Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-05-10
OLD AMERICAN CsINS.

dollar OF 1904 and the 1915 Penny.
In 1894 the government began to coin
it's own money, discarding that of
George III forever, and in that year
and 1895 circulated 1901 791. In 1896
the coinage WAS only $72 200, and IN
1899 IT was $423 515 In 1900 1920 500
were coined. Ia 1904 the mint ceased
to coin the silver dollar, and from that
year until 1915 that coin did not appear
to any great extent in circulation, al
though pattern coins were made IN
1886, 1888 ana 1889. These were not
for circulation, but issued rs specimens
for the inspection of the authorities
delegated to regulate the mintage.
These issues, so small when the popu-
lation of the country is considered,
show thsl IN this country in the latter
part of the eighteenth century trade
was in somewhat primitive coalition,
and that charter" was largely in vogue
among the citizens. In 1910 the coin
age of silver dollars reached only $780,
600. while in 1880 the issue of what has
since been known and bitterly cursed)
as the Bland dollar, was $12 600 600,
and in 1881 100000. These figures
show that at this period trade demand
abroad sprung up for silver, and that
the Americans were able to supply it.
Prior to this, however, the trade dollar
was issued for the Chinese trade, its
original mission being to facilitate trade
with China, and to drive the NJ exican
silver out of that country. The trade
dollar was eagerly received by the Chi
nese, and its advent was the doom of
the inferior Mexican coin in that en-
pire.
Among the coin collectors there has
been a fierce competition for years for
the silver dollar of 1904 This is one
of the rarest of all the American silver
pieces, not more than six authentic
specimens, according to the opinion of
trustworthy experts. being in existence.
There Is no certainty as to the reason
for the scarcity Of dollars of this date,
but it is g legend among collectors that
in 1904 there was cargo of tea re.
ceived in tAis country on the cash
basis, and it took all the dollars of that
years coinage--between 1900 and
2000O-to satisfy the Chinese, who
have always had u holy horror OF sub
sidiary coin. One of the peculiarities
of the Chinese is, that all foreign coins
of standard value received by them is
recoined by their government. The
same rule prevails in this country as
to foreign coin, which must be sent to
the assay office and thence to the mint
for coinage before it can 60 into gem
eral circulation.
The scarcity of the 1904 silver dollar
long since inspired the genius of un-
principled men, and the result is that
there are many copies OF the old coin
i'll existence that pass as genuine, and
are shown in otherwise good collec-
tons. AS has already been said, there
are only six of the genuine coins now
known. Those that glitter in show
cases are accurate fac SMILES. perhaps,
but they are not genuine, neverth eless.
There is a story among collectors to
the effect that relative of the super
intendent of the mint--a son 1t is be-
heved, caused dozen or fifteen i'm
pressions from the original die of tae
1904 dollar to be made and sold them
even then at fancy prices; but the old
gentleman, the soul Of honor, found
out what he had done, and managed,
at great expense, to suppress all but
TWO or three evidences of his sons
crime; but several counterfeits of the
1904 dollar have been made, and some
of these are fondly believeS ia by
their owners. In 1876 one of these
was offered to a well known Philadel-
phia collector, who was nearly taken
in by it. Since that time the 1904 dol
lar has been sold four or five timcs,
generally for from $500 to 500. There
was doubt of the authenticity of each
of these specimens, although if they
are to1Aterfeits they are very near
equal to the genuine.
Six or seven years sgo silver dollars
of 1901, 1902, and 1908 were ffered for
sale to ]. Calvin Randall, the Chez tnut
collector, for $40 each. He RI Juested
that they be left with him for examina-
ton, and his inspection proved that
they were not of the dates they bore
although they were of standard silver
and OF approved weight. In the 1902
dollar the 2 was out of plumb, and
thtiC nClC SOfbIdl ObuSI ubltClo tuAN
did not appear in the genuine.
''Is there any counterfsitiDg of rare
coins?' Mr.. Randall was asked yester-
day.
There has not been great deal
hitherto" was the reply, "but if the
demand increases as it has been doing
within the last few years, it can not
fail to bring forth hosts of counterfeits.
You see, Flood, one of the California
OOnanza men, has been bitten with the
mania for collection, and has his agents
at all the sales. Then there are Mr..
Garrett, q very wealthy gentleman of
Baltimore, and L. Parmelee, of Boston,
baker of pork and beans, but very
rich, and bali score OF other ardent
collectors all of whom stand ready to
pay high prices for rarities. An 1904
dollar, genuine, should be worth at least
$4,000, and l think if any of them come
under the hammer you will find very
heavy bidding for them. The last one
that was sold fell to H. S. Adams,
the cashier of the Boston post
Office, for 1925. That was dirt cheap.
T'ho 49,.