FOREIGN GOLD COINS.

NOTE. The coins of any country, both gold and silver, circulating as foreign in any other, particularly those of the smaller denominations, are usually held at an estimate below their standard par value, compared with the money standard of the country in which they circulate as foreign. Many of them, more particularly the silver, having circulation in the United States, are much worn and otherwise depreciated. In some instances, owing to frequent changes made both with regard to weight and purity, certain of them, having the same name and general appearance, bear a premium at home; others, a discount Others, again, can hardly be said to have a definable value anywhere. The par value of the old pistole of Geneva, for instance, weighing 1034 grains, is $3.985, while that of the new, weighing 874 grains, would, at the same degree of purity, be worth but $3.386; whereas, owing to its higher standard of fineness, its par value is $3.443. The ducat of Austria, coined in 1831, weighs 53 grains, its purity is 23.64, and its par value $2.269; while the half sovereign, closely resembling the ducat, coined in 1835, and weighing 87 grains, has a purity only of 21.64, and a par value, consequently, of but $3.378. The circulating value of the ducat in the United States, in general, is $2.20, and that of the half sovereign of Austria, $3.25.