Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-05-17
Coins and Coinage.
a PArER OF INTEREST To NUMIsNATIsTs AND
OTHERS.

a PAFER OF INTEREST To NUMIsMATIsTS AND
OTHERS.
As there appears in the public prints,
occasionally, misleading articles upon rare
coins, and As persons are apt to get ex-
aggerated ideas Of the value of their pocket
pieces, IN order to give sODe really trust
worthy information upon a subject which Is
yearly increasing in interest, VIC present to
our readers an abstract OF a paper read
before the Vermont Numismatic Society, at
its lastregular meeting, which will be found
OF much interest and value. This society
was organized in June. 1877 and now num-
bers some twenty. It's object. as its name
implies, is the study of coins, and its meet
ings. which are held quarterly, are full of
interest on account of the exhibition of fine
specimens of the coins of all countries by
Its members. Owing to the increasing in
terest manifested throughout the country
in the science of Numismatics, the society
requested its secretary. Dr. c. 2. Thayer.
to prepare paper upon the subject. and it
Is an abstract of this which We subjOin
COINS IN GENERAL.
The metal of which coins are composed
are first relied into narrow strips of the
width and thickness necessary, and then
passed through a machine which cuts it
INFO circular pieces, or disks, which receive
thu name of plaRciei. Coins, Consequently,
have two sides, and, to distinguish them.
they are called OJrcrse and Rererse. The
Diverse is the side upon which the head or
principal figure is placed, and usually bears
the date al-o,-Tn other words the "head."
The Reverse is the other side, or tail and
usually bears the coat of arms OF the coun-
try issuing IL, or the value of the piece or
both. The lettering and words found upon
coins are called inscriptions, or legends. The
space not occupied by figures or inscriptions
Is called the eIergHe. and usually
contains the date. There arc also
types and rdricfieS of tie same
coin. The word type refers to the
design on a coin, while a variety is
slight variation in style and lettering, but
not marked enough to constitute distinct
type. As, for an example. there are
three types of the 1893 cent.-the 'chain."
the wreath" and the Liberty cap" In
1913 cent appeared having upon its
diverse, or head, the head OF Liberty and on
its reverse chain of l3 links emblematical
of the 10 original State enclosing the words
zone cent y That Is the chain cent. Soon
after there appeared cent with wreath
in place of the chain and it is called the
wreath cent. Later in the year the figure OF
liberty mad pole over her shoulder with
a liberty cap upon the end, constituting the
liberty cap type of the 1893 cent The
term variety is illustrated by the
cent Of the same year 1893. On some
of them the letters sea in the word
America is omitted. 50 that the legend
reads, 6 United States of Ameri," in
instead of America
Other examples are found in the cents Of
1907, 1917. 1899, 1913. 1855, etc. The silver
coinage also presents the same variations,
and person possessing all Of them in his col
lection has valuable property. Besides
the regular issue Of the United States mint,
different States have issued coins, Vermont
heading the line. and establishing a mint at
Rupert in the year 1885. They are called
ColOnials and are but very rarely met with
in circulation, and command premiums
OF the regular issues OF the Unitad States
mint, there are good many of great value,
and in the following list have endeasored
to give the price at which they arc held by
coin dealers. OF course, a coin that is bat
tered or worn is not worth as much as a
sharp, clear, uncirculated specimen.