The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 27, July 8, 2007, Article 14

BOSTON GLOBE ON THE JACOB PERKINS NEWBURYPORT BUILDING

As Karl Moulton noted on July 24, media descriptions of the Jacob
Perkins Newburyport, MA building as a former 'mint' are incorrect.
In a lengthy article this week, the Boston Globe gets it right.

"Commonly referred to as the "Mint Building" -- a misnomer because
it was paper currency, not coins, that it produced -- the structure
is adjacent to the Caleb Cushing House Museum, the Federalist building
that serves as the society's headquarters and features rooms furnished
in the style of the early to mid-1800s."

"At age 12, Perkins apprenticed with a goldsmith. Later he was
employed to make dies for the production of the copper coin used
in Massachusetts.

"In 1795, he invented a machine for manufacturing nails. He followed
that in 1804 with the discovery of a new technique for making steel
engraving plates for printing currency. The discovery was significant
because it allowed for more detail to be included on the paper notes,
which made them less susceptible to counterfeiting.

"At first, Perkins and his brother sold the plates to banks. But
after opening the Mint Building, they began to print the currency.
The Mint Building, where the printing took place, is believed to
have been part of a complex whose other buildings are now gone.

"Mack said the new museum would display artifacts from Jacob Perkins's
life, some of which it has already accumulated over the years, and from
the early currency printing industry."

To read the complete article, see: Full Story

  KARL MOULTON ON THE JACOB PERKINS BUILDING
 esylum_v10n25a20.html

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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