Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-12
Uhe Jree Hress.
AM IilsICAN COINS.
Prlzes OF The collectors Coins that
Have stiaugely Disappeared.

"Iherc Is really TO en- >" said an amateur
coin colo ctcr to II Iiibuio reporter, ITO the
list Of articles collected in cabinets. l col
lsct only American silver coins and know
that there is whole world Of absolutely un-
suspected details about this branch of COL
lectine. Th'rc, for instance, Is the myst cry
about the coinage of 1904 A small number
of dollars was struck, and of these coins not
one h ~ ever b,cn found. There are two
spccimri in existence of the 1904 dollar, |
but there is every reason to believe That
these were rrslrikcs made in 1928 by some
Que in the mint at Philadelphia in snrrcp
tituus and unlawful way for some collector
who had inllueace. What can have become
of those dollars that have disappeared 50
c)mpl, telS From time to time at auction sales
one OF these rostrikes appears, and ut each
sale fe,ches greater sum. AS high as 81
coo has been paid for one OF them. But
what shall be said OF the haf.dollars OF 1904
OF these no less than $50, $40 specimens were
coined, yet none has ever been discovered.
A certain number OF half-dOllais bearing the
date 1905, will, il examined closely discover
that the five has been struck over four.
This only shows that a certain number OF tue
1894 half-dullars was never issued from The
mint and was converted into 1905 pieces, bnt
it does not explain the total vanishing OF
those that were issued. There can be nc.
doubt that something happcned.of mys-
FERROUS character which caused the dollars
a1d half-doars to disappear, for the quarters
of that year are not particularly scarce
fue specimen costs only $40, aud
fair specimen can be had Tor 90. Yet
there were only G73S pieces OF that
denomination struck in that annus mrabilis
for us collectors and OF dollars there were
1880. There were only 32l dollars struck
"A Nxrarn N m.
bility for tho cabinets Of collectors, for no
dollar was issued in 1905. Then the coinage
of silver dollar ceased. and did not begin
again until 1886 1t would be easy to frame
the hypothesis, that the larger American Sill
vercOins were over weight and that merchants
bought them up and sold them for melting.
But although the facts in relation to the dol
lars bear out this theory, yet the annals OF the
mi about the haif-dollars are opposed to 1t,
for in 1905 there was a very large issue Of
this piece, and so on every year until 1919,
when there was comparatively small issue.
In 1916 there was no coinage at all OF hall
dollars Coins Of this denomination for 1915
are rather scarce, SO that line specimen is
worth from 10 to 20 dollars according to its
appearance.
fine, good aud fair. The Thoroughbred
collector has nothing 10 do with dealers or
with auction sales but hunts for his game
with an eve ever watchful for q chance.
When he passes the cribs where the ferrymen
take the toll, his eye glances rapidly over the
heap OF coins spread before the fiicial Cerbe-
rus. Should he see a dime, OF suspicious
appearance, he says, in hurried way, "ex-
cuse me, I'm a coin collector and with tina.
brief apology he picks up the coin. and after
brief inspection he replaces it by one OF the
same denomination and departs with his
prize perfectly needless of the cutting way in
which the toll gatherer insists that he will
not have his money handled by strangers
After a few skirmlshes OF this character the
ferrymen come to look upon him us an amia-
BILE luna,ic, and whenever they receive an odd
looking piece make point Of giving it to
HIM 10 change.
The great object of a collector is to com
plete series, that is to say, TO have one OF
every variety of any given denomination
that has been coined. The most desirable
in American silver coins are half dollars aud
dimes because there are fewer breaks in
these than in any other American issues
The earliest pieces, of course are not in Cir
eula,ion, and the collector who sticks TO his
programme-an excellent one-of never CO.
ing near dealer, nor frequenting any sue
ton sale will not be likely to have any spec
linens of these in his cabinet. But it is well
to know that before the mint was organized
there was coined somewhere small supply
of the "lismcs" and half-dismes mentioned
by Washington, in his fourth annual address
The want of small coins was keenly felt, and
the first President was 80 evidently
with the popular feeling in the matter thai
AL, gend is extant that these small pieces
were coined out Of his silver plate. But il
what minti they were coined is a question
that has been asked but not answered
Some persons believe that they were coinct
in England. but patriotism repels such
thought. Nor is it necessary to frame sucl
conjecture, because there were two local.
ties in the laud where ample preparation
had teen made for coming silver, but hat
been arrested by the formation OF the Fed
eral Union, which took from the States thu
right of coinage. The two points where tn
''dismcs' and half dismes could have beef
coined were Annapolis, in Maryland, ant
Dedham, in Massachusetts. The work wa
in all probability done at the latter place
for there has always been strong local ira
.iition that the first coins OF the Union wer
struck there. The dime Of 1892, or Wash
ington dime, as collectors lcall it, has on til
diverse a young mans head, with nown
hair, facing to the left. The date 179
touches the lower part Of the bust. Aroun
is the legend: Liberty, Parent of Scenc
and Industry" On the reverse is sma
eagle flying to the left, with the legent
Omitted States of America! Beneath til
eagle is the word "Disme.' The first regl
lar issue from the Philadelphia Mint c
dimes was in 1906, whereas dollars and hal
dollars aud half-dimes were coined in 179.
In 1794 aud the succeeding year the head {
Liberty on the COINS has the hair flown
without any restraint. but in 1896, when II
quarters and dimes begin, this had bee
changed and all the coins have the hair col
fined with tilet. This lasted until 1880
when in the latter part OF the year W,
Issued the head OF Liberty with the Libei'
cap. This is considered with reason the mo
beautiful of American coins, and continue
without change down to 1887 for dimes ar
TO 1888 for quarters, and to 1889 for hal
dollars and 1886 -1S40 for dollars, when Il
beautiful head of Liberty was displaced f
afgure Of Liberty seated, The dollars strut
in 1880 and succeeding years until 1910 we
tentative efforts only, the first large issl
being in 1910. You can understand that it
very easy 10 recognize dime or half-din
with the head of Liberty among others; Il
reverse bears an eagle with heraldic shiel
This has been retained for the larger silv
pieces, but the small coins have rever
which is simply inspid. Dimes as far ba
as 1914 are in circulation, but they sedc
rank above good. Dimes OF 1929 are We
rare, and one in good condition is worth