Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-05-04
CLAY sIMMs, CAn...
A Numismntical and MineralSgical
Collection.

osities and rare coins, and passed a
pleasant hour in looking over the dates
of some of the pieces. Clay has only
been engaged in collecting it for about
ten months, and IL already overf1ows
the shelves to such an extent that he
has found it necessary to pack some of
the largest away until he a have a
case built in San Francisco of sufficient
extent to accom- modate them. We re-
gard his present collection as the hand
soonest in the State, without exception.
There are many more extensive ones,
nc doubt, but for a combination of
mineral colors it is unrivaled. The
first thing that attracts ones attention
Is q specimen Of limestone deposition,
taken from the cave in the Eureka
mine. From a solid base Of stone a
feathery mineral vegetation puts forth
its sprays, the tiny stems and leaflets
counterfeiting a fern in appearance. 1t
is as white and pure as snow and as
delicate as an ice fake. 1t would take
too much space to attempt to describe
the ore specimens in detail, compris-
ing, as they do, rich and valuable
pieces from every part of the State.
While many of these were selected
and presented on account of their
value, Clay has also had an eye to a
combination Of colOrs, and has sue
ceeded in this admirably. Every hue
of the rainbow, and several hues that
that sign OF promise does not possess
is represented. Among some of the
most gorgeous of these are ores taken
from the piles roasted in the open air
ar tho CnnGnliAata1 Tho lin.a1tnnn
under the influence of the heat and
the decomposition of the refractory
elements of the base ore, deposited the
most beautiful crystals, with green,
orange, crimson, yellow and blush
tints, all combined in n specimen.
Clay has secured some of the hand
soonest of these and adorned his cabinet
with them. Crystals, pure white, stain
ed with copper, and arsenic, galena ores
shining with a black lustre, and ex-
hibitiDg the peculiar cleavage of that
mineral. yellow carbonates, ruby sill
yer, and rock spangled with the native
metal grace the shelves. Among the
most curious specimens are thin plates
Of clay sediment, showing on their
surface the complete imprint OF tiny
fossil fishes, caught and photographed
by nature ages ago; also Impressions
OF leaves and debris preserved in a like
manner These were sent to Clay from
Green River, on the Union Pacific
Railroad, n we are under many OBJ
legations to him for n OF them which
he donated to our humble collection.
We might mention other curiosities,
such as masses of yellow crystals,
known as mo'ybdate of lead, litharge
from the Richmond refinery, ocean
shells, japanese ivory work, and a
miscellaneous assortment of curiosities.
SILVER AND COPE COINS.
Turning to the numismatic depart
ment, We find rare and ancient coins
from every part of the world, some of
them antedsting the Christian Era.
Among these We saw a Carolus silver
dollar of 1905, a Charles X. of 1926, a
Norway R~igsdaller of 1888, a Japanese
obo, a five frame of the reign of Louis
Phillip in 1884, a Spanish silver dollar
ofI725, a Mecklinburg thaler and form,
an Austrian rix dollar, a Hamburg
mark, a Russian rouble of 1926, a rupee
coined in Hindostan, British coin from
the reign of George L. to Victoria, a
Macmillan dollar, and various Gen.
trail and South American silver coins.
Among the copper coins were a mum
her found in the ruins of Pompeii,
their Inscriptions still legible, Roman
coins Of ancient date, a sold of Plus
TX, a barechi, an English copper coin
bearing date of 1899, a Coventry halt
penny Of 1892, a Yorkshire penny of
1893, an English penny Of 1876, a st.
Mauritus coin of 1878, an English
penny OF the year Of our independence,
l776, a Danish shilling of Ill, Portu-
gal coins of l722, 1895 and 1899, a
George l. and Queen Anne half penny,
a Canadian Bank of Montreal token OF
1886, and other medals, tokens. etc.,
embracing altogether over 800 pieces.
This is a very modest commencement,
but Clay is adding to it daily, and his
cabinet is fast becoming the depository
OF all the rare ard odd coins that are
found in circulation in this part OF the
country.
The science of coins and medals is
very fascinating, and the study of in
scriptions, dates, etc., has its chief
value in illustrating history.
COINS OF ALL PERIODS
Have borne on their faces either myth
illogical or historical figures, and in
the acquaintance which their study
gives us, with the portraits of dis.
tinguished persons, its preservation OF
ancient works Of art, and the insight
that we gather of ancient manners and
customs lay its chief value. The sci
ence was never pursued with great ar
dor until modern times, although some
fine Roman collections were known to
exist. Petrach was the first of modern
collectors. Since his time they have
increased, and now some very large
cabinets of coins are found. The
British Museum contains over 120, 00O
varieties; The Paris collections is still
larger, and each receive annually three
or four thousand additional pieces.
There are no large collections in the
United States, although numerous
small and valuable private cabinet,
are known.
The prices of coins and medals vary
Very rare ancient gold and silver
pieces have been sold at auction il
England for prices as high as 81, 500
when the intrinsic value of the meta