The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-03-26
EARLY colN-saA,slso.

T. r ss
Money Manufactursd In Philadelphis
Nearly . Century Ago-Ths wash.
1ngton ITalf.Dollar, the Mark,
the Cent OF 708, and the
Dollar Of 70A-High
Prices for Them.
The history Of the early mint, says
The Philadelphia Press, resembles the
carly lives Of our most successful mil.
lionaires In that 1t commenced to make
money in small amounts and In . very
humble way. The three-story structure,
Nos. 81 and SO North Seventh street,
was chosen as the site for the United
States mint, and there Il remained from
1892 until 1888, wbenit was removed to
its present location.
The subject of national coinage was
agitated as early As 1852, when Robert
Morris. the financier and signer Of the
Declaration of Independence, advocated
a system Of coinage for the United
States. Ten units were to equal l
penny. 10 pense to make bit, and 10
bits to make enc dollar" Dies for
these pieces were made and several
specimens struck in silver. called the
mark. quint and bit All Of them are
exceedingly rare and valuable. A
mark sold for $40 in a public sale in
New York, and the bit, of which but
one specimen has been brought to light,
and which was recently bought in sale
of coin in Scotland by w. E. Wood
ward. of Boston, is valued at $3.50.
These patterns or experimental coins
are historically most interesting, Us
they comprise the earliest efforts for
the establishment of government coin.
age.
The foundation of the new mint was
laid by David Rittenhouse. on Tuesday,
July 81, 1892. at 10 o'clock A. M. On
Sept. II, 1892, the mint made the first
purchase of coming metal. six pounds
of old copper at ono shillingS pence
per pound. Three presses were put up
and operated in the beginning of Oc-
tober, the first pieces coined being the
Martha Washington half-dimes, Of
which President Washington speaks in
his annual message to congress. Nov. 6,
1892, as follows: I'm the execution of
the authority given by the Legislature,
m easures have been taken for engaging
some artists from abroad to aid in tho
establishment of our minis. Others
have been employed at home. Provis-
ions have been made for the requisite
buildings, and these are now putting
into proper condition for the purpose of
the establishment There was small
beginning in the coinage of half-dimes;
the want of small coins in circulation
calling the first attention to them"
There is tradition, generally be-
Iievcd by numismatists, that these
pieces were struck from the private
plate OF Washington, which he had
melted up for TINT purpose, and that
Martha Washington sat before the ar
fist who designed the dies. This is very
probable, as Washington was greatly
interested in the infant mint. personal
ly experimenting many of its affairs.
For this reason the coin is highly priced
by collectors. A number of other dies
were made and coins struck in 1892, as
patterns or designs for a regular coin.
age. Notable among them is the WASH
ington silver half-dollar. The dies for
for this piece were made by Peter Gctz,
of Lancaster, and on the diverse is
represented the bust of Washington,
facing left.
The mint did not, however, com.
mence its regular business till 1893,
when the copper cent and half cent first
made their appearance, and, although
quito large number of these were
coined, no less, in fact, than 1929
cents, yet they are seldom met with
now, and perfect unused specimen has
been sold at auction for $500. The
half-pennics of this date do not com.
mand SO much, in fine state of prcser.
walton only bringing from $40 to 800.
The most valuable of the early pennies
are those of 1889 and 1904. and if these
could be obtained in uncirculated con.
dition-that is, as fine as when dropped
from the die. they would sell for from
$500 to $500 each.
In the year 1894 the silver dollar first
made its appearance, and the coinage
of the half-dme was resumed. Of the
dollar but few really excellent impress.
sions can be found, and they would
realize from saO0 to 200 each. The
coinage of silver dollars continued till
1904, large numbers being put in circu.
lat,on. The silver dollar of 1904, sur
named the liking of American Coins, u
will probably command a larger price
than any other of the American series,
and in the face of the fact that it is moi
generally conceded by collectors who
have thoroughly investigated the sub
ject, that there ever was or is q genu
inc coin of that date struck in thai
year, known to the numismatic world.
That dies were made for the piece il
unquestioned, and that there were sew.
eral restrikes from the dies as late q.
1860 is also admitted. The two speci.
mems in the mint cabinet are rcstrikes
as are all the others which have recent
ly been offered for sale, but as they sci
from $1,000 to $1,000 apiece it ca,
readily be seen that the fraudulent re
issues have been very lucrative AM
quick way of making money.
OF the little silver half-lifne of 1907
but eighteen specimens have beer
found. The silver quarters of 1928 ane
1927 arc almost impossible to find
and unused examples of these date.
would be eagerly bought at $3.50. TIL,
rarest early American coin, however, il
the gold half-cagle of 1915. In thi
year, disastrous fire having occurec
at the mint, number of dies were re
moved to Lancaster, and owing to tn,
confusion incident to their removal ane