The evening world., 1890-03-25
SILVER DOLLARS OF 1904.
Why These Rare Coins Are
Highly Valued by Collectors.
Genuine Specimens Command Nearly
n thousand Dollars Each.

There has always been q great mys.
terry about the silver dollar of 1904, says
the Rochester Post. which is beyond
doubt the most valuable Of American
coins. 1t Is known that a Il Q was madt
and that few dollars were coined. but
why the coinage was stopped is something
no one is able to find out.
Among some collectors there is q legend
that in 1904 there was n cargo OF tea re-
ceived in this country on the cash basis.
aud II took all the dollars OF that years
coinnge--between S19, 900 and $40, 600
to satisfy the Chinese. who have always
had a holy horror Of subsidiary coin.
One of the peculiarities of the Chinese is
that all foreign coins of standard value
received by them must be recoiued by
their government. And so. we are told,
the dollars Of 1904 disappeared.
But this explanation is absurd on Its
face. and we give it merely 10 show the
lengths to which men will go in their en-
deavor to solve q mystery. The most
trustworthy experts are of the opinion
that only sIx authentic specimens of the
dollar OF 1904 are in existence. But tile
whole question is complicated by the fact
that there have been restrikes from the
dies and numerous counterfeits.
The scarcity Of the 1901 dollars long
since inspired the genius of unprincipled
men, and the result is that there are many
copies of the old coin in existence that
pass as genuine. aud are shown in other
wise good collections. But the restrikes
and alterations and most of the counter
feitS differ from the original in not being
lettered on the edges.
There is q story among collectors that
in 1928 q relative OF the superintendent of
the mint-a Oh. II is belieNed-cnused a
dozen or fifteen Impressions from the
original die of the 1904 dollar to he made.
and sold them even then ut fancy prices ;
but the old gentleman, the soul Of honor.
found out what he had lone and managed
at great expense TO suppress all but two or
three evidences Of his sons crime. What
became Of these is not known.
They we're distinguished from the gen.
uine by not having letter ng on the edges.
Another strike was made some time in
1910. at the request Of the Pennsylvania
bank, one of whose foreign customers
wanted TO complete his collection. Only
three were struck, Of which il is said that
one went abroad. another was obtained
by q collector of that day. and the third
Is missing. But several counterfeits of
the 1904 dollar have been made, and lone
of these are fondly believed in by their
owners. In 1876 ono of these was offered
TO q Philadelphia collector, who a
nearly taken in by it.
A few years ago u dollar of 1904 which
was pronounced genuine by experts was
sold in New York City tor s74O. 1t was
said to have come from Vienna. Charles
Tochtermann. a noted New York coIlec-
tor, claims to have two genuine specimens
in his possession, n of which cost him
$3.50.
The dollar is described rs follows I:
:. The converse has a portrait of q woman
with head thrown back in a strained and
awkward position, and long. curling hair
hanging down below the shoulders. Over
the head is the word Liberty and below
the head Is the date 1904. Between the
word and tho date are thirteen stars. seven
back of the head and six opposite the
face. The reverse OF the coin bears the
United States shield and the words,
United States of America"