Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-02-27
Curious Coins.

"What Is that. curlous.lookiaR COP.
per piecep" asked.a reporter Of deal
er in old coins
"That is the Roman Aes. q coin
which was in use in Rome about $500
years ago. 1t is al original: it could
not BE- spurious, and for the reason
that though the coin itself. 10 far as its
outward shape IS concerned, might be
counterfeited. 1t would he impossible
to initiate the red pat;na. or coating,
upon it. You see, this coin has two
coatinEs of colored ma:ter-one green
and the other red. Well. the green
can tie initiated by modern ingenuity,
but tho red stuff can not be put upon
counterfeit coins BY any process Ut
present known to the world"
where DO You get those ancient
coins th.t were in use SO many years
agoe Where are they tound?"
"Well. you see, people in those an
cient times did not ltaye banks and
bank vaults TO deposit their wealth in
for s~afe.keepiag. As you know. tho
Romans were almost constantly at
warfare with Others, and those who
had money would frequently hide i. in
tho earth or secure 1t ia tho walls of
their dwellings when they went to the
wars. Those who were killed left,
quite often, no trace OF where their
wealth. was hidden. and so i. remained
to be resurrcc.eL by some modern relic
uEnter. A great many ancient coius
have been foun! also in river beds. I
think that in many instances they were
i mt irln VIvnts h, ,,,,rin x.l,,> o,saI,,l
to have thei: history remembered BY
the coming ages. There have been
coins found in the Thames near old
London bridge by which we can trace
many of the Roman empcrorA The
fact that they have thus been found
IN order seems to clearly indicate that
they were deposited on purpose by per-
sous DESTROYS OF perpe,uating the
names of the rulers. Thus. by these
coins of ancient Roms. many things
pertaining to thai. great empire which
ruled as mistress Of the world are made
known to us. Many things arc indeli.
bly, impressed upon the mind by glanc-
ing at these coins and aflerwarl be.
coming interested in the subject.
10 not believe there can be u better
educator of the history Of any country
than q collection OF its coins. The
symbolic devices and inscriptions upon
them have IL priceless value in fixing
upon the mind the great facts and cp.
ochs to which they refer. Not ouly
does this apply to ancient coins; it is
equally true OF modern coins. Hore is
something that to the thinking man ill.,
dicates q great social and business rev
olutiou in the manner and customs OF
the people who use it, tor here you sec
u specimen Of ;ao largest coin eve,
known to be in use anywhere"
The reporter was struck with amaze.
ment when informed that tho huge
square copper plat.er-!ike affair was q
coin. Proceeding. tho dealer said:
"Yes, it is a Swedish piece aud gen.
orally Weighs FROM 6 to Z pounds. Thi.
one weighs 81 pounds. Il is 10y inchee
wide by 81 inctes long, aud is II very
rare coin. 1t WAS made during The
reign Of Freioyiok, king OF Sweuen. il
the year 1928. lu the center Of the
piece. inc.osed in Il circle, you see the
stamp 4-doier, and underneath the
words 'S.lf mynt' (silvor money!. ant
in each Of the four corners. aud in or
der to prevent the coin being clipped
they were stamped With the royal Goa
of arms, '-BvatoM Go6e.