Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-08-12
CURIOSITY ROOM OF THE PHILA-
DELPHIA MINT.
Foreign COin-OId Pieces Of Money
Minerals and Ores of Precious
MetaIs-RRre CuriOsiGics.

Foreign COin-OId Pieces of Money
Minerals and Ores of Precious
MetaIs-RRre CuriOsiGics.
From the Doylestown pa.) Democrat
Entering the large building of the
United States Mint, on Chestnut street
we were kindly received by the foreman,
in the reception room. He transferring
us over to a guide, we rambled through
the numerous rooms Of the building,
and we're then hended over to Mr.. Du-
Bois, one Of the officers of the Mint,
who took us into his private Office, and
exhibited to US several operations not
shown to visitors. But it is impossible
for us to give a clear description of all
we witnessed, as our stay would not per
nit us to note everything accurately,
and besides each room would present
sufficient study for a separate article.
We shall therefore only call your atten-
ton to the Curiosity Room, in which de-
partment we spent some time.
In one case we noticed about 260 coins
of Austria, Portugal and Spain. The
coins were of different sizes and cast in
numerous metals and stamps. In the
coins of the Netherlands and Belgium
we noticed the denominations of Cen
time, Culver, Stivers, Crown, Florins
Kreutzer, Kiksdaler, etc. On one cen
time was over yssel l7G7." 0ur atten-
ton was drawn to large silver coin,
called "Lein d'argent" The device
upon the face OF this was lion, with a
drawn sword defending a shield which
bore, III Ben Tas." In a large case
we noticed a magnificent collection Of
Oriental coins, and containing money
from Turkey, Egypt Algiers, Tripoli,
Tunis, Persia, Hindustand, China, and
Siam, Malay Archipelago and British
Tokens. In this case there were four
coins of Bedredd in Lulu, Prince of
Mosul. The gold from which they were
made was double derian, and extremely
rare. There was also fine collection
from Mexico, Central Mexico, and Bra
zil. In the selection from the West In
dies there are many interesting coins.
Among them are several fragments
called cut money" This was first cut
by the authority of the government, but
private individuals taking advantage
of the law commenced cutting the Span
ish dollar into too many quarters
Frequently five pieces would be cut IRON
one dollar and passed for twenty-five
cents each. In the same case we no
ticed large silver COMA Trinidad dol
lar with the center cut out. This was
done TO prevent expectation, and was
valued at eighty-three cents. There
we're also coins of the British, Danish,
French, Sandwich and Ionia Islands,
the Sierra Leone Company and the Re
public of Liberia. In small case, con-
tanning coins from Japan, we noticed
piece of money about the size Of a
mans hand. This was made Of gold,
and called an "0ban,pD the value being
seventy-five dollars. The regulations in
regard TO this coin are singular, for car
rying it out Of Japan willfully is death,
and by accident an Imprisonment for
life. In one case we notice large col
lection Of Roman coins Of the Byzan-
tine Empire, dating from A. ID. 3S5 to
l44S. Opposite 10 this is a case con-
taininr coins Of the Greek Republics
from three 10 seven centuries b. c. In
a large circular case is a collection Of
United States coins dating from 1893.
Among them is an old penny worth one
hundred and ten dollars. One large
case was filed with coins from Prussia,
Saxony, Sardinia, Tuscany and other
States. There are also numerous coins