Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

by Mr. E. B. Elliott, are copied from "Webster's Counting-house Dictionary."]

TABLE*

SHOWING, IN TERMS OF THE STANDARD GOLD COINAGE OF THE UNITED STATES, (1.) THE INTRINSIC VALUES OF THE PRINCIPAL GOLD AND SILVER COINS OF DIFFERENT FOREIGN COUNTRIES DUE TO THEIR LEGAL WEIGHT AND FINENESS.

AND

(2) THE INTRINSIC VALUES DUE TO THEIR ACTUAL AVERAGE WEIGHT AND FINENESS AS ASCERTAINED BY TRIAL AT MINTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF OTHER COUNTRIES: (8) THE RATES FIXED BY UNITED STATES LAW AT WHICH CERTAIN FOREIGN COINS OR CUR RENCY SHALL BE RECEIVED IN PAYMENT OF CUSTOMS DUES.

0.4126

0.40

Iu reducing the value of silver coins to the gold standard of the United States, the value of gold has been considered to be 15 times that of silver of the same weight and fineness-this rate being the average of those obtaining in the London market for the fourteen years, 1853-1866.

The values of silver coins derived from trials at the U. S. mint, as here given, are less by about 1.220 per cent. than the corresponding values published in the Official Tables; the latter values having been reduced to a gold basis on the assumption that the market price of gold is 15.1875 times that of silver, instead of 15% times, as here employed.

AUSTRIA.

GOLD.-New union crown (vereins-krone),

[blocks in formation]

Former silver, 2 gulden piece (prior to
1857), legal,
Former silver, 1 gulden of the 24% gulden
60 kreutzer (prior to 1857),

standard

legal,

Former silver, the same fixed by U. S.
law of 22d March, 1846,

BAVARIA. See GERMANY (South).

Half union crown,

Former 4 ducat piece (until 1865),

Former ducat (until 1865),

Former ducat by trial at U. S. mint,

Hungarian or Kremnitz ducat,.

Former sovereign (sovrano) used in Lom

bardy and Venice,

The same, by trial at U. S. mint,

Former zecchino (sequin). See VENICE,
ITALY.

SILVER.-New union (or vereins) thaler =

30

11⁄2 Austrian florin (containing of a münz-pfund of fine silver), since 1857, . New florin or gulden of 100 new kreutzer (and containing of a münz-pfund of

fine silver) about 57 of the old kreutzer, since 1877, Former conventions-florin or gulden — 60 conventions kreutzer (and containing of a Cologne mark of fine silver) prior to 1857,

Former conventions florin, by U. S. law 22d May, 1846,

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

BRAZIL

Milreis, trial by US. mint,

[blocks in formation]

10 9235

10 9057

8.7195

1.0104

1.0657

[blocks in formation]

Former conventions or species thaler

2 conventions-florin, prior to 1857,

1.0109

Levantine, or Maria-Theresia, or Regina

thaler (date 1780), still coined with the old date for the Levant trade,

1.0109

Rixthaler, by US law of 1843,

Thaler (of 72 groten), legal,

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Thaler, by U. S law of 1843,

CENTRAL AMERICA.

0 7912

0.7911

0.7875

07476

071

AZORES or WESTERN ISLANDS. See PORTUGAL.

GOLD-Onza, or doubloon, of 1833, trial by
U S. mint,

14.9658

[blocks in formation]

Pezo, or onza (of 1825 to 1849) trial by

2 escudo (14 onza), trial by U. S. mint,
4 reals, trial by U. S. mint,

SILVER-Pezo (1840-1842), average trial by

U. S. Mint,.

Pezo (of 1855), average trial by U. S. mint,
Pezo, trial by U. S. mint,

CHILI. See SOUTH AMERICA.

For new rates under the act of March 3, 1873, see ante, pages 5, 6, and 7.

U. S. mint,.

0.8295

3 6875 0.488

1.0311 1 0137 0.5997

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

GERMANY)

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

0.4117

20 piaster, legal,

0.9976

SILVER-Piaster or gersh (plural, gurush), legal (20 para or fadda),

[blocks in formation]

0.049.5

tion

Pieces of 5, 10, and 20 piasters in propor

GOLD-Pound sterling (£), or Sovereign,

GREECE.

[blocks in formation]

French system of weights and measures with Greek

GOLD.-20 drachma or gold drachma (very

NORTH GERMAN UNION. (Principal State, PRUSSIA.) GOLD-Union crown and half crown. (See

SILVER-Union (or vereins) thaler, of 30 silver groschen,

Prior to the year 1857, the thaler of the greater part of the States now constituting the North German Uuion, was of the 14-thaler standard, 14 being coined from the Cologne mark of fine silver, .

