Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-02-15
PIECES OF SCARCE KINDS OF MONEY
 AND THEIR FANCY PRICES.

The Goddess of Liberty in Different Posi-
 tions-Coins from American Minus That
 Are More Prized Than Those That Were
 Current In the Days of the Cesars.
 A craze which of late years has greatly developed and at this time shows no sign of falling off, is that of collecting rare coins. Chicago leads all western cities in the number of its numismatists and boasts some fine collections. It might be supposed that the demand would be principally for coins of great antiquity, but this is not the case. The chief inquiry is for sets of American coins, and some numbers are so rare as to readily command fancy prices. In certain years some descriptions of coins were not minted at all, while in other cases few copies were issued. Other coins are valued because of some error or eccentricity in the die: in fact, any variation from the ordinary types, if in good condition, will bring more than it's face value.
 ODD SIZES AND DATES.
 Of the silver dollars, nearly all the earlier issues are in demand at a slight premium, and that of 1794, in which the goddess of liberty is depicted with flow ing hair, is worth s20. As for the dollar of 1894, of which few are known, any copy in good condition will bring S2OO. The flying eagle of 1888 and 1889, and the coins of 1851, 1852 and 1858, with the liberty loving lady seated, are worth at least S15 each. The one time despised trade dollars, issued 1879 to 1883 in elusive, are at a premium of 10 cents each. Of half dollars, those of 1796 and 1797, with fifteen or sixteen stars, bring S15 each. Others of value are dated 1794, 1901 and 1902, and there are many more, such as 1886 with liberty cap, 1888 with an 70" mark under the head, and coin of 1853 with liberty seated, which are worth from S2 to S5 each. The scarce quarters are those of 1898 and 1897, with the head to the left each valued at S15, while the 1796 fillet head S1. Twenty cent silver pieces of 1876 bring 30 cents; those of the succeeding year are cheap at S1.50. The dimes of the grandfathers are mostly worth from five to twenty times their face value, while half dimes in silver bring from 50 cents to $2 each, and special brand of the vintage of 1909 will command $25. Silver three cent pieces run from 20 to 50 cents; nickel lives 15 to 30 cents each, and nickel threes 15 to 25.
 COPPER LEADS GOLD.
 There Is great demand for old copper cents, the first ambition of every col lector being to start even with the pro- cession in 1793 or so and bring it down to date with a coin for each year. It will cost him from s1 to S3 for the vari- ous kinds issued in 1793, S3 for 1799, and S2.50 for 1904 With the exception of a cent of 1909 with the head to the left the rest are reasonable in price. Half cents are in demand. and readily command from $4 to S6 for those of certain years between 1881 and 1S49. But in these it must not be understood that those of all years are equally in request. Those is sued 1S40-4S inclusive, with the head to the left, average about S5 each. Wash ington medals, old fashioned cents, and the copper issues of New York, Vermont, Massachusetts and New Jersey bring, provided they have the necessary ear marks, sums ranging from $1 to S10.
 
 There is not much call for gold coins, but trial pieces are valuable, and good proofs of double eagles of some years, as 1853 and 1856, bring a small premium. Scarce half eagles are those of 1915 and 1922, and worth full SEQ each. On other dates from 1795 to 1884 some 20 to 30 per cent. premium is paid. Three dollar gold pieces of 1875 and 1876, with the figure of an Indian princess, bring S6 and $5, respectively. Quarter eagles of early dates run from S3 up to S9 and there are many gold dollars for which a slight advance on their face value must be paid.
 Intending collectors need not distress themselves in looking for dollars of the years 1s05-35, inclusive, for Uncle Sam was either short of metal or otherwise busy those thirty years and none were coined. There were no cents rushed on the market in 1915, and no eagles from 1905 to 1887, inclusive. The Confederate States made a die for silver dollar and struck off a few, but ran out of silver An authentic coin of that issue would bring $1 ,O00. As a contrast to this it may be noted that you can get penny of the Caesars for 50 cents.-Chicago Tribune