Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-13

cast ~ al 1he living that she had
This coin apparently belongs to The
age just preceding the Christian era
and Is Of the denomination refer.
red to by the sacred historian. An inscrip-
ton Just above it states that 1t was sfound
at Jerusalem, near the site of the Temple
Among the collection OF Jewish coins In
this case IS the penny, or "tribute money
referred to Ia Matthew %, 1922, coin that
must have been in circulation at the birth of
Christ. There Is also in this collection q
coin Of the same denomination, and very
likely Of the same date, as the ssthirty
pieces Of silver paidto Judas for betraying
the Saviour. What current of thoughe
these old coins are calculated to set in mo-
ton Perhaps the Saviour himself or some
of his Apostles may have handled the very
coins that now lie before u.s. In one of
the eases here there are about two hundred
and sixty coins OF Austria, Portugal and
Spain. These coins are Of different sizes
aud cast in numerous metals and stamps.
In the coins Of the Netherlands and Bel
GUM may be seen denominations of CEN
time, CULVER, stiVers, crown, forms, kreut-
yer, kfksdaler, etc. One ceDtiIne in this
collection bears the inscription "Over
Yssel 1901" There is large silver coin
in the collection called "Lein d argent"
the device upon which is thu face of a lion,
with 8 drawn sword, defending q shield
which bore the inscription s'II Ben Tas."
There is also large collection Of oriental
coins, embracing those of Turkey, Egypt,
Algiers, Tripoli, Tunis, Persia, Hipdustan,
China and Siam, the Malay Archipelago and
British tokens. Some of the Chinese coins
are. two thousand years old, and are.
unique and rather rude attempts
at the art. There is also a
fine collection from Mexico, Central Amer
lea and Brazil. In the collection from the
West Indies there are many interesting
coins. Among them are several fragments
called "cut money" This was cut out by
the authority of the Spanish government,
but private individuals taking advantage of
the law, commenced cutting the Spanish
dollar into sstoo many quarters Free
quently Eve pieces would be cut from one
dollar and passed for twenty five cents each.
In the same case may be seen Trinidad
dollar, large silver coin, with the centre
cut out. This was done to prevent expor-
tation, the present value of the coin being
eighty-three cents. It thus appears that
to prevent the expectation of its silver.
There were also coins Of the British, Dam
ish, French, Sandwich and Ionia Islands,
the Sierra Leone Company and the Repub-
lie Of Liberia. noticed in small case
near the centre Of the room collection Of
Japanese coins. One was gold coin about
hessize OF q lsdy's hand, quite thin, and
deliberately engraved, a portion OF which
was colored black by some process which
makes 1t stick. The name OF this coin is
"aban, and the date of its coinage is 1860.
Its value Is $7525. By the laws of Japan
previous to the opening of the ports of that
country TO commercial intercourse with
other nations, the penalty for willfully car
rying this coin out of that country
was death; and il carried out by
accident, the punishment was i'm
prisonment for long period. How this
coin was taken from Japan is not known at
the mint. The smallest coin in value in
the possession Of the Mint, is to be seen In
this case. 1t represents the ninety-sixth
part of another japanese coin, the value OF
which ia two and q half cents. The reader
may put his wits to work to tell the value
Of this coin IN our curreocy, and how much
marketing q basket full Of such would buy.
MEDALS AND CURIoSITIEs.
Copies Of all the medals ordered by Con-
gress, as well IS quite number form for
eign nations, may be seen in the cabinet
room. Each medal has an interesting his
tory attached to It, as commemorating some
important event in the annals Of this and
other nations, which is shown by the In
scription on each. A collection Of Wash
ington medals, one hundred and thirty
eighth number, is seen at this end Of the
room. ...c
A large and most elegant collection OF
sgates, petriied wood, together with speci-
mems Of gold in its native state, will be
found here. There are fourteen varieties
Of ores and rare minerals brought by Maj.
A. r. Calhoun from Arizona. The col
lection of gold, silver, copper and other ores
from different parts Of the United States
and distant mines is large and interesting.
Tennessee is represented by only piece OF
her variegated marble.
Among the curiosities In this room may
be seen three golden images from the
Chinqui graves In Central America. They
are cast in the form Of man, reptile and
bird, the largest being valued st $34.68
These rude specimens Of antiquity show
The state Of art at that remote but unknown
period. The discovery of these ancient
graveyards, in 1858, occasioned much inter
est. Near these are some specimens Of the
African shell money, and forty OF thest
pieces will buy slave. Among thu
African collections was variety OF orna
ments, consisting of silver rings for the
ankles and wrists, ring of native gold
trinkets, chain, rings and pipe. On one
| of the shelves was an old stone, q frag
ment of historical record Of ancien
Nineveh, and clay tube with the arrow
head writing. Also, specimens from the
| wreck of the San Pedro, In 1915, and sever
Of the twelve sacred jsWels, nearly the sam
as those found Ia the breast-plate. A Gu
rioslty that attracts much attention is golt
dollar found in the glzzsrd Of chicken b!
Capt. Henry Little, of the United Statei
Army, several years ago. The action o
the chickens gizzard wore away about one
eighth OF the value Of the coin.
Passing on around the room plaste
| cast of the face of Oliver Cromwell, takel
| Immediately after death, Is seen, which !
is said TO be good likeness. 1t present
1 that bull dog appearance which the charae
ter of Cromwell suggests.
Altogether the cabinetis one OF the mos
interesting places in which stranger il
| Philadelphia can spend an hour or two
This department Is provided with mum
Der Of gentlemen, who will be pleased Il
impart such Information in regard to tn
/ coins, medals, ETC., as the visitors may de
sire. 1t Is most interesting department
of the mint, and the visitor will find mucl
in It that Is instructive and interesting.
| - sf..r VERI GREEN.