SOUTH GERMANY. (BAVARIA, BADEN, &C) GOLD-Union crown and half crown. (See GERMANY.)

SILVER-Union (or vereins) double thaler 315 South German gulden, legal, Union for vereins) thaler-134 South German gulden,

Gulden or florin of South Germany of 60 kreutzer, 52% to 1 münzpfund of fine silver, Convention of 1857. This gulden is the unit of account, but is not yet coined, legal,

07201

0.7220

14409

0.7205

SILVER-Shilling, legal,

Crown (5 shilling), legal,

New shilling, trial by U S. mint,

Average shilling, trial by U. S. mint,

FRANCE.

GOLD-Piece of 100 francs, legal,
Piece of 50 francs, legal,
Piece of 20 franes, legal,

(Pieces of 5 and 10 franes in proportion.)

Piece of 20 francs, new, trial by US miut, l'iece of 20 francs, average, trial by U. S mint,

legal,

4 8666

rare), legal,

Pound sterling, U. S. Custom-house valua tion,

20 drachma, trial by U. S. mint,

4 84

SILVER-1 drachme, legal,

0 2261

5 drachma, legal, .

1.2705

1 phoenix, legal,

0 2268

3.4554

3.4419

0.1761

[ocr errors]

0.8808

0.1742

[blocks in formation]

Former Louis d'or (1810 to 1840), by trial, Former Louis d'or (1785), 1:gal,

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

Marco courant, U. S. Custom-house valuation, .

0.28

0.1943

0.1869

Marco banco (unit of account, not coined),. By U. S. law of 3d March, 1843, .

0.3642

Piece of 1 franc, since 1865, subsidiary

[blocks in formation]

0.35

HANOVER. Now part of Prussia. (See GERMANY.)

Former livre tournois, received by U. s. Custom-house at,

FORMER GOLD.-Louis d'or or Wilhelm

0.185

d'or, or pistole, legal,

3.9593

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Gulden of South Germany, 521% to 1 munzpfund of fine silver, Convention of 1857 (not yet coined), legal,

Former gulden (211 to Cologne mark of fin silver, Convention of 1837), loral, The same, by U S. law of 22d May, 1816,. GERMANY.

GOLD-Union crown (vereins krone),

fine, and containing 10 grammes of pure gold, Union half crown,

SILVER-Union (or vereins) thaler of the 30-thaler fuss, or standard 3) thalers being coined from the münzpfund of 500 grammes of fine silver,

040

31% South

HESSE DARMSTADT (SOUTH GERMANY). FORMER GOLD.-10-gulden piece, legal,

4.0371

Karolin,

4.9920

1.4409

FORMER SILVER.-As in Baden.

0.7205

2-gulden piece of 241⁄2 gulden standard (prior to 1857), legal,

0.8225

[blocks in formation]

04126

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OF THE UNITED STATES.
STANDARD UNITS.

Standard of Length.-The actual standard of length of Fae United States, is a brass scale of eighty-two inches In length, prepared for the survey of the coast of the United States, by Troughton, of London, and now in the possession of the United States Treasury Department, and deposited at the office of Weights and Measures. The yard measure is between the twenty-seventh and the sixty-third inches of the scale. The temperature at which this scale was designed to be standard, and at which it is so used in conducting the operations of the United States Coast Survey, is 62° Fahrenheit. Late comparisons show that on the United States standard scale at 62° Fahrenheit, the yard is in excess of the British standard by 0.00087 inch. According to a report made as Chairman of the Committee of Weights and Measures, by Professor A. D. Bache, late Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey, in 1860, before the American Association for the Advancement of Science, "the standard temperature of the United States yard has never been authoritatively here fixed."

The unit of length-the yard-is derived from ancient arbitrary standards in England. Its thirty-sixth partthe inch-is said to be contained 39.13929 times in the length of the pendulum that, in a vacuum and at the level of mid-tide, under the latitude of London, vibrates seconds of mean time.

|

bushel, of 8 imperial gallons, contains 2218.192 cubic inches. Its dimensions are 19.5 inches outside diameter, 8.5 inside diameter, 18.25 depth, and 6 inches height of cone for heaped measure; the contents of the heaped bushel being 2815.488 cubic inches.

The United States standard gallon is to the imperial standard gallon, nearly, as to 5 to 6; the United States standard bushel is to the imperial standard bushel, nearly, as 32 to 33.

METRIC SYSTEM.

Metric System of Weights and Measures Permissible.By an Act of Congress approved in July, 1866 (ante, Part III, p. 31), the use of the weights and measures of the metric system is made permissible; and contracts are declared not to be invalid because the weights and and measures of that system. measures expressed or referred to therein are weights

The following tables of equivalents are also therein recognized in the construction of contracts and in all legal proceedings.

