1030

Letter to J. M. Patton from Director of the U. S. Mint in Philadelphia

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Letter to J. M. Patton from Director of the U. S. Mint in Philadelphia
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2,700.00USDto e********v+ buyer's premium (675.00)
This item SOLD at 2018 Mar 15 @ 08:39UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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One page letter on Mint of the United States Stationary. Director of the Mint James Snowden acknowledges the admirable job that Patton had done the last seven years. (He had been replaced by a President Lincoln friend.) Also says will take him up on staying with Patton if he ever gets down that direction. Snowden goes on to heap praises on Patton for the job he did. Snowden signs the letter, "your friend and obedient servant". This is a must for any Dahlonega or Patton collector! Some rips at fold edges. Accompanied by a 1963 letter to Blaise F Dantone, the legendary owner of Peachtree Coin Shop about this 1860 letter.

J. M. Patton, the fifth superintendent of the mint, 1853-1860. Patton was removed from office by the newly elected President Lincoln, who appointed a friend (George Kellogg) in his stead. This letter, dated October 15, 1860 on US Mint stationery (Philadelphia), is written by US Mint superintendent James Ross Snowden to Patton, remarking on Patton’s kind letter to him and invitation to visit him at his home in Georgia. Patton had been removed by Lincoln. Snowden notes in the letter that he is happy to state that their “official vvv, which has existed for more than seven years (the length of Patton’s tenure), was never marred by anything unpleasant or disagreeable, on the contrary, it has been eminently harmonious and satisfactory.”

Patton brought a new level of professionalism to the Dahlonega Branch Mint. Patton found that the gold coins issued at the Branch Mint were too high in silver, and had uneven planchet weights. He discovered that the rolls used to make the planchets from the Georgia gold were worn out, and the thickness, and therefore the weight, varied upt o 3/16 of an inch, as noted by Head and Etheridge in The Neighborhood Mint. (2000). The high silver also caused the coins to wear far too quickly, which is quite obvious to collectors today. (Al Adams Gold Rush Memorabilia Collection) Date: 1860 Location: Marietta, Georgia HWAC# 57067