‘Glitters of Gold’ – Edwin L. Hobart’s Suppressed Denver Mint Booklet

By Roger W Burdette
Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.

United States mints have traditionally welcomed the public to visit and observe the process of coin production. Initially, this was accomplished with formally scheduled tours for individuals and public officials. Later, as the hobby and business of coin collecting grew, requests to see how coins were made increased. This led to hiring designated employees, called Conductors (or Guides), to escort groups of people through a mint.

At Philadelphia there was also an impressive display of American, foreign, and ancient coins and medals. Conductors answered questions about mint operation and about the coins on display.

When the Denver Mint opened in 1906, it included a mezzanine level explicitly designed to allow visitors to witness some of the new mint’s operations. By 1914, from this vantage, 569,747 guests had been conducted through the new Mint during weekday hours of 10 AM to Noon, and 1 PM to 3 PM.

Conditions were not ideal, and in 1914, Edwin L. Hobart, one of the Watchmen employed at the mint, prepared a booklet intended to help visitors better understand what they were being shown.

Hobart commented:

It is hard to make ourselves heard in trying to impart information concerning our work on account of the din of running machinery. We imagine that what we have undertaken to impart has not been remembered to any great extent, even while our guests were in the building. We have, therefore, undertaken to place before you in the following pages most of the things which seem to excite the visitor’s curiosity. It may not be all you would wish to know, but this booklet contains most of the essential things not generally known about the actual work our guests see in connection with the coinage of money. [1]

Hobart referred to himself as the “compiler” rather than author, and his acknowledgements include most of the Mint’s department managers and foremen. [2] This suggests that comments and statistics came from reliable technical sources. In his booklet he added to the reasons for preparing his compilation titled “Glitters of Gold.”

Tourists have been particularly anxious for information which they could carry away with them; many teachers have shown a desire for information which they could take to their schools; students have shown also a desire to obtain information enabling them to excel. Conductors could give them nothing they could possess as their own, and they have gone away practically unaided. The aim of these pages is, therefore, obvious, and they are respectfully submitted by the compiler. [3]

All of this was in the tradition of Conductors selling small medals, pamphlets, or souvenirs to supplement their salaries.

Edwin Hobart opens his 38-page pamphlet with several pages of acknowledgement and introduction, followed by a brief history of the Denver Mint, features of the new building, and a table summarizing its coinage from February 1906 through June 30, 1913. The vaults, sources of building materials, electric lighting, clocks, telephones and devices for registering a watchman’s rounds.

He next provides a somewhat lengthy description of the electrical switchboard, generators and other equipment provided by Supervising Electrician Marshall H. White.

From this Hobart backtracks to what visitors will see on entering through the large bronze doors including the Great Seal embedded in the lobby floor, and allegorical murals depicting Commerce, Mining, and Manufacturing.

From the spacious lobby you are conducted up the stairs to the Mezzanine floor and turned over to a Conductor, or Guide, who will tell you where to go and what is to be seen from the various balconies.

Featured views are of the Ingot Melting Room, Rolling and Cutting Room, and Press Room. This is followed by an explanation of the term “delivery” as used at the mint, and refers to several anticounterfeiting measures taken by the Mint.

Next come descriptions of coin presses, rolling machines, scales (balances); followed by bullion melting and fees, coinage alloy, counting and sacking coins for shipment or storage.

Othered subjects include counting boards, annealing and bleaching, nickel metal in coinage, tonnage required to strike different denominations, a short history of the motto “In God We Trust,” and how coins are shipped and put into circulation

Hobart closes with comments about souvenir (commemorative) coins, obsolete designs and denominations, and “Rare Coins –– A Good Deal of Uncertainty.”

Hobart readily admits to having emulated the short book “The United States Mint at
Philadelphia” by James Rankin Young, and quotes several paragraphs from the book. [4]

Altogether, “Glitters of Gold” is a well prepared and illustrated compilation of descriptions. It is, as shown by his other published pamphlets, an idiosyncratic work both of detail and broad comments. It contains nothing inappropriate or controversial.