MEASURES OF LENGTH.
0.001 meter = 1 millimeter
0.01 meter 1 centimeter
0.1 meter 1 decimeter

1 meter

10 meters 100 meters

1,000 meters

Comparison of the Common with the Metric Standards of Length.-According to Hassler, the meter contains 39.35091714 of the inch divisions of the Troughton scale at 32° Fahrenheit; and, consequently, making due allowance for the expansion by heat of the metal scale, 39.36850154 of these inch-divisions, when the bar is at 62° Fahrenheit. The number of imperial inches in the meter, according to Kater, and adopted in the late Act 10,000 meters of Parliament, which rendered the use of the metric system permissible in Great Britain, is 39.37079. The number of United States inches in the meter, according to the Act of Congress of 1866, authorizing the use of the metric system of weights and measures in the United States, is 39.37.

Standard of Weight.-The weights of the United States are designed to be identical with those of England. The standard of weight is the troy pound, copied in 1827, by Captain Kater, from the imperial troy pound of England, for the use of the mint of the United States, and there deposited. This pound is standard when in air in which the mercury stands at 30 inches in a barometer, and at 62 degrees in the Fahrenheit thermometer. The pound troy is assumed to contain 5760 grains; the commercial or avoirdupois pound, contains 7000 of these grains.

Standards of Volume.--The standard of liquid measure is the gallon; of dry measure, the bushel. The former is almost exactly equivalent to a cylinder 7 inches in internal diameter, and 6 inches in height; the latter to a cylinder of 18.5 inches internal diameter, and 8 inches in height, and when heaped the cone must not be less than 6 inches high, containing for a true cone, 2747.715 cubic inches.

The gallon, if filled with distilled water at the temperature of its maximum density (say 39.83° Fahrenheit, as determined by Mr. Hassler), contains, according to the official report, at that temperature, if weighed in air in which the barometer is 30 inches at 62° Fahrenheit, 58,372.2 standard grains (8.3389 pounds avoirdupois). The bushel is a measure containing 543,391.89 standard grains (77.6274 pounds avoirdupois) of distilled water at the temperature of maximum density, and barometer at 30 inches at 62° Fahrenheit.

According to Mr. Hassler's comparisons, the weight of a cubic foot of water at its maximum density, the barometer being 30 inches at 62° Fahrenheit, is 998.068 ounces avoirdupois; the weight of a cubic inch of such water being 252.6937 grains. The United States gallon is thus the old wine gallon of 231 inches, nearly; and the United States bushel, the Winchester bushel of 2150.42 cubic inches, nearly.

The British standard measure of volume, by Act of 1824, is the imperial gallon, containing, when weighed in air, both air and water being at the temperature of 62° Fahrenheit, and the barometer at 30 inches, 10 pounds avoirdupois. The cubic inch of distilled water (temperature 62°, barometer 30 inches), is declared to contain 252.458 grains; hence the imperial standard gallon contains 277.274 cubic inches. The imperial

1 meter
1 dekameter

1 hectometer

- 1 kilometer

0.0394 inches. 0.3937 inches.

3.937 inches.

[blocks in formation]

1 myriameter MEASURES OF SURFACE.

1 square meter 1 centare - 1550 square inches 100 square meters = 1 are 119.6 square yards. 10,000 square metres 2.471 acres.

1 hectare MEASURES OF VOLUME. Cubic Measure.

1 cubic centimeter 1 milliliter 10 cubic centimeters -1 centiliter 0.1 cubic decimeter

1 cubic decimeter

10 cubic decimeters
0.1 cubic meter
1 cubic meter

1 milliliter
1 centiliter
1 deciliter
1 liter

1 dekaliter
1 hectoliter

1 deciliter

1 liter

1 dekaliter

1 hectoliter

1 kiloliter, or stere =

1 kiloliter, or stere,

1 milliliter
1 centiliter
1 deciliter
1 liter
1 dekaliter
1 hectoliter

Dry Measure.

0.001 liter. 0.01 liter.

0.1 liter.

1 liter.

10 liters.

100 liters.

1000 liters.

[blocks in formation]

Liquid Measure.

[blocks in formation]

0.27 fluid drachm. 0.338 fluid oz.

0.845 gill.

1.0567 quarts. 2.6417 gallons. 26.417 gallons. 264.17 gallons.

1 milligramme
1 centigramme
1 decigramme
1 gramme
1 dekagramme
1 hectogramme

1 kilogramme
or kilo.

1 myriagramme
= 1 quintal

1 millier or
tonneau.

0.001 gramme 0.01 gramme 0.1 gramme 1 gramme 10 grammes 100 grammes

1,000 grammes

10,000 grammes

100,000 grammes

1,000,000 grammes

* Of water at maximum density.

« AnteriorContinuar »