were issued on the 1st of January, 1849, signed by Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Thomas Bullock, clerk. In September, Brigham had brought eighty-four dollars in small change into the valley, which had been distributed, but was no longer in cir- culation. On the 6th of January, resolutions were passed by the council to the effect that "the Kirtland bank bills be put into circulation for the accommodation of the people, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Joseph, that the Kirtland notes would one day be as good as gold." The first printing was in connection with the manufacture of paper raoney.^"
Previous to the issue of this currency an attempt was made by John Kay to coin gold-dust, but the crucibles broke in the attempt. All the dies and everything connected with the coining were made in Salt Lake City.^^ Subsequent attempts were more successful. The coin was made of pure gold, without alloy, which made it deficient in weight; it was there- fore sold as bullion. Brigham then proposed the issue of paper currency until gold could be coined. ^^ There was also a paper currency issued some years later by a company in Salt Lake City known as the Des- eret Currency Association, its capital being in cattle, but this was merely a temporary convenience.^^ Cur-
'^ Fifty-cent and one-dollar paper currency was issued. Hist. B. Young, MS., 1S49, 3. On the 22d, type was set for 50-cent bills— the first type- eetling in the city. Id., 42-3; S. L. C. Contributor, ii. 209.
" 'Robert Campbell engraved the stamps for the coin.' Wells' Narr., MS., 42. Brigham says, 'I offered the gold-dust back to the people, but they did not want it.' Hist. B. Young, MS., 1849, 1. 'Thos L. Smith, a mountaineer, wrote me from Bear River Valley, offering to sell me §200 or $300 in small coin. . .and take our currency for the same, and he would trade his skins, furs, robes, etc., with us.' Id., 79.
'-'John Kay coined $2.50, %o, and $20 pieces.' Nebeher's Early Justice, MS., 3. A description is given in Juv. Inst, of coins with beehive and spread eagle on one side, with inscription 'Deseret Assay OfSce, Pure Gold,' and at the base '5 D.' On the reverse is a lion, surrounded by 'Holiness to the Lord,' in characters known as the Deseret alphabet. Vol. ix. no. 4, p. 39. In 1849 and 1850, coins of the value of $20, $10, $5, and $2.50 were struck off. Their fineness was 899-1000, and no alloy was used except a little silver. -S'. L. ('. Contributor, ii. 209. 'The gold-dust was sufficient in quantity for all ordinary purposes. . .In the exchange the brethren deposited the gold-dust with the presidency, who issued bills or a paper currency; and the Kirtland safety fund re-signed it on a par with gold.' Id., 56.
^*See Taylor's Reminiscences, MS., 23.
