The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-04-23
THE RAREST OF ALL COINS.

i -.
Here is the true story of the rarest OF
coins, and how precious medal came tc
be the great numismatic triumph of the
French collection. One evening in july
1857. q French gentlemaR, an expert OF
the British Museum, was dining in Lon.
don with General Fox, the son of Lord
Holland. In the midst of the dinner
table talk, the numismatic enthusiast was
addressed as follows by gentlemen
present: Il am sorry you were not in
town to-day, for should have sent you
queer kind Of fellow, who says he came
from Bokhara, and who pretends that he
has a rare COIN"
The numismatist was all attention.
''It was q gold coin, SO he said, of some
ancient king of India, and would weigh
as much as 90 sovoreigns, and was huge
as big as the palm Of my hand"
The numismatist's heart was IN his
mouth.
'Sorry you seem so excited about it. It
is my belief that the whole thing is a
forgery. Just think of it! The shabby
looking fellow who was hawking the coin
around had the impertinence to ask
$4,000 for It'll"
The numismatist thought over it, and,
as al expert, reasoned in this way over
the story: "Forger he may be. Still,
there may be some thing in it. Issuers
Of spurious old coin never have brains
enough to invent new forms; they always
vamp up representations Of certain we'll
known coins. Anyhow, it may be worth
while for me to look it up as numismat-
ical nlonstrosity."
"The fellow" continued the informant.
seemed very much down on his luck.
He told NE that wherever he had been
to show Or sell his coin, the experts had
kicked him out, declaring that his piece
of money was forgery"
A hope sprang up in the coin collect
or's heart-an inkling that some great
find was near at hand. Instinctivelv he
rose from the dnner-table, determined to
set out at once in search of the coin.
General Fox, the host, being himself the
most enthusiastic Of collectors. under
standing what it is to have g. fit of nu-
1nismatt::a, excused him, and he posted as
quick BIS cab could take him to Isling-
ton, for at lslington he knew an Oriental
whe kept up communication with those
curious waits from the East, who only
turn up in the greatest city of the world.
a trail was discovered in Islington itself
and soon the miserable lodgings of the
man from Bokhara were found. The
landlord Of the house said, ''The man
you wish to see is just going to bed. {
know he has been trying to find you.
Shall call him DOWN.
Eyes, at ouce," cried the expert.
In few minutes down came the man
who had been kicked out by every coin
collector in London. With the help of
the Oriental, who acted as an Interpreter.
the Bokhara man was told to show his
com. Then the Bokharan Individual
took Off his queerly-cut coat, next his
embroidered waistcoat, then his waist
band, next his shirt, until there was
nothing on him above the waist but his
undershirt, and from under his arrn-pit
he drew out with great deliberation
dirty, sweat-begrimedl leather case, which
he laid slowly On a table. Presently the
case was opened, and in an instant the
eyes of the expert were dazzled with that
peculiar soft, yellow sheen which only
antique gold gives forth. 1t was, indeed,
prize. One glance alone was sufficient
to show that it was 8 grand medallion,
unique coin, the chiefest, the raress in
the world. It has taken years of study
on the part of the numismatic, trans
mitted instinct. in fact, through some
generations, fer this expert to appreciate
a rare coin sc a single look.
Knowing that IN dealing with Orientals
an intended purchaser must exhibit no
anxiety, the expert did not allow mus.
Gle Of his face to move.
1t was the Bokhara man who took the
gold coin and placed it in the numisma-
lists hand. If the recipients hand had
trembled in the least with excitment,
the willy Oriental would have made
hard bargain. It was q supreme effort,
for when the piece was touched only by
the :aumismatlst's finger something like
an electric shock tore up his arm.
Said the Bokhara man, through the in
terpreter, "Ihat coin cost me dear. It
has been sWeated in mans blood-his
hearts blood. Seven Of us found that
piece of gold. We quarrelled over it.
That was natural. It was worth fight.
We fell on one another with knives and
daggers. After while, for it was hot
work, five of the men rolled dead in the
dust. Only two Of us were left. The
other man is still at Bokhara. He agreed
that should come to Europe to sell this
bit of gold. Since it was found have
always carried it under my arm. There
are, understand, more skillful thieves
in England than in Bokhara. They all
say in London, those who have studied
old golden money, that this coin is q for
gerry. I know better. Will you buy it,
my lord2'' B.
The expert looked at it again, and sat
isfed himself Of its authenticity. It was
an antique. More than that, it was nu-
mismatic prodigy. It's weight was near