For a number of years after the Civil War, gold and silver coins were rarely seen in commerce. Instead, they were hoarded by those people who could afford to do so. As a result, the Philadelphia Mint produced small amounts of coins at the time, seeing little reason to produce coinage that would also be hoarded. James Pollock addressed the situation in the 1870 Mint report: '...Emerging from a tremendous Civil War which shook every social interest to the very foundation, it is no wonder that our currency continues in an abnormal condition. Most of our people rarely get the sight of a gold or silver coin.'