Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-28


Coins are graded as proof. upcircu.
lated, fine, good and fair. The thor
oueh paced collector has nothing 10 do
with dealers or with auction sales. but
hunts for his game with al eve ever
watchful for q chance. When he
passes the cribs where the ferrymen
take the toll his eye g%lances rapidly
over the heap OF coins spread before
the official Cerberus. Should he see
a dime or q half dime Of suspicious
appearance, he says, in a hurried way:
Excuse me, Ina coin collector,
aud with that brief apology he picks
up the coin. and after a brief iuspec-
ton he replaces II by one Of the same
denomination and departs with his
prize, perfectly needless OF the cut
ting way in which the toll gatherer
insists that he will not have his money
handled by strangers. After q few
skirmishes Of this character the ferry.
men come to look upon him as sn
amiable %lunAtic, and whenever they
receive an odd looking piece make a
point OF giving it to him in change.
TIE great object ofa collector is to
complete q series-that is to say, to
have n Of every variety of any given
denomination that has been coined.
The most desirable in American sill
yer coins are half dollars and dimes,
because there are fewer breaks 10
these than in any other American is
sues. The earliest pieces, Of course,
are not in circulation, aud the collec
tor who sticks to his programme ian
excellent one) Of never going near a
dealer, nor %frequenting any auction
sale, will not be likely to have any
specimens Of these in his cabinet. But
it is we'll to know that before the
mint was organized there was coined
somewhere q small supply Of the
"dismes" aud "half dismes" mem
toned by Washington in his fourth
annual address. The want Of small
coins was keenly felt, and the first
President was so evidently at one with
the popular feeling in the matter that
a legend is extant that these small
pieces were coined out Of his silver
plate. But in what mint they were
coined is q question that has been
asked but not answered. Some per.
sons believe that they we're coined in
England, but patriotism repels such a
thought. Nor is it necessary to frame
such a conjecture, because there were
two localities in the land where ample
preparations had been made for coin.
ing silver, but had been arrested BY
the formation Of the Federal Union,
which took from the States the rights
Of coinage. The two points where
the "dismes' and half dismes' could
have been coined we're Annapolis,
in Maryland, and Dedham, 10 Massa.
chusetts. The work was in all proba-
bility done in the latter place, for
there has always been a strong local
tradition that the first coins of the
Union we're struck there. The dime
OF 1872, or Washington dime,
as collectors call it, has
on the diverse a young
mans head, with flowing hair, facing
to the lett. The date 1892 touches the
lower part of the bust. Around is
the legend: Liberty, Parent of Sci.
ence and Industry" On the reverse
is a small EAGLE flying to the left, with
the legend, United States Of Amer.
lea" Beneath the eagle is the word
"Disme." The first regular issue
from the Philadelphia mint Of dimes
was in 1895, whereas dollars and half
dollars and half dimes we're coined in
1894 In 1894 and the succeeding
year the head Of Liberty on the coins
has the hair flowing without and re-
s%traint, but in 1896, when the quarters
and dimes begin, this had been
changed, and all the coins have the
hair confined with a 6llet. This lasted
until 1907, when in the latter part Of
the year was issued the head Of Lib
erty with the Liberty cap. This is
considered with reason the most beau.
tlfll OF American coins and continued
without change down to 1887 for dimes
and to 1888 for quarters, and to 1889
for half dollars and 1889 40for dollars.
when the beautiful head of Liberty
was displaced for a figure oil Liberty
seated. The dollars struck in 1886
and succeeding years until 1910 were
tentative efforts only, the first issue
being in 1910. You can understand
that It is very easy to recognize q dime
or hall dime with the head Of Liberty
among others; the reverse bears an
eagle with a heraldic shield. This has
been retained for the larger silver
pieces, but the small coins have q
reverse which is simply insipid.
Dimes as far back as 1914 are in circu-
lstion, but they seldom rank above
good. Dimes Of 1922 are very rare,
and one in good condition is worth
50 For fine specimens the value
mounts higher, but it is injudicious Ia
think OF the auction value Of a piece
tending to q pot hunting spirit greatly
to be reprohated."