If it was useful and informative, why couldn’t Hobart sell his 25-cent pamphlet to visitors at the Denver Mint?

The reasons go back several decades –– and will take a moment to explain.

Prior to about 1833 and opening of the new Philadelphia Mint building, visitors to the decrepit original mint were escorted by officers or whoever was available. When visitors were from other countries, or important American personages, they received personal attention from the director or his clerk. Ordinary citizens were less likely to gain admittance without a letter of introduction from a member of Congress, college dean or prominent industrialist. But from 1836 through 1936 (with gaps) we have 23 thick volumes showing the name and address of each person heading a family or other group of guests at the Philadelphia Mint. [5]

The San Francsico Mint had one Conductor to guide visitors in June 1854, [6] when it opened and several Conductors were guiding guests when the Mint Cabinet was robbed on August 18, 1858.[7] Conductors earned about $3.50 per day until 1897 when Philadelphia Superintendent Kretz recommended a reduction to $2.75, or about $900 per year.[8] It was common for Conductors to act as Watchmen as noted by Philadelphia Superintendent John Landis.

Our watchmen are all on night work except two who are on duty at the vaults during the day. We have no other day watchmen. The conductors act as such during week days. [9]

Conductors and Watchmen were not only on the low end of the pay scale, but they were among the first to be furloughed or dismissed when Treasury demanded cost reductions.

A job at the Mint was secure employment for those above the lowest pay levels, but it could never be called generous. During the 1850s and 60s Watchmen and Conductors were paid between $1.50 and $2.00 per day, or about $450 to $600 a year. [10]

Low wages encouraged Conductors and others who interacted with the public to create and offer for sale small medals, souvenirs, and books or pamphlets. Some went further.

Mr. James Burrows, one of the Conductors having violated the fourth section of the Regulations for Visitors, is dismissed from further service at the Mint. The Director regrets the necessity that requires this order. He overlooked a former offence of this same kind on the promise of the delinquent to avoid [demanding] security fees from visitors. But the recent case, which occurred this day of a similar character, renders it his duty to enforce the Rule. The name of James Burrows will not appear upon the rolls of the Mint after today. Dr. Linderman, principal clerk, will notify the party of his dismissal. James Ross Snowden, Director of the Mint. [11]

In 1861 a dime-size silver metal with Lincoln on one side and Washington on the other was prepared by Chief Coiner designs by Anthony Paquet. These were sold at from 30-cents to $1 each by Conductors or direct in quantity from the Medal Department. [12]

1885 saw introduction of John G. Evans book “Illustrated History of the United States Mint” to the souvenirs offered visitors. The Conductors found this particularly profitable at 50-cents to $2 per copy depending on binding, and this encouraged more aggressive sales of souvenirs and an increase in visitor complaints.

Inevitably, complaints raised Treasury Department awareness of private souvenir sales at the mints. Mint Director A Piatt Andrew decided to quash this activity in 1910, although he considered making a souvenir medal to benefit the Mint Cabinet of Coins & Medals.

In 1911 the whole enterprise collapsed as mentioned in a letter from Congressman William W. Griest of Pennsylvania.

It is understood that orders recently issued prohibit the guides in the United States Mints from selling books or medals to visitors as has been done for a number of years. This privilege has enabled the conductors about the mints to earn some extra money.

In the past it has been stated as a justification for a reduction of the salary paid these men, especially was that the case when their salary was reduced from four dollars per diem. It is now understood that they are receiving only nine hundred dollars per annum. It is unfortunate that the Department has found it necessary to discontinue the privilege of allowing these men to sell souvenirs, as undoubtedly many people were only too glad for the opportunity to make a purchase at the mint.

