Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-06-27
THE SILVER DOLLAR.
a COMPLETE AND THOROUGH
HISTORY OF ITS COINAGE.
It Was First NIndo in 1902 and
Weighed 40 Grnins-How
the Design Has Been
Changed.

"Tho first silver dollar ever coined"
said Mr.. Mcclure, curator of the cabinet
of the philadelphia Mint, 'was coined
under the act of February IL, 1892, ami
weighed 41G grains and had a iinenoss Of
1921, which standard was continued for
many years. In 1894 the silver dollar
issued had on tho diverse side Liberty
head, fncing right, with flowing hair,
fifteen stars; above the head the word
Liberty beneath, 1894. Reverse side,
J an eagle, with raised wings, cncirclcd by
branches OF laurel, with the legend,
United States of America around tho
edge of the coin, while tho edge of the
coin contained Hundred cents, one dol
lar, or unit
"Thc next year, 1795, the design was
| again changed rs follows: Diverse side
bust of Liberty facing right, hair
bound by II ribbon, shoulders drapcd,
and fifteen stars showing in the field.
Reverse sidc-an eagle with expanded
wings standing upon clouds within
wreath of palm and laurel, which is
crossed and tod, and the inscription,
united States of America
''ln 17oS the same design WINS used,
excepting tho using of two stars in tho
field on the diverse side. You see, they
began by putting in star for each State,
md after putting in fifteen stars they
found TINT if they continued the policy
OF adding star for cnch now State they
would scarce have room, SO they decided
to 30 back to the original number, thir-
teen stars, representing the thirteen
original States.
"On the reverse. side of tho 1898 dol
lnr change WINS mado by placing on IL
mn cnglo with raised wings, bearing the
United States shield upon its breast, and
III its bcnll II scroll with the inscription
IL Pmribus Unum' upon II; bundle of
arrows, thirteen in number, in the right
talon and nm olive branch in the left
tnl9n. Above were clouds and thirteen
stars, and upon its field United States of
| America
"From 1905 until 1899, inclusive,
there were no silver dollars coined, but
from 1910 to 1865 We coined whit has
been called the dollar Of our dnddics.'
On its diverse silc was Liberty seated
upon rock, supporting with her right
haud the United States shield, across
which floats II scroll inscribed r.ibcriy,'
and with her left hand supporting the
stall and liberty cap; below, The date of
coinage.
'On its reverse sido mn eagle with OK
panied wings, bearing tho United States
shield upon its breast and mn olive branch
nnd three arrows in It's tnlOns. Lonrnd,
United States of America. One Doll. -
rcodcd edge, sizo Pa. From 1866 to
1873 the snnr design was used, the
words In God We Trust, being added
above the eagle.
"lFrom 1871 to 1877 none was issued,
nnd the next design accepted was tho
present one in use which wns struck oil
for general use in 1873. On the diverse
side We have tho Liberty head fncing left,
upon which nro emp, wheat nnd cotton
wreath, and II band inscribed Liberty
Above tho band tho words IL pluribus
Unum;' beneath, the date and thirteen
stnrs.
"'rhe reverse side of our present silver
dollnr has IN eagle with expanded wings,
pointing upward; in its right talon an
olive branch with nine leaves; In its left
talon three arrows; in tho.ticld above tho
words IN God Wo Trust buncnth n
scmi-wrcnth tied and crossed, reaching
upward to tho wings Of the eagle. Legend
united Stntcs of America. One Dollar.
"Thc trnde dollars wcro coined from
1873 to 1883 inclusive. Upon tho Oh
verse side Of the trndo dollar was Liberty
seated upon cotton bale, fncing left.
In her extended right hand il M olive
branch. In her loft scroll inscribed
Liberty Behind her shcaf of wheat :;
beneath, n scroll inscribed in God We
Trust md below tho date arc thirteen
stars. On the reverse side mn eagle with
expanded wings. In its talons three
arrows and I'M olive branch. Above, u
scroll inscribed 'E Pluribus Unum.' BE-
meath, on the field, ago grain 900
line, United States Of America
"Thcrc were in 1896, '3S and $50
some designs struck Off, but none of
them was accepted or put into general
use. | believe that there were about
1000 Of those of 1886 which got into
circulation, but not, of course, for
general use.
Tf Designer Morgan, whose design
upon the present silver dollars was nc
ccptcd, had been allowed his own way
in the matter there would be no crying
ont 'buzzard, as understand the present
design Of eagle has been called, but the
dollar would have upon its reverse side
|
vcntional one.
"Drcctor Of the MINIS Kimberly, who
was in charge ut TINT time, directed De
signcr Morgan to havo the eagles wings
rise phmnix-likc, and as matter Of
course he oDcycd instructions. Regard
ing the Liberty head on the diverse side,
Mr.. Zocllcr, the designer of the SOL
diers' monument which is to be placed in
Garfield Square, Pottsvillc, says: Il
have sought everywhere almost fora true
head of Liberty, and hive come to the
conclusion that tho best head is that
which at the present time has n place on
our silver dollar. propose to use it on
account of its being the best representa-
ton of Liberty that can, in my judg-
mcnt, DC found
"Mr. Morgan, in order to get the de-