St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-30
donation if she wished to contribute to
some advancement of the great art.


As we looked over the many kinds of
coin, our host explained that knOwl-
edge of the coins of any country is
great help in understanding its history
and customs. "Many of those old gold
coins show historical scenes which have
been recorded in no other way, and for
that reason they are called speaking
type" he explained.
The Greek and Egyptian coins at first
looked the least interesting, but when
one reflects that they have existed since
the world was young, it seems a pity
they can't speak and tell us of all the
people and nations they have known.
These oldest coins look like bits of rude
metal hammered into irregular shapes
and stamped with rude figures.
Its an odd coincidence" said our
host, THAT the coinage of country in
creases in symmetry and beauty in pro-
portion to its civilization" AS proof
of this he showed us some sesterii
coined when Imperial Rome was at the
height of its power and glory. The
beauty of its execution and historic in
terest of these very coins first at
tracted the attention of antiquarians
and laid the foundation of numismatic
SCIENCE" said our sarvant with great
enthusiasm. He told us lot more
| about it. but my friend kept whispering
such saucy comments into my ear that
i have only confused recollection of
long list of interesting items. 1.-The
antiquarianS have lately dug up a vast
number of coins at Pompeii, and many
people have gone from this country to
secure them, as there are none like
them in the world" said our friend. II
suppose the people who get them will
have sort of corner on them and make
fortune by disposing of them to peo-
pie who have caught the coin craze" l
remarked.
"Small loss if they do" said my
friend. "Never mind that old stuff.
Tell us something about the coins of
our own country"
Our savant evidently thought my
friend very frivolous, but l was glad
she turned his attention to something
practical, for the chances were that he
would talk right along for week and
never note the lapse of time, unless
brought up shortly by some practical
consideration.
He showed us the first California issue
of $50 in gold. 1t was an eight-sided
piece, of dull hue and dated 1S49. The
value was $3.50. 1.-The dollar and cent
of 1904 are the most valuable American
coins," he said. 'There were only four
of the dollar pieces coined. Three have
been found, but the fourth is still being
sought by hundreds of collectors"
'Have the cents of that date been
fOund?' | asked.
"Only seven of those were coined, and
four have been found, so the other three
may still be in existence, though if they
are buried somewhere or at the bottom
of the ocean it will be impossible to put
them on record" he said.
l. Il Of ,saI-o al
without dates, which were issued only
few years ago. They are now worth So
apiece and become more valuable each
year. i thought that bit of information
most tantaliZing, for hadn't l owned
three of those nickelS myself and only
few days before let them go into Low
RVS Golfers for their face value. 1t was
no use lamenting. They were gone
beyond recall.
"Why do you keep those trade dol
lars?' | asked, pausing before case
containing number of that disreputa-
BILE coin. He explained that those par
ticular specimens were worth from SIS
to S25 apiece, because they were the
| first issue, and under the coin collectors
dictum they assume the extra value.
| So | firmly resolved never again to in
dulge in forcible language when the
| scho oil trustees attempted to pay part of
my salary in trade dOllars-at least not
until looked at the date.
The 25-cent piece of 1858 next at
| tracted our attention. There were quite
number displayed. l looked in my
pOcketbook and found one of that date.
l was rejoicing in audible tones, when
| my friend said in cold, clear tone of
voice; "What goose you are. Edith,
don't you see that those quarters IN the
u
| There is only the figure of an eagle OH
smooth background. Now your quar-
| ter. that you're making such fuss
about, has rays about the eagles wings
| and is worth just its face value, not a
| penny more.
1 sorrowfully appealed to our host
| but he declared that my friends criti-
| cism was right. But cOnsOled me by
saying that there were about 1,50O of
| these quarters of 1858 coined without
rays. A large number are still missing
and if I'd watch real sharp maybe I'd
find one some time.
So we spent the whole afternoon look
| ing over this collection and listening to
the strange histories attached to many
! pieces. The collection. which at first
sight appeared so commonplace, now
! took new value in our estimation.
Those coins must have been worth
many thousands of dollars, yet such
was the old mans love for his treas
ures that he couldn't persuade himself
to part with one of them, and daily
stinted himself in the necessaries of
life so as to be able to buy any new Gu
riosity which might come to light. The
cases were all open, and / asked if he
wasn't afraid of leaving such valuable
| treasures as a temptation to weak hui
manity. But he assured me that each
coin had its record, and if one was
stolen it could not be sold, for
! every coin collector would be
warned against buying it. He said
| that a large number had been stolen
| from him at one time. The people who
took them brought them back, and were
| glad to return them, having found coin
| stealing an Improbable venture.
| When we were ready to depart the
coin collector gave us several catalogues
/ of rare coins. After returning home l
took occasion one rainy day to tell the
country urchins about my visit and let
them take the catalogues. Pm sorry l
did that. 1t wasn't wise plan. Those
children, and some of their parents,
have got the coin craze, and they posi-
lively won't do anything but ask ques-
! tons and spend all their time hunting
for coins that will never be found.
Old coins are interesting and ANUS
ing in their place, but they are a posi-
| tive nuisance when out of place.
| EDITH PRIMROSE.