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Thomas Jefferson Letter Signed as Secretary of State. ...
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Description
Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson transmits recently passed acts of Congress, including an amendment to the establishment of the Mint and the regulation of U.S. and foreign coins
Thomas Jefferson Letter Signed as Secretary of State. One
page, 7.625 x 7.375 inches, Philadelphia; February 18, 1793. A
letter of transmittal to an unrecorded recipient forwarding copies
of four laws passed by the Second Congress concerning coinage, the
U.S. Mint, and U.S. representatives stationed abroad (not included
with the lot).The letter reads, in part: "I have the honor to send you herewith enclosed two copies duly authenticated of 'An Act to amend an act, intituled [sic] 'An act establishing a mint and regulating the coins of the United States,' so far as respects the coinage of copper;' also of 'An act to provide for the allowance of interest on the sum ordered to be paid by the resolve of Congress of the twenty eighth of September one thousand seven hundred and eight five, as an indemnity to the persons therein named;' also of 'An act to continue in force for a limited time, and to amend the act, intituled [sic] 'An act providing the means of intercourse between the United States and foreign nations;' also of 'An act regulating foreign coins and for other purposes;' and of being with sentiments of the most perfect respect, your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant". Signed, "Th: Jefferson".
The laws cited here by Jefferson were passed by the second session of the Second Congress on January 14th and February 9th of 1793. The first act listed relates to the coinage of the copper cent and half cent and adjusts the amount of copper alloy included in their production by the U.S. Mint. The second act authorized an interest payment on two hundred dollars originally ordered by the Continental Congress to be paid to Return Jonathan Meigs and the legal representative for the deceased Christopher Greene. The third act authorized the one-year continuance of a July 1, 1790 act that was set to expire, allowing the president to draw from the U.S. Treasury a sum not to exceed thirty thousand dollars annually as payment for the salaries of representatives serving abroad, including the minister plenipotentiary, the Chargé d'affaires and their secretaries. The fourth and final act permitted all foreign gold and silver coins currently circulating in the United States to be accepted as legal tender for a period of three years, after which the U.S. Mint's gold and silver coins were to replace them. The letter serves as a fascinating representation of the many early acts passed by Congress as they attempted to establish the young country on a firm footing. The inclusion of "your Excellency" in the letter's closing salutation indicates that it was probably sent to one of the state governors, making this boldly signed letter of transmittal from Secretary Jefferson all the more desirable.
Condition: Margins trimmed. Four separations along the horizontal folds have been expertly repaired on the verso. Light offsetting with one partially erased pencil notation at lower left corner recto.
Auction Info
2022 December 1 Historical Platinum Session Signature® Auction #6267 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2022
1st
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
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