of the 4th of July, at 6 o'clock, in the presence of the officers of the mint, and a number of the distinguished citizens.

Within the stone was deposited a package, securely enveloped, containing the newspapers of the day, a copy of the Declaration of Independence, of the constitution of the United States, and the farewell address of general Washington; also, specimens of the national coins, including one of the very few executed in the year 1792, and a half dime coined on the morning of the 4th, being the first of a new emission of that coin, of which denomination none have been issued since the year 1805.

Within the package was also enclosed a scroll with the following inscription:

"Mint of the United States"

"This institution was originally established by act of congress, April 2d, A.D. 1792, gen. George Washington being president of the United States, and the following fifteen states members of the union, viz:--New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky."

"The operations of coinage commenced in the year 1792. The coinage effected from that period to the 1st of January, 1829, was as follows:

"Gold coins:--132,592 eagles; 1,344,350 half eagles; 39,239 quarter eagles--making 1,566,190 pieces of gold coin, amounting to $8,395,812.50.

"Silver coins:--1,439,517 dollars; 41,604,347 half dollars; 1,855,629 quarter dollars; 5,526,250 dimes; 265,543 half dimes--making 50,691,286 pieces of silver coin, amounting to $23,271,499.90.

"Copper coins:--50,882,042 cents; 6,138,513 half cents--making 57,020,555 pieces of copper coin, amounting to $539,512.98 1/2.

"An extension of the mint establishment was authorized by the act of congress, March 2d, 1827, John Quincy Adams being president of the United States, and the following twenty-four states members of the union, viz:--Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama.

"In fulfillment of the law for extending the mint established, this foundation stone of the edifice designed for that purpose, was laid on the 4th of July A. D. 1829.

[Then follows the names of the present president of the United States and heads of the departments, and of the present officers of the mint, and of the architect (Strickland), and builders.] 

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