Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-22
THE CRAZE FOR COIN.
It Must be Ancient and Unique to
Satisfy the Kumismatist
CURIOUS MEDIUMS OF EXCHAEGE.
A Happy Land Where the People Have No
Use for Money.
A NATIOE's HIsFoRY TOLD BI e0Iss
rwrrrrr ZOE rur prsrArcn. ]

and among the number the coin collectors
mania occupies no small part, but to this
same mania we owe some Of the most inval-
liable specimens Of art. as we'll as corrobo-
ratiye history Of nations. Since the pri-
meval days some medium Of circulation has
been acknowledged, telling plainly the
stage or advancement in civilization or the
press or struggle Of the times.
In the different ages the oldest commodi-
ties have been used to serve as money
cattle in Rome and Germany. slaves among
the Anglo-Saxons, tobacco in Virginia, cod
fish in Newfoundland and soap in Mexico.
Ancient coins record incidents Of history,
telling sadly OF peoples humiliation. Re-
ligions have been promulgated by coins
Islamism says on gold coin, mo God but
God" Fashions, too we find stamped upon
the coins of all ages. The great seal Of
Queen Anne is one of the most graceful
illusions in history-the device rose and
thistle growing on one stem, while from
above the crown Of England sheds effuI-
genee upon the tender young plants. The
| crown of our own national structure was the
legalized institution for the coinage Of gold
and silver and yet the real father of the
| grandest financial system on the globe.
| Alexander Hamilton, while consuming
himself for his country, went begging for
means to support his family, which is
proven by a letter dated 1871 as follows:
"Dear Sir-If you can conveniently let me
have $40 for few days, send it By bearer.
| A. 81.
Almost q century has passed since the
| founding OF our national mint, and our
nation can proudly boast that the confidenc8
| reposed in the United States mint officials
has never been violated. Nor has the
shadow of suspicion ever marred the fair
name Of any identified with its history
During the period in Congress when
emblems and devices were being discussed,
many amusing incidents occurred which
are from time to time brought TO light
OPPOSED TO THE EAGLE.
The choice of the eagle was bitterly de-
nounced by one of the members on the
grounds of its being the 'King Of Birds. .
and, therefore, not suitable 10 nation whosa
interests were wholly opposed 10 anything
like monarchy Another member playfullv
suggested "a goose, as it could bear no claim
to other than humble and republican bird;
moreover, the goslings would answer to pus
upon the dimes" The irate member from
the South received the humorous rejoinder
as an insult, and sent challenge to the
offender.
The mania for old and curious coins has
grown until there are thousands Of collectors
in the United States, and fortunes have been
accumulated in this way. In the Mint cabi-
net OF coins, in the United States Mint, the
most enthusiastic srch@ologist can study
numismaties to his hearts contenk Here,
by careful study and appreciation Of old
coins, he can read the history Of nations; in
it he will find condensed history a lhs
world, customs, faith, conquests, wealth. t6i-
ture, division, downiall-all are written on
these odd, artistic and antique varieties.
The value of many Of these relics is price
less.
The most curious and characteristics in
scriptions are found upon the COINS that ap-
peared during revolutionary times-shoW-
ing plainly the American spirit Of indie
pendence. Such, for instance as mind
Your Business" "Cut Your Way
Through" etc. Washington, it is said, OBJ
jected to putting his head on the coins, and
it is the prevailing idea generally that no
mans head should appear upon the coin Of
Q republic. Likewise did Alexander Of
Mscedon. because OF his vanity, lest fut-
ure nations should not regard the fneness OF
his physique, he allowed only three artists
during his reign to draw, paint or model his
head, and no one should stamp his head on
coins but Lycippus." The prices paid for
rare coins show the extent Of the passion
among collectors. Recently ut public sale
in New York colonial cent of New Jersey
sold for $40, while the current prices Of nn-
merous Others range from S. 10 800. One
coin, thedouble eagle (1849), stands alone az
q witness of the positive law which protects
and governs coinage.
ITS VALUE IS PRICELESS.
A law passed Congress in 1s49 ordering
$40 gold pieces to be issued; something in 6
tervened to delay the work, and the year
closed. The dies bad to be destroyed, and
no more could be lawfully issued. So it u
placed in the Cabinet-the only one In ex-
istence-and because its date saws 1849, cam
not be purchased. Then comes ''the king
among rarities," the 1904 silver dollar-tha
most notable dollar in the world. 1t is be-
heved that there are not more than seven
genuine 1904 dollars extant, the last one
found selling to coin dealer in New York
for 81 900. There were $4,000 Of these
dollars coined. Why they were never seen
in circulation is one Of the unsolved Gov.
eminent mysteries.
possesses history and a romance that few
other American coins can claim. For
il years 1t was repeated as historical fact
that the Southern Confederacy had no me-
tallic currency, but an official letter,
brought to, light in 1879, substantiatss
the fact that silver was coined at the New
Orleans mint by order OF the ConGederats
and only suspended operations
on account of the difficulty in obtaining
bullion tor coinage. The Louisiana mint
was turned over BY the State to the Confed-
crate States of America in February, 1851,
and orders Immediately issued for designs
for half dollars. The device was in itself .
history of the great conflict, bearing on the
diverse side representation Of the Goddess
Of Liberty, surrounded BY Is stars, denot-
ing from whence the Confederaey sprune
On the reverse is shield, with seven stars,
the seeding States; above the
shield is liberty cap, and entwined around
its stalks OF sugar cane and cotton-"Con-
federate States Of America" The coin is
q half dollar, and four pieces only were
struckl
THE WIDOWS MITE.
The most notable coin in the cabinet ID
The widows mite" and the curators Of the
mint do not consent to the intimation THAI
The coin is not the genuine widows mite.
The Japanese are now accepting the United
States system OF coinage, but their old coin
age was hedged around by all the peculiari-
lies OF the Japanese character. The most
valuable japanese coin is the gold oban,
valued at S75, aud by fair means or foul the
United States Mint cabinet is in possession
,f it. To take the gold oban out Of the
Kingdom /. punishable BY death. yet
Yankeedom is the proud possessor.
Money-money; the love Of 1t, the "root