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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Conder101, post: 7307940, member: 66&quot;]He also proposed supplying the mint with the metal as well.&nbsp; This document is from Sept 1, 1837, the last two comments were written on the back by the Director.</p><p><br /></p><p>CIRCULAR</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I submit for your consideration a specimen of a one cent piece made of American Composition, known by the name of German Silver, equivalent in value to One Cent in Copper, which I propose with the authority of Congress to substitute for the existing unclean and unhealthy Copper Currency by which a handsome current coin may be obtained answerable for the fractional parts of a dollar, and acceptable in the operations of trade and local purposes.&nbsp; If this “Silver Penny” as I wish to have it designated shall be approved by Congress as a substitute for the one Cent pieces, I shall in that case, propose to remunerate the Mint for any loss sustained by the United States by the withdrawal of the Copper Coin.&nbsp; I am ready to contract for the delivery at the Mint of any amount of the Composition which Congress may authorize to be coins.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Dr Lewis Feuchtwanger</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; New-York City</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>If F is willing to supply any amount of material ready for striking at the same ratio to copper that is to say at near a price as will allow the mint to have the same seigniorage.</p><p><br /></p><p>If F is also willing to redeem the copper cents at whatever may be their actual value in copper new and old. </p><p><br /></p><p>Later they were apparently considering it and they submitted a questions to an outside consultant about the material.&nbsp; I thought I had his reply but I haven&#039;t located it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mint U.S.</p><p>Dec 5th, 1837</p><p>Sir,</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A memorial has been presented to the Congress by Dr. Lewis Feuchwanger of New York in favor of the introduction of the combination called argentine or German Silver, as a substitute for copper, in the American Coins of a low denomination, and my opinion of the propriety of this matter has been officially asked.&nbsp; As I know that, [xxxxx] your general familiarity of chemistry, you have had opportunities of being particularly acquainted with the preparation and qualities of the German Silver, I take the liberty of asking information of you, as to the following points.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1st The German Silver is known to be a compound of Copper, Zinc, and Nickel.&nbsp; What are the proportions in which these metals usually enter?</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2nd Can these proportions be much [xxxxx] without the external character of the compound being appreciably altered?</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3rd Is the Nickel, which is the distinctive ingredient of the compound, a metal of which a consistent supply could be depended upon, or would an increased demand be likely to make it scarce and dear?</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 4th What are the sources from which it is usually obtained?</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 5th Is it subject to the [xxxxx of xxxxxxxx], and if so, of what kind?&nbsp; Are these such as to affect the ductility of the compound made with it?</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 6th Are there any other compounds with or without the presence of Nickel which resemble the German Silver in their external character, and which might be passed for it in coins without ready detection?</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 7th It is an additional quality of a compound used in coinage that means be at command for assaying it with readiness and exactness.&nbsp; Is this the case with the compound in question?</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I shall be thankful to receive any other information that you may possess upon this subject or any suggestions with regard to it that may be presented to your mind.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; R. M. Patterson Director[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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