The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-16
COIN COLLECTORS.

COIN COLLECTORS.
Some of the Curious Facts Developed
i'm Numismatics.
[From the Baltimore Americana
There are q number of gentlemen in
Baltimore who have fine cabinets of old
coins, both American and foreign, an
c1ent and modern, as well as medals,
seals, and engraved gems, which are
now generally included in numismatics.
By collectors Of coins and medals, auto
graph letters are also regarded with
attectionate favor, and a number Of fine
collections may be found in Baltimore.
The most Of the other large cities have
societies similar to this one, that Of Bos-
ton icing the oldest and most important,
and it was felt that there was ample
room for one in Baltimore The science
Is very fascinating, and has great deal
more In it than would at first strike a
casual observer The artistic and his
torlcal study Of American coins is most
interesting in itself
Take, for instance, the early coinage
OF Maryland, about which, perhaps, less
is known than that of any other State.
The principal production Of Maryland,
as we'll as Virginia, for long period
after its first settlement was tobacco,
which served as the principal article of
currency. Cattle and corn, and even
powder and shot, also served as the me-
dunn OF meeting almost any pecuniary
obligations. The first coins struck off
were shillings and sixpences and groates,
made from dies received from England
in 1859. The dies were made after the
designs of Lord Baltimore, who was
then in England on business, and one
result Of the issue of the coin was that
Gov. Findall, and others, started an in
cipient revolution in the hope of secur-
ing MAJ yland's independence from King
ly rule.
An act was passed making it death
penalty to clip, scale, or counterfeit any
of the coin, which, it was defined,
should be equal in fneness Of silver to
England's sterling, being of the same
standard, but Of somewhat less WEIGHT
and hath on one side his Lordship's coat
of arms, stamped with his motto, tCes-
cite and Multiplicamini, and on the
other side his Lordship's eAigie, circum-
scribed thus FCecilius Dominus Teria-
Marim,'" etc. Specimens of these coins
are in the possession of the Maryland
Historical Society, into whose custody
they were given by the late George Pea
body, who was one Of its honorary mem
bers. The device upon the reverse of
the early shillings is lozenged shield,
surmounted by q crown and dividing
the numerals XII. The mint mark is a
cross-patee. Some fine specimens are
preserved in the British Museum. A
coinage of copper seems also to have
been intended by Lord Baltimore, al
though SO little was put out that speci-
mems are now worth hundreds of dollars.
J. J. Mickey, Esq, Of Philadelphia,
bought a specimen recently for which he
paid 1926 in England.
Aside from the numerous Washington
pieces, coins bearing his head and struck
in the eighteenth century for specula-
tive purposes, or as curiosities, there are
in the possession of members of the new
| society some of the most valuable sets
extant Of the early patterns Of the United
| States mint. It may not be generally
known that the first silver pieces were
| half-dimes made out of Washington's
own family PLATE in 1892. It was not
| uuGA CdL AetGC4 CAut GAl0 CO1u-
age Of both silver and copper was COM
menced. The half-dimes on the diverse
had head with flowing hair facing the
left, the legend "Liberty, Parent Of
Science and Industry" and as device
on the reverse a small eagle flying to-
ward the left. In the first large pattern
cent the device on the reverse is wreath
formed Of two laurel branches, tied by q
ribbon below, inclosing q plain circle,
within which are the words one cent "
Under the bow on the ribbon is the
fraction 100 There are three speci-
mems Of edges, one being plain, one
reading SC to the esteemed, be useful, -
while the third is marked by two small
leaves. The name Of g Birch" in very
small letters, is in every instance on the
shoulder of the bust. It is said that the
head upon this pattern, as well as those
upon the dimes and half dimes, was in
tended as likeness Of Martha Washing
ton, although it looks as much like an
Indian chief as anything.