St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-01-25
Coli, Collections

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Coin Collections
Strange as it may seem, the Oldest coins
are not the rarest, neither do they COM
nnand the highest prices. For example,
the coin of Gsgina, said to be the most an
tiaue Greek coin, sells at from 50 90 to So
at auction. while an American dollar OF the
date 1904 in good condition is valued at
$1,000. a collection of Roman coins can
be readily, and comparatively cheapiy &C
ouired, so far as specimens OF each epoch
Is concerned, though q collection OF all
varieties of Roman coins would be price
less and would be load for a wagon.
However, the collection of American colo
NAL and United States coins seems to be
the phase most in vogue in Boston OF this
particular hobby, and some very fine col
lectlons are owned in this city. The early
colonial coins are scarce and the demand
for them is brisk; thus the market for
them is always active. The dealers in
coins, of whom there are several in Boston,
pursue the system of buying cheap and
selling high, as those from whom they
buy are ignorant of the value of the coin
they sell, and regard all above its face
value a clear gain. A dealer will offer 81
for an oak tree shilling, when he can
readily sell it for from SIS to $40, and the
same for other varieties. A pine tree
shilling is rare and will sell from $40
upwards, while an oak tree shilling same
wear, 1859 is worth but half as much. A
Carolina halfpenny, for which dealer
coolly offers from S. to So, has been sold
at auction in New York city Tor $25 25.
This coin was struck in 1894. The Louis
lana copper coinage of the French royal
and republican governments are worth
from SO cents to 80; while what is called
the George Clinton cent, struck in New
York in 1857, if in good condition, is
valued at from $50 to $50. The Washing
ton cents are all rare, that struck in the
die from which the SO calico Washington
half dollar was struck selling at from $26
to $50, according to condition. The Ken
lucky cents are also rare and sell for 8
good price.
The United States coins are of all coins
the hardest for one to secure a complete
collection. The coinage of 1898 is very
rare and sells readily at SIS; and dollar
of 1894 has been sold at 800, and then not
in the best condition The half cent of
1896 is rare and sells readily at SIS, while
the silver quarter of the same date is val
ued at from So to S.. The half dollar of
1896 is worth $50, and that of 1897 $25.
The cent of 1899 is bargain at from $6 to
SO, and the half dime of 1862 is rare to
excess, a specimen that was bent and badly
worn having been sold in 1876 for $35
fine specimen would probably command
double that sum. All the coins of 1904
are rare except the half cent, which is very
common. The dollar, of which IS, $40
were coined, is for some unknown reason
the raress of all American coins, but eight
copies being known. This coin has been
largely countsrfeited, and will sell for
from $3.50 to an unknown sum, according
to condition. The half dollar, of which
156, SO were struck, is extremely rare, and
is seldom sold Probably there is no limit
to its value beyond desire of the buyer to
acquire it. The cent of 1904 can be bought
for SIS, and the quarter dollar for So. The
silver quarter of 1923 is also exceedingly
rare, very fine specimen having been sold
for $50, though one good enough for
pocket piece can be had for $25. The
quarter OF 1927 is one of the rarest of quar-
ters A very fine proof sold for $105, and
an ordinary copy is purchased by the deal
ers at $40. The pattern dollar of 1889 is
worth $l5, and that of 1854, SIS. The half
dollar Of 1886, with the miiled edge, is
sold for from So to SO, and the same is
paid for quarters of 1868 without the arrow
heads at the side of the date. The cent of
1857 is valued at so, and the nickle cent of
1856 at the same price. The half cents
from 1881 to 1910 are worth from 81 to So
each and that of 1862 at S.. There are
some coins unique, as the set of patterns
from which was evolved the trade dollar
The six dollars which formed the set sold
for $50 when put up at auction at the sale
of Colonel James Taylor's cabinet in New
York. The cent of the Confederate States
government struck in 1861, their own coin
age, is rare and will sell readily at from
So to $40. The 20 cent piece of 1877 and
1878 are eagerly sought for at So each,
and the same is true of the 2 cent piece of
1873 at 81.
In medals there is not so much competi-
ton, though there are many collectors. A
coronation medal of Charles II of England
has been sold for 40 cents, and some that
one would naturally suppose to be rare
from their age at even lower prices.
The strangest thing to coin collectors is
fhe question whore the coins have gone.
Many Of the dates now rare were coined in
large amounts. The quarter eagle of 1779
is now unknown to numiSmatlcs, yet 4S0
of them were minted. The half eagle of
1916, Of which 365 were struck, is now
valued at $50, and the double eagle of
1s49, of which only patterns were made, is
worth 800. A large number of valuable
coins undoubtedly pass through the hands
of store keepers annually, and will con-
Time in circulation until so badly worn
and obliterated as to besworthless to col
lector. Many ticket sellers, cashiers, etc.,
make very snug sum yearly by watching
the coins that pass through their hands.
and exchanging those of rare dates for
coins. of similar denomination that do not
command premium, w. Hartford Times.