The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-20
TIE DOLLAR OF 1904
Row . Quaint Old Antiquarian Went Into
Ecsta les Over Coin.


Ecsta.ies Over Coin.
Tho publication of the history given
by MIR. George c. Evans. of the liking
of American Rarities." the dollsr of
1904, has brought out fund of de.
lightful "reminiscences from Mr.. II. C.
Young. Of the custom house, who was
instrumental in obtaining one of the
seven coins for Mr.. James j. Mickey,
whose collection was bought by MIR.
w. s. Appleton, tho present owner.
for 81. 500.
Mr.. Young is tall, snowy-haired
old man, whose enthusiasm has not
been lessoned by years. II first be-
came acquainted with Mr.. Mickey.
who was dealer in musical instru.
ments. in 1872" he said recently, ..aud
found him in possession of q fine col.
lection of rare coins. in which he in
terested mo SO much that I soon found
myself hunting up old CO ms, which 1
took to him. receiving in exchange
the.r face value and his warm thanks.
On the lst OF September. 1847, was
called upon to take the position of
coin-tellcr in tho Bank of Pennsylvania,
my duties being to receive aud count
or weigh all coin received IN payment
of the balances which occurred at the
exchanges with the other hanks. The
balances VIII ch were frequently paid
in silver, and as much as $2O,OOU or
$4,000 ut a time were brought to the
bank on drays. OF course. that was
before the time of clearing house cer-
tiicatcs.
Handling SO much coin. thought
l would have a better chance of oh.
tanning some rare ones Tor my friend,
as it had become my pleasure to do
l called upon MIR. Mickley and obtain-
cd a list of those coins required to
complete his collection. He headed
tho list with the dollar of 1904, but
sad: i do not expect you to get mo
that one, for so few were coined that
l suppose Ill must now DO IN cabinets
"At that time the money in pay
ment of notes duo at the bank was re.
ccivcd by tho receiving teller aud en-.
tered upon his scratchcr. ] think
had held my position not over ono
month. when u lad who came in to pay
note had with his change silver
dollar The dollar looked quite bright.
and put it aside, as usual. for inspec-
ton when at leisure. On examining
it found it to be tho date of 1904. 1t
looked as if it had never been in circu.
lation, and it still retained the
polish received from tho die, and
must have found ITS way from some
collection.
II wrapped it in soft paper. and put
it in my pocket. having replaced it by
two halves. ! called upon Mr.. Mick
ley the same afternoon, aud found him
at his bench gluciny violin. He
turned as went in and said: What
has my worthy friend brought me to.
day.? l took the dollar still wrapped
in paper from my pocket. and holding
it up SO that he could see the size,
said Guess He answered, i can not.
said What if | should say lSO4Y He
held up both hands and said, Don't,
please; don't raise my hopes unless
you have it, lpiaced it in his hand.
He took the paper oil carefully, and,
taking it by the edge between his
thumb and finger, viewed it for some
time in silence, while his eyes filled
with tears. laughed at this an said:
None Of that lie started and ap-
pcarcd to wake from dream. and
jumped right up and down for some
time. Then ho laid his hand upon my
head, and said: You arc u most
worthy and respected friend. What
am to give you for this most
splendid dollar?' 1 said: 1t cost
me just 81, and that is tho price to
You.'
HE was very proud of his collection
of coins and always took great pleas
ure in showing them to any ono who
called to see him. One day man,
dressed very nicely. called. aud. mon.
tioning tho name of a friend of MIR.
Monkeys, said ho was sent to examine
the co:ns. MIR. Mickey, who was al.
ways kind and gentlemanlike. unlock
ed his cabinet and took out the draw
ers containing tho varieties. While
the two were thus engaged another
man called saying he wished to rent
piano. MIR. Mickey left his coins with
the first visitor, entered an adjoining
room with the new conner and remain
ed some time trying tho tones of the
pianos. When he returned to tho in
ner room tho visitor had gono. taking
with him $50 of the coins. The sec-
ond man was supposed to be an ac-
complice. as he never returned. Fort.
unately tho thief took coins of tho
most recent date, many of which were
duplicates. With tears in his eyes MIR.
Mickey said to me: "If the thief had
taken my dollar of 1904 he would have
broken my heart.
''During the twenty years that Mr..
Mickey held the dollar of 1904, 1 sup
pose, l saw it at least fifty times. and
he would always take it by the cdg 9
between his thumb and finger aud say:
"Hush! don't touch IT." fearing that
its polished surface Iaight become
tarnished. VI Philadelphia Press.
Hc Saw Jack.On's Victory.
Matthias Morgridge. aged 81. an
eccentric citizen of Manchester town.
ship. this county, died a few days ago
on the farm where ho had lived for
s'xty.fivc years, writes tIones,iale,
Pa. correspondent. He was born in
England. In 1912 l,c ran away from