sentences:  The firm sent over 20 million blanks to Philadelphia, to be struck into cents and half-cents by the United States Mint.The national financial crisis reached a point of despair in February 1797, when the Bank of England stopped redeeming its bills for gold.In an effort to get more money into circulation, the Government adopted a plan to issue large quantities of copper coins, and Lord Hawkesbury summoned Boulton to London on 3 March 1797, informing him of the Government's plan, and he was awarded a contract at the end of the month.