However, there must have been some good reason for the action, and owing to the great increase in the cost of living during recent years, I believe that it would be but just that some arrangement should be made to provide for an increase of compensation to the conductors at the mints so as to offset, in part at least, the loss of revenue on account of the curtailed privilege.

If there are reasons why the privilege cannot be continued, I hope that the Department will find some way to increase the compensation of these men, who, as a rule, are veterans of the war having families dependent upon them. [13]

A November 1911 letter from director Roberts confirmed actions mentioned by Congressman Griest.

Pollock, director. Per diem employees were only paid for each day’s work. …the sale of all medals by Guides or Conductors has been discontinued at the Mint as a result of frequent complaints that visitors were importuned to buy in an unpleasant and offensive manner.

On the Acknowledgements page of “Glitters of Gold” Edwin Hobart goes to some length to mention the Denver Mint officers he consulted. These included all the department officers plus John Voght, Secretary to Superintendent Thomas Annear, “…who, at my solicitation, took up the subject of this publication with his chief….” [15]

It seems a little strange that no one on Hobart’s list of more than fifteen senior officers, cautioned him about the rule against selling items to visitors. A further question is why none of the Denver Mint Conductors advised him of the potential problem.

It is only later that we learn Hobart showed the printed pamphlet to Superintendent Annear, discovered it was against the rules, and approved Hobart’s writing to the mint director. The letter to Roberts was dated July 5 although we don’t have a copy of it.

Whatever the situation, the first we learn of Hobart’s pamphlet is a letter of July 10, 1914 to Denver Mint Superintendent Thomas Annear.

Sir:
The Bureau is in receipt of a communication from E[dwin] L. Hobart, watchman of your institution, relative to a booklet descriptive of mint processes which he has prepared and had printed in expectation that there would be no objection to his selling copies to visitors at the Mint. He represents that he had no knowledge of a rule against such sales; that he talked to your private secretary on the subject, and had reason to believe that no objection would be made to the course so contemplated.

The offer of any pamphlet or other article for sale by employees of the mint on the premises is forbidden. All such sales were discontinued at the Philadelphia Mint several years ago. In view of the fact which is not questioned, that Mr. Hobart was acting in good faith and without knowledge that what he proposed to do was contrary to the rules, I am disposed to allow him to sell the edition of 1,000 copies which he has had printed on condition that the public shall not be solicited to buy, and that the attention of visitors shall be directed to the pamphlet in an entirely unobjectionable manner.

This permission is given in order to save Mr. Hobart from loss on the booklets already printed, and it must be understood that when this edition is exhausted the prohibition against such sales will be restored and remain in full effect. The Bureau will rely upon you to carry out this arrangement and see that these conditions are observed.

Roberts, possibly impressed with the work of one of the lowest level mint employees, gave permission to sell the pamphlet, but emphasized that Annear had final say in the matter.

The director might have also empathized with the expense Hobart had assumed, especially given his age – 69 – and modest $900 annual salary. [17]

On the same date Roberts also replied to Hobart’s letter of July 5:

Sir:
Your letter of the 5th instant is at hand. The question of whether or not the guides in the mints should be allowed to sell pamphlets or souvenirs of any kind was definitely passed upon by the Department several years ago, and all such sales were ordered discontinued at the Philadelphia Mint where they had been carried on for years. I have written quite fully upon your case to the Superintendent of the Mint and will refer you to him for the decision. [18]

It appears that Annear would approve the pamphlet and Hobart could recover his printing and other expenses from the proceeds. It is also likely that in compliance with past practices, some of the profit would be shared with the Conductors.

But the next day Roberts received one of Hobart’s advertising flyers. It was sent anonymously and the letter has not been preserved. He immediately sent the flyer and a letter to Annear at Denver.

Sir,
Since writing you yesterday relative to the booklet compiled by Mr. Hobart I have received the enclosed circular anonymously, but probably sent by a visitor. It illustrates that it is impossible to permit anything of this kind without causing criticism. [19]

It’s difficult to imagine that a simple advertising flyer, if in the style of Hobart’s pamphlet, could have been so offensive to cause the mint director to change his mind. An unsigned letter of complaint by a mint visitor, however, might have been enough to unsettle him, and thereby encourage Annear to act.

