Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-03-19
OLD COINS.
AN INTERESTING CHAPTER ON EUMIs-
matte COLLECTIONS.
and Medals Silver Dollar
Valued at $1,000
From the New York SUN

| their scarcity and the efforts of coin collec.
tors to secure them. The result was that
dealers in coins were deluged with offers to
sell specimens of that coin and with in
quiries as to whether the report was true.
Some time ago similar story was cireu-
lated with reference to the coinage of cents
in the United States Mint in 1914. It was
alleged that in that year there was a dis
honest workman who was detected in the
act of stealing a quantity of gold. In
order to screen himself from punishment
and dispose of the evidence of his crime,
he hastily threw his stolen gold into a
crucible of molten copper that he was pass
ing The story ran that the workman s
secret had become known, and that the
pennies of 1914 were being brought up to
extract the gold from them.
Some idea of the extensive interest taken
in the collection of coins and medals may
be gathered from the fact that in the year
1880 there were thirty seven sales of coin
collections in the city of New York alone.
The total value of the sales was about $780,
000 When to this is added the sales by
regular Dealers the total value of the sales
of coins and medals foots up 500, 900 a
year. Besides the Numismatic Society of
New York, of which Professor Anthem is
President, which has been ten years in ex-
! istence, there are lesser societies IN other
cities, and there is growing interest in
| the subject. The literature of the subject
| is extensive, and a coin collectors journal
is published in this city. Scott & Co. say
they have the names of more than 20, 600
persons in the United States who are inter.
ested in numismatic matters Some of
| aoIlaoArqo or lara For
| certain pieces which they need to complete
/ collections. The traffic is so extensive that
/ there is a distinct market value for every
rare coin and even difference In price for
| different stages of preservation. The wear
and tear of ages reduces the value OF coin
| because the distinctness Of the impression
becomes defaced. Thus it not unfrequently
| happens that one impression of coin may
| be worth twice as much as another impress
| sion of the same coin.
Looking over large collection the other
day, the reporter asked: ''What is the old
est coin you have -
Here is an e gina coin dating 700 years
before Christ. 1t is didrachma, and was
a very common Greek coin. 1t is worth
about Sc"
"Only Sc for go much antiquity? How
is that !? Does not a coin become more
valuable according to its age! ;"
By no means, unless it is rare and in
demand as well as old. Many old coins
are comparatively plentiful. Here are
coins at least 1000 years old that can be
bought for Is cents, 81 or 81"
" How do you know that they are gen
uine?"
By the same tests that manuscripts
and traditions and historical facts of all
kinds are authenticated. There are socie-
ties not only in New York, but in Phila-
delphia, Boston, Pittsburg. and other
places, where they make study of these
things, There is no more trouble in au-
thenticating an ancient coin than any other
/ object of antiquity.
g Have you any specimens of the wild
owls mite spoken of in the Scriptures?"
90 Yes they are not very scarce. Here
is a coin issued by Pontius Plate.
You have never found any of the silver
pieces for which Joseph was sold ?"
''No, there would be no means of iden-
tifying them, because they were not coined
or stamped The silver for which Judas
betrayed his Master was coined money.
! The progress of the art of coinage is fair
index of the progress Of the ages First
there were only rude stamps on chunks of
silver and other metal. Then the stamps
were made larger, but no attempt was
made to FL out the mold. The more
modern coins are perfect all over, the orna-
mental part covering the rim as well as the
faces. Some of the medals that have
been coined to commemorate various
events have been beautiful specimens of
die-cutting. There is naturally more scope
for the artist to produce a design on
medal. Here is beautiful medal struck
in 1880 to commemorate the fiftieth ami
versary of the independence of Belgium.
There Is enc of 1887. The subject is the
siege of Breda in the Netherlands. Here
is double crown with the portrait of
Ferdinand III. and his wife. The original
value was 81 it is now worth SIS"
So What are the chief coins of the United
| States that are worth more than their face
value?"
"The silver dollar of 1894, with flowing
| hair, is worth SIS. The silver dollar of
1904 is worth 5000 to 500. The silver
dollar of 1888 is worth SIS. The half
dollars of 1894 are worth S25; 1886, $50 !;
and 1897, $40; of 1885, with milled edge,
| 81 An original half dollar struck by the
Confederate States in 1861 is worth $500.
The quarter-dollar of 1896 is worth 81 of
| 1923 and 1927, SIS; of 1853, so cents.
| The 20-cent pieces of 1877 and 1878 are
worth 81 50'each. The dimes of 1896 are
worth so cents; of 1884,. 1898, 1900, 1901,
! 1902 1903, and 1904 are worth 81 each.
In some cases there have been different is
sues of the same coin In the same year.
| One issue may be rarity and the other
issue may be plentiful. The only way to
determine the value is to see what piece
will sell for. OF half dimes, an issue of
| 1884 is worth 81; of 1896, 1877, 1901,
1903, and 1905, 81 each. The most val
liable half dime is of the issue 1902, which
is worth Sl2 70. Three-cent silver pieces
| from 1863 to 1865 are worth % cents each.
| Those of 1873 are worth 60 cents each"
How about the famous liberty PEN
MES?
"There are many varieties, ard their
value varies from 10 cents to SO, accord
ing to the perfectness of the stamp. There
are several kinds of the issue OF 1898. One
has long flowing hair, and the reverse has
chain with thirteen links. Another kind
has liberty cap and a wreath on the re-
verse. Another kind has liberty cap and
wreath of different device The rarest
nickel penny is the eagle of 1856, which is
worth so cents. The newspapers made SO
much fun of the device that it was with
drawn from circulation very soon, and is
now scarce. The most valuable half-cent
is the issue Of 1876, which is worth So.
| The half-cent Issues of 1886, 1913, lS47
and 1852 are worth 81 each. The half-cent
issues of 1881, 1871, 1874 and 1916 are
worth 81 each. The half-cents of lS40,
| 1912. 1916 and lS4S are worth 81 so each.
How about American gold pieces ?"
Many are worth more than their face.
The $40 of lS49 is worth $50. All the
$40 gold issues from l795 to 1901 are at a
| premium of from 80 cents to 81. Most of
the IS gold pieces from 1895 to 1867 are
at premium of % cents to 81. The
price varies according TO the coinage, with
the large or small eagls used in the Mint
in those years. One stamp OF So gold coin