The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-11-03
FACTS ABOUT COINS.
some That are Worth Thousand Times
Their Face Value.
COINS THAT HAVE HISTORIES.
Many Specimens of American Mints Rarer
Than Other Coins.

One OF the most puzzellng things to
collectors of coins is the great rarity of
many specimens of the coinage of the
United States, in spite of the fact that
none of these pieces are yet hundred
years old. There are bushels of English
coin of every sovereign from William
the Conqueror down that are more
common than certain American Issues
of the present century. Several of the
colonial and state coins, which were
mlnted between 1872 and 1857, are
scarce, but not so scarce as numerous
later emissions. In 1857 an act was
passed empowering one James Jarvis to
mint 800 tons of copper coin of the
Federal standard, and no fewer than
hfty-one different varieties of his Fu-
gios," or sundial cents" as they are
called, are recognized by collectors.
These, however, are comparatively com
mon. 1t is some of the issues of the
United States Mint proper that are now
so eagerly sought after.
The act which established the first
United States Mint was passed on
March 3, 1871. The corner stone of
building was laid in plot of ground
in Seventh street, Philadelphia, in July,
I7o7, and work began late in the same
year under David Rittenhouse, whom
Washington had appointed director. 1t
is recorded that the first purchase of
metal for coinage consisted of six
pounds of old copper. Only few
pattern cents of 1892 are in existence,
and these are rarely to be met with.
The first cents struck for circulation
bear the date 1898. Thep are of SIX
varieties, and, if in good condition,
range in present value from $3.50 to
S6.25; though English dealers often
quote the least rare of them at Sac.
Far more scarce is the cent of 1899.
In fine state it is cheap at $40. 1t is
the rarest of the cents. The cent of
1904 is worth S., and the nickel cent
OF 1886, with flying eagle, is worth
$3.50. Of half-cents the rarest is that
of 1907; it is easily salable for S12.5o.
The half-cents OF 1881, 1896, 1S4o and
1S4S inclusive, 1S49 with date in small
figures) and 1852 are each worth about
81 if in good condition.
Of silver coins the scarcest is the
dollar of 1904. Fortunate is the collec-
tor who can buy it in fine condition for
900. A very indifferent specimen
was lately sold in Chicago for $500. No
other dollars are worth more than about
S25 apiece, the best being those of
SI83S, 1889, 1851. 1852 and 1858.
These vary in price, according to their
state, from $40 to SIS. The half-dol-
lar that, with one exception, is the rarest
bears sixteen stars and is dated 1906.
1t is well worth S25 if unworn. Close
behind it comes the fifteen-star half
dollar of the same. 1t IS considered
cheap at $40, and the same may be
said of the fifteen-star dollar of 1907.
Next to these in rarity is half dollar
of 1898, with an go" marked beneath
the head. 1t is worth SS.75. The
scarcity of some OF these silver
pieces is quite inexplicable. Of the
dollar of 1904 I9,59o examples were
coined, yet only about eight copies are
now known to exist. The half dollar of
1904 is also rare-So much so, indeed,
that dealers seldom make any quotation
of its market price ; yet I56,5I9 speci-
mems were struck. The rarest quarter
dollar-that of IS2S-is worth SIS, or
more in very fine condition, and a good
quarter-dollar of 1927 has lately been
sold for sIo5. The quarter of 1858,
without the arrows" is valued at from
So to S6.25, according to its state, and
that of 1896, with fillet," is cheap at
S3.75. None of the twenty cent pieces
are very difficult to procure, but several
of the dimes are seldom met with
That of 1904, if only fairly good, is
worth $3.50, that of 1902 S2.5o and
that of 1922 s2.25. Many of the half
dimes are far more valuable. A fine
specimen, dated 1902, has been sold
by auction for $40; very indifferent
example fetches $40. The half dime of
1874 is worth S., the dimes of 1877