United States Government. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TRANSMITTING THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE MINT. 33d Congress, 1st Session. Ex. Doc. No. 40. Washington, DC, February 2, 1854. 8vo, self-covered. 18 pages. Removed from previous binding; very good or better. A wordy and somewhat opinionated report by Director James Ross Snowden to President Franklin Pierce. The commentary is well worth reading. Snowden notes that the year's coinage "was comprised in 69,775,537 pieces, being more than twice the number of pieces ever before struck at the mint in a single year." While the vast majority of the gold deposits came from California, it is stated that "a few deposites from Oregon of the value of $13,535" were received, being "the first deposites from that Territory, and are characterized by having an appreciable per-centage of platinum sand." Commenting on recent legislation, Snowden reports that "The diminution of the standard weight of the half dollar, and lower denominations of silver coins, authorized by the act of March 3, 1853, has been attended with good results" and "The three-dollar gold coin, authorized by the last Congress, will be issued as soon as the dies, now in progress, are completed. From the close approximation in weight and value which the coin will bear to the quarter eagle, it has been deemed expedient to make the devices upon it different than any coin heretofore issued." There is much else of interest—a very interesting report. Rare—possibly the first copy we have handled.