This term, as used at present in the discussion of the coinage question, means the right of any person to deposit standard silver bullion in any amount at the mints of the United States and have it coined at the expense of the Government, such depositor to receive for his bullion silver coins containing in the aggregate the same weight of fine silver as brought to the mint.

Any coinage under a future law would depend upon the terms of that law. (See "Coinage of Gold.")

Unlimited Coinage. Coinage may be unlimited without being entirely free. It would be unlimited if any owner of bullion had the right to deposit it at the mint and have it converted into coins without any restrictions as to the amount.

World's Stock of Gold and Silver Coin in 1873 and 1906.

The stock of gold and silver in the world in 1873 and 1906 is estimated to have been as follows:

Sales of Gold.

During the period of the suspension of specie payments in the United States - January 1, 1862, to January 1, 1879 - the customs revenues of the Government were collected in gold. A sufficient amount of this gold was reserved to meet that portion of the interest on the public debt which was payable in coin, and the remainder was sold from time to time for currency at the market price by the several assistant treasurers of the United States, under instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury. The currency so obtained, with the currency collected from internal revenue and from other sources, was used to defray the ordinary expenses of the Government. The surplus, if any, was applied, as far as it would go, to the redemption of the lawful-money obligations as they fell due, and after their maturity to the purchase of bonds at the market price.

The total amount of gold sold was $526,506,273.81, and the currency received therefor amounted to $633,-334,089.67.

The average premium obtained was 20.3 per cent.