The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-10-10
MONEY IN OLD COINS.
Product of the Mint Which is Current at
Considerable More Than Face Value.

There is hardly day that this office
does not receive inquiries about the
price of certain old coins. These ques-
lions are difficult to answer, as the
price that an old and rare coin could be
sold at depends largely on who it is to
be sold to. There are several firms in
the United States that buy rare coins
and most of them will send on applica-
ton catalogue giving the prices they
will pay.
The value of the coins does not de-
pend on the age of the piece, but upon
its rarity Thus a silver dollar of 1898
can be had for a small premium, while
one of 1851 will sell readily for $50.
A cent of the coinage of 1894 can be
secured for 10 cents and penny dated
1856 and having the flying eagle is
worth 81.
In 1894 the first silver dollars were
turned out by the United States mint.
There were about $4,000 coined and
yet collectors will pay $50 for good
specimen of that date. In 1898 but
7,776 dollars were coined and vet they
are not very rare. In 1899, there were
no silver coins issued but dollars and
command only the regular commercial
premium.
The dollars bearing the dates of the
first three years of the present century
do not command premium, but the
issue of 1904 is very rare and good
specimens have been sold for $500.
There were 10, $40 issued, so it is difficult
to see just why they should be so scare.
No more dollars were coined till 1886,
when l 200 were struck off. 1t will cost
you abont SO to add this coin to your
collection. There were only eighteen
dollars coined in 1888 and of course
they command a big premium. The
next year 800 silver dollars were
stamped and each one of them, if in
good condition, is now worth $40 to$ 15
easily. The dollars of 40, "A, and '46
are scarce enough to command a fair
advance. In AZ the government
seemed to get excited and 140, ESQ of
the coins were sent out, while the next
year but Is, 000were issued. Of course
the last are rare, as also are those OF
80. In 81 and 80 the issue was only
little over 1000 and dollars of these
dates are quoted at $50.
Over Is, 900, 900 of silver dollars were
coined in % and so few were coined
the next year that they will sell for five
times their face value, and those of SO
are still higher.
The first half-dollar was issued in
1894 and good specimens are quoted at
s.. There are plenty of them in cir
culation, but most of them are so bad
ly worn that their value to collectors is
TN hut I
and they are worth $50. In 1904 1885,
SIG halves were coined, so it is difficult
to see why they should be so scarce
that collectors gladly pay SO for them.
There were only one-iifth that number
coined in 1901 or '02 and yet those
dates are quoted at 81. The halves of
1911 and IA are above par as well as
those Of 1915. The record of the mint
does not show that any were coined
that year and yet good specimens can
be had for SO. The half-dollar of SO
that has milled edge and those of Al
1850 and 81 are scarce enough that
collectors have to pay small premium
for good specimens. The half-dollar
of '61 is the highest priced of all and is
quoted at 5000.
The quarter of 1896 is very rare and
that of the next year has disappeared
altogether, although the mint reported
that 252 were coined. The quarter of
1904 commands a small premium, and
there is no scarcity of any other dates
till 1928. That year there were 1880
coined and the few that are now in
circulation are each valued at 500 The
mint reported no quarters coined in
"A, and yet there are few of that
date in circulation. The quarter bear
ing the date 1927 will sell for $50 to
$50. There is a small premium for
good quarters of most of the years up
til '53, which is quoted at So without
the arrow-heads at the side of the date.
The 20-cent pieces of n and 'SS are
worth 81 if in good condition.
The dimes of 1896 up to and includ-
ing 1907 are worth about ten times
their face value. There are no other
dimes that command much of
premium.
The half dimes of 1894 are very rare
and few collectors have one. In 1902
there were ID, 900 coined and vet they
are rare and sell for 400 times their
face value. The same coin from 1896
to 1905 inclusive is held by collectors
at 81.
The small silver three-cent pieces for
1868 and the six years following are
worth from % to 70 cents.
Some of the copper coins command
fancy prices, but not on account of
age. The first copper cents were issued
in 1898 and in 1894 over 10000, 600
were coined. There were as many as
twenty-siX different varieties issued
that year, which shows that the govern
ment regarded the penny as an impor-
tant coin as the preparation of each
die cost neat sum of money. These
coins can be secured for about 5 cents
apiece. Those coined in 1893 were so
soft that they wore out and first-class
specimens are worth 50. In 1899 al
most 1000, 600 were coined, but a ship
ment of several hundred thousand of
them to Africa made them so scarce
that they are quoted at S.. No other
pennies are scarce except the nickel
one with the flying eagle on that was
coined in 1856. These are worth from
80 cents to 81. The 2-cent piece of
1873 is quoted at an advance of 500
per cent and collector thinks himself
fortunate in getting one for so cents
numismatistas its more valuable
brethren. Those bearing the dates of
1793-4-5 are quoted at 30 cents and
those of SO at s., which is an advance
of 200 per cent, and still there were
plenty coined that year. None of them
coined in this century are much above
par till SO which is worth about IS.
There were 39S, 900 coined that Year,
so it is a wonder what became of all of
them. In 40 there were but 200 coined
and they can be had for half what the
aforementioned can. In 1S41-2-3-4-5-6-
rs there were only a few specimen
pieces coined and of course they are at
a handsome premium. None of the
other half-cents are rare except the
coinage of %, which is quoted at So.
The half-cent of '53 is quite plenty and
sells for cent.
The first $50 gold piece or double
a.rfr