Numismatic Almanac for
November

An almanac, for the month of November, for collectors of coins, currency, medallions, medals, tokens and other items pertaining to numismatics. Image (above) links to Half Dimes at Mintmark.com.

November

1st: 1965: Clad quarters released to U.S. banks to ease coin shortage.

2nd: 1795: James Knox Polk born (11th U.S. President). 1865: Warren Gamaliel Harding born (29th U.S. President).

4th: 1887: Dr. M. F. Bonzano, melter and refiner at the New Orleans Mint in 1861, submits a letter to Mint Director James Kimball telling him that no Confederate coins were produced at the New Orleans Mint and the United States dies of 1860 and 1861 were defaced in front of him and other mint officers. 1977: Stella Hackel Sims confirmed Mint Director #29 (1977-1981).

5th: 1874: The San Francisco Mint, designed by Treasury Supervising Architect Alfred B. Mullett, is completed and turned over to Superintendent A. H. LaGrange.

6th: 1775: The Continental Congress appoints a committee to examine the amount of money remaining in the Treasury and estimate the public debt; other committees are established by Congress to handle the revolutionary government’s finances. 1792: George Washington declares coin shortage at an end with striking of first half dimes. 1966: First $1 Federal Reserve Note issue delivered.

8th: 1976: Official date of restoration, old San Francisco Mint.

19th: 1831: James Abram Garfield born (20th U.S. President).

20th: 1862: First engraving staff of three begins work in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

22nd: 1893:

"Ex-Chief Weigher Henry S. Cochran, for twenty-four years an employee of the Philadelphia Mint, was tried and found guilty to-day, before Judge Butler, in the United States Circuit Court, of largency and embezzlement in the taking of $130,000 worth of gold bars from a vault in the Mint. The discovery was made when $16,000,000 in gold bars was re-weighed on Sept. 4 last, and suspicion was attracted to Cochran by his unexplainable anxiety. He subsequently made a confession and partial restitution. The jury rendered a verdict of guilty without leaving the box. Sentence was deferred." — Convicted of Stealing Gold Bullion, The New York Times

23rd: 1804: Franklin Pearce born (14th U.S. President).

24th: 1784: Zachary Taylor born (12th U.S. President).

27th: 1778: The Carlisle Peace Commission concedes failure and returns to England. The commission had hoped to reach a peace agreement with the United States before France entered the Revolutionary War.

28th: 1968: First small size $100 U.S. Notes delivered to the Treasury.

29th: 1779: The Continental Congress authorizes a final issue of currency. The money later became so worthless that the phrase not worth a Continental was often heard. 1973: Hobby Protection Act becomes PL 93-167.