Superintendent Annear was having none of it and quashed Hobart’s little venture.

Sir:–
I have your letter of the 11th ult in regard to the booklet compiled by Mr. Hobart. I note the enclosed circular that was sent you anonymously. Mr. Hobart did not consult me when he compiled this book, but when it was completed he called my attention to it. I told him he could not sell it in the Mint as it was against the rules. He asked permission to write you about the matter. Later I received your letter of the 10th giving him permission to sell 1000 copies. However I have ordered the sale of the booklet and the giving of all circulars in connection therewith discontinued. Have also told Mr Hobart he must not call attention of visitors to the book in any way. It seems this is the best way and trust my action will meet with your approval. [20]

Given the correspondence dates, it’s likely that a few copies of “Glitters of Gold” were sold before they were withdrawn. As of this publication date one pamphlet was tracked to an auction, and a second, slightly damaged copy is in the Denver Library.

“Glitters of Gold” includes several detailed descriptions not easily located elsewhere. Hobart’s general description of the building is interesting, and includes details about the engines and carpentry shops on the sub-grade floors.

He devotes over three pages to the electrical system and another four to the Ingot Melting Room. The ingot information is complete enough to compile a table of Denver Mint ingot descriptions down to the number of blanks cut from each size ingot.

Among the more interesting photos is one of workmen in the Melting & Refining Department titled “Pouring Silver Ingots.” Hobart’s photographer, Nathan A. Russell, a member of the same department, captured workmen gathered around a furnace and ingot molds. They are identified as individuals and not the usual rigidly posed anonymous characters in vignettes.

Several more pages describe refining charges for bullion, how coins are adjusted and delivered to the Cashier, and how coins are weighed and counted. Two pages repeat the wellworn story of the motto “In God We Trust,” followed by a page about how coins are shipped and enter circulation. He closes with comments about obsolete and souvenir (commemorative) coins and a little about coin collecting.

Taken as a whole, it’s unfortunate that Edwin Hobart’s pamphlet did not get widespread distribution in Denver. It was certainly better than anything except Rankin’s Philadelphia Mint book, and might have helped visitors better understand what they saw during their tour.

The only located publicly owned copy of “Glitters of Gold” was donated to the Denver Library by Mint Superintendent Thomas Annear on May 18, 1921.

Background and Biographical Sketch

Edwin Lucius Hobart (April 12, 1845-July 7, 1935) raised in Carthage, Illinois enlisted in the Union Army in August 10, 1861 at age 16 in Company D, 28th Illinois Volunteers. He served as a company clerk [22] during the war and did not see battle action, likely due to chronic myocarditis.[23]

He completed his three-year enlistment in 1864. Accepted a $400 reenlistment bonus, he was promoted from Seargeant to First Lieutenant and transferred to Company K, 58th U.S.C.I. [United States Colored Infantry] from which he was honorably discharged April 30, 1866.[24] On July 27, 1965 he applied for and was granted 20 days leave plus an optional 10 extra days.

Unfortunately, he overstayed his leave by 6 days and found himself before a General Court Martial in Jackson, Mississippi. He was convicted and fined 6days pay, then returned to his unit.[25]

After leaving Army service he moved to Iowa and worked on railroads. He married Emma Bonnell of Chicago in 1872. [26] He moved to Denver in 1889 and found work with the police department as the jailer and in 1896 transferred to the second district, Thirty-third street station.[27]

In June 1900 he was appointed janitor in the Denver federal building – his first U.S. government job. Before transferring to the Denver Mint on February 15, 1906 he was a watchman at the Denver Post Office.[28]

At the Mint he was paid $900 a year as a daytime Watchman (or Guard) and apparently helped with visitors. He was never promoted or given a raise during his Mint employment.

