means for keeping
them."

"That is the first time I ever heard of that plan."

"It is not anything new. The Chinese adopted the plan years ago, and
Belgium is a country which has followed the idea. It has been found
very convenient for shoppers, as they can string them on vertical pieces
of wire, and in that way they are always kept in columns before them,
and can be readily taken off in making change."

[Illustration: _Fig. 9._ THE FIVE-CENT COIN]

In making the molds, the molten brass was first poured around the paris
plaster disk, so that the metal was level with the top of the disk, and,
after it was thoroughly cooled, an additional amount of metal was poured
over this, so that the two parts would separate. The disk was then taken
out, and two holes made on opposite sides through the top. The copper
was then poured in one hole until it appeared at the other hole. In this
way the print formed by the disk was cast in the coin.

Harry made a half dozen of these molds, and the mint was ready for
operation. Tom and one of the natives set to work making the coins, and
the first day cast two hundred of them. Within a week they became quite
expert at the business, and when they took stock at the end of the week
over twenty-five hundred of the coins were in the treasury.

A large-sized coin was turned out, which is also shown, the smaller
being for one cent, and the larger five cents. The stock of coins within
ten days amounted to fifty dollars in value, but it was a good
beginning.

During the evening the coins were shown around and admired, and John
said: "We have plenty of silver, when the time comes, which can be
worked up in the same way."

This idea had not occurred to the boys. "But how," asked Will, "shall we
use these? The natives won't give anything for them?"

"That is what we are trying to teach them. They are of no value except
as a medium of exchange. Money is of no value, except as it enables us
to buy something with it. When you have a five-cent piece and a taro
root before you, and are hungry, which will you take?"

"The taro root, of course."

"So it isn't the coin itself, but only its value in what you want. It is
want that gives money any value."

"But I still don't see how we are going to make the natives want the
coins."

"We do not intend to make them want them. But we may soon have some
things they will need. Now it is immaterial whether they give money for
it, or if they furnish us s