Wichita eagle., 1888-10-26
RARE OLD COINS.
THE REMARKABLE COLLECTION OF
A CHICAGO NUMlSMATlST.


American Pieces Of Great Historical Value.
A Queen Ammo Fartilins-English Coins
That Bring High Prices-Uccoinsd Sym
boIs of Value.
"Rere," said Or. George P. Avery, "are
four silver dollars The date OF one IS 1875.
The first silver dollar Of the United States
government had only been issued the year
before This is dated 1876 and this tl799,
and here's one dated 1901.
IF that date were 1904" said Mr.. Avery.
1.-THE coin would be worth $1,000 or more
And here is Queen Anne farthlng"
There was time when farthings OF Queen
Anne were among the rarest OF coins. II was
the general belief that in the reign OF Queen
Anne there were but three farthings coined,
and that in the coinage of the third farthlhg
the die broke. One OF these were preserved
in the kings museum as great curiosity:
the second was in the British museum; the
third fell into the hands OF an Irish gentle
man named AIillar. There are some EnShsh
coins which fetch high prices. A gold penny
OF Henry III sold in 1859 for $3.50; quarter
form Of Edward III for $40; crown piece
of Henry VII for 500. Probably the largest
price ever paid for en- English coin was 70
piece presented by King Charles l on the
scafold TO Bishop Juxon, bearing the motto,
''Florent ooncordia regina 1t was pattern
piece" never published The British museum
having refused it for 500, it passed into the
hands Of Mr. Cobb. at whose sale it was
bought for 81 600 for LonSmans, the London
publishers.
What do you think Of this coin77 asks Dir.
Avery.
1t is an old coin, bearing in Greek charac-
ters the name Of Lysulachus. II it is gen
uine 1t is about as ancient as coin can be.
There is hardly anything known to nurnis-
matists before the silver coins Of Alexander
I, king of Mocedon, whose reign extended to
the year 454 3. c.; and Lysimachus, king OF
Thrace, was one of the jnheriJors of the empire
of Alexander the Great. His are almost the
first coins on which the regal portrait ap-
pears. In Lord Northwick.s collection to-
tradrachm OF Lys;machus sold for $3.50.
RARE OLD ROMAN PIECES,
'And here" says Mr. Avery, ''are three
Roman pieces; one of julius Caesar, one OF
Augustus, and one OF Agrippa."
There is no reason TO doubt the anthem
ITCHY Of Mr.. Avery's specimens. Concerning
other Roman coins which he has he is more
than doubtful.
And from these specimens Of ancient coins
Mr Avery passes to his modest collection.
Every country is represented. The United
States, as il honor bound, stands first. Here
is a half dime OF 1892. 1t has upon its ob-
verse female bust emblematic of Liberty.
This is supposed TO represent Martha Wash
THO cntf, &c cold n hoTa haef, StvIIpH
from Washington's private plate. 1t was not
generally circulated, Here is half eagle Of
$500. This is exactly similar to the half eagle
of 1901, which has entirely disappeared It
was in 1901 that the Boy Of Tripod declared
war against the United States. Ships Of AL
giers, Tunis, Tripoli and Morocco captured
American vessels and reduced their crews
and passengers to slavery. Capt. cambridge
was sent to the Mediterranean to protect
American commerce. His purser was pro-
vided with all the half eagles Of that years
coinage. They We're never seen again. So,
at least, runs the legend.
The dollars of 1885 and 1888 are both rare.
The former has twenty-six stars in the field,
the twenty-sizth being Michigan, which was
then applying for admission into tho Union.
The latter is a pattern piece, and circulated
mostly among members Of congress. The
nickel cent Of 1853 sails at high premium.
''In God We Trust1 first appears on a bronze
two cent piece in 1855.
''And this" says Mr. Avery, sis a curious
half dollar. The liberty cap is on one side,
the eagle with the words Half dol upon tho
other The mint offered me $40 for it. 1t is
unique.
''Ihat Is Benton Mint Drop as they
were called. This is Franklin penny, with
the motto a Penny Saved Is Penny
Earned The other is Jackson penny
marked Roman Firulness'; the Constitution
as understand it. and i take the RESPONSE
bility'"
UNCoINED SYMBOLS OF VALUE.
In an adjoining bag lie various uncoined
symbols OF value. Here ere the silver Jumps,
bullet shaped, called ''tekal," current in
Siam; and the white cowrie shells used in
Africa; and the rings OF gold and silver which
are common currency Of Nubia; and the
pieces of iron, named ''Hashhash," like semi
circular knives, used in korlofan; and bits
of coarse cotton, called "Fredgat," which are
equivalent to sixty pieces OF ''hashhash"; and
the beads and blocks Of salt used in Abyssinia;
and the fish hook money, made OF pieces Of
silver wire, still current in China.
Don't overlook this tenpenny bank token"
says Mr.. Avery. at is Irish"
The Irish coins mostly resemble the En-
g!ish. Those of Henry VII have the arms CT
England and the Irish harp crowned between
tue initials of Henry and his queens. Then
comes the OTmo1do money, having its weight
stamped in Irish numerals. But the NEST re-
raarkable irish coins are the pieces named
"gun money" struck ont Of cannon melted
down by James II before the last struggle for
his forfeited throne. There is olso crown
in white metal with the king on horseback.
This last is scare. but specimens of tho gun
money" are COMMON
Here" continues Mr. Avery, sis a speci-
men of the constitutional currency Of
France. Its a sou Of 1892, showing the bead
OF Louis XVI. with the Inscription ''La loi,
le roi, Ia nation"
Il is Of bell metal, made during the Revo-
luton from the bells of demolished churches.
1t jingles out of the bag with five franc
piece Of NAPOLEON, Emperor and ''Dieu
proteSe IL France" on the edge; end piece
Of five lire marked "Napoleone inperasore
c re-" with "Dio pro,ege L Italia" "a tie
edge The Italian coins show the Conqueror
in tue flush of his conquests: the French coin
brings him under the shadow Of Waterloo.
In TIE one be is serene and proud; in the
other bis face is full OF care.
Always Stolen 70 Spend.