Publications of Edwin L. Hobart

Hobart, Edwin Lucius. Semi-history of a Boy-veteran of the Twenty-eighth Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers, in a Black Regiment,” Denver 1905-07 (date uncertain). 98 pages.

The first section of this small book – about 30 pages – is the service diary of Pvt. George H. Reese, Company H, 28th Illinois Infantry Volunteers. The original was transcribed by Samuel M. Howard of Gettysburg, South Dakota and reprinted with a few comments and notes by Hobart.

The second half – 35 pages or thereabouts – concerns Hobart’s service with the 58th United States Colored Infantry. The balance consists of an Addenda of supplemental anecdotes and comments by others who were in the 28th Illinois, but did not serve directly with Hobart.

The Truth About Shiloh: a compilation of facts and figures—an analysis reducing to a percentage basis all losses in every command engaged at Shiloh. Denver: Hicks-Fairall, 1909. compiler, “A story of Vicksburg and Jackson: ‘Lest We Forget.’” Denver: Hicks-Fairall, 1909. 28 pages.

Much of this thin booklet concentrates on supporting Brig. Gen. Jacon G. Lauman’s military leadership against Charles A. Dana’s claims that Lauman was “totally unfit to command.” He also defends Brig. Gen. John A. McClernand against Dana, emphasizing that he thought Dana’s bias was based on Lauman and McClernand both being appointed generals (“volunteer general”) rather than earned through career military advancement.

Hobart History and Genealogy 1632-1912. Denver, 1912. 105 pages.

Hobart thought of himself as an author or compiler of information and around 1906 had business cards printed featuring his Civil War portrait and published books or pamphlets. In March 1906 he had a small ad printed in the Washington National Tribune offering Civil War pamphlets and samples of the new Denver Mint coinage.[29]

He retired in 1920. In July 23, 1890 Hobart applied for an Army disability pension which was eventually granted in April, 1915 at $12 per month
gradually raised to $50 on May 1, 1920 at mandatory government retirement age of 75. On April 25, 1918 Hobart checked into the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Dayton, Ohio for medical treatment and was discharged on May 20 at his request. Presumably he returned to Denver to his old job at the Mint until mandatory retirement at age 75.[30]

He was buried in Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery, Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Sources:

• Hobart family photographs, MSS P 407. Brigham Young University. L. Tom Perry Special Collections. Provo, UT.
• Stephen H. Hart Research Center, History Colorado #978.81 File box 41.Readers may acquire a copy of the complete pamphlet “Glitters of Gold” by contacting the Stephen H. Hart Research Center at History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver, CO. 303-866-2305, cosearch@state.co.us.
• Hobart, Edwin Lucius. Hobart History and Genealogy 1632-1912. Denver, 1912.
• Semi-history of a Boy-veteran of the Twenty-eighth Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers, in a Black Regiment,” Denver 1905-07 (date uncertain).
• NARA Denver RG104 Entry 77 Box 1 Folder 2 “Employees 1910-1911.”
• NARA College Park and NARA Textual Archives Services Division, Washington, DC 20408; Veterans’ Service Records, “Hobart, Edwin Lucius” military history file #40581.
• NARA College Park, RG104 Entries 1, 94, 158, 216, 229, 235.
• Official Register of the United States 1913, 1915.
• Rocky Mountain News, Denver, CO.
• University of Missouri, Ellis Library, Government Documents Department, Columbia MO.
• Young, James Rankin. The United States Mint at Philadelphia. Philadelphia. 1903. 96 pages.
• Ziegler, G. M., Col. Regimental and Company Books of the 58th U.S. Colored Troops Infantry Regiment. Headquarters Northern District of Mississippi, January 27, 1866.
• Special thanks to Zach Filis who provided invaluable assistance in locating Hobart’s pamphlet and other materials. This research would not have been possible without his contributions.

Citations

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