River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-05-01
THE SILVER DOLLAR.


Condensed History of the Development of
Uncle Sans Great Coin.
Congress having decided to improve
the figure of the eagle upon the silver
dollar, and having authorized the direct
or of the minis of the United States to
procure new designs, visit was made
to the mint of this city, where r. A. Me-
Ciure, curator of the cabinet and one of
the best-known numismatists of the
world, gave a complete and thorough
history of the coinage of the silver dol
lar from its beginning to the present
time.
THE first silver dollar ever coined"
said Mr.. Mcclure, ''was coined under
the act of February IL, 1892, and weighed
4i6 grains and had a fineness of S92. 4,
which standard was continued for many
years. In 1894 the silver dollar issued
had on the diverse side Liberty head,
facing right, with flowing hair, fifteen
stars; above the head the word 'Liber-
ty;' beneath, 1894 Reverse side, an
eagle, with raised wings, encireled by
branches of laurel, with the legend
United States of America around the
edge of the coin, while the edge of the
coin contained Hundred cents, one dol
lar or unit
The next year, 1905" continued Mr..
Mcclure, ''the design was again changed
as follows: Diverse side-bust of Lib
erty, facing right, hair bound by a rib
bon, shoulders draped, and fifteen stars
showing in the field. Reverse side-an
eagle with expanded wings standing
upon clouds within wreath of palm
and laurel, which is crossed and tied,
and the inscription: United States of
America
''In l79S the same design was used,
excepting the using of two stars less in
the field on the diverse side. You see,"
said Mr.. Mcclure, they began by put
ting in star for each State. and after
putting in fifteen stars they found that
if they continued the policy of adding
star for each new State they would
scarce have room, so they decided to go
back to the original number, thirteen
stars, representing the thirteen original
States.
ION the reverse side of the 179S dollar
change was made by placing on it an
eagle with raised wings, bearing the
United States shield upon its breast
and in its beak a scroll with the in
scription IL Pluribus Unum' upon it;
bundle of arrows, thirteen in number,
in the right talon, and an olive branch
in the left talon. Above were clouds
and thirteen stars, and upon its field
United States of America
From 1905 until 1889, inclusive" said
Mr.. Mcclure, there were no silver dol
lars coined. but from 1910 to 1865 we
coined what has been called the dollar
of our daddies' On its diverse side was
Liberty seated upon rock, supporting
with her right hand the United States
shield, across which floats scroll in
scribed Liberty and with her left hand
supporting the staff and liberty cap; be-
low, the date of coinage.
ION its reverse side an eagle with ex-
banded wings, bearing the United
States shield upon its breast and an
olive branch and three arrows in its
talons. Legend. United States of
America, One Doll, recded edge, size
"a From 1866 to 1878 the same design
was used, the words In God We Trust
being added above the eagle.
From 1874 to 1877 none were issued,
and the next design accepted was the
present one in use, which was struck off
for general use in 1878. On the diverse
side we have the Liberty head facing
left upon which are cap, wheat and
cotton wreath, and a band inscribed
Liberty Above the band the words
'E Pluribcs Unum;' beneath the date
and thirteen stars.
The reverse side of our present sill
yer dollar" continued Mr.. Mcclure,
has an eagle with expanded wings,
pointing upward; in its right talon an
olive branch with nine leaves; in its
left talon three arrows; in the field
above the words In God We Trust be-
meath semi-wreath tied and crossed,
reaching upward to the wings of the
eagle. Legend: United States of
America. One Dollar.
''The trade dollars" continued Mr..
Mcclure, were coined from 1878 to
1888 inclusive. Upon the diverse side
of the trade dollar was Liberty seated
upon cotton bale, facing left. In her
extended right hand is an olive branch.
In her left a scroll inscribed Liberty
Behind her sheaf of wheat; beneath,
a scroll inscribed In God We Trust
and below the date are thirteen stars.
On the reverse side an eagle with ex-
banded wings. In its talons three ar
rows and an olive branch. Above,
scroll inscribed Il Pluribus Unum.'
Beneath on the field, '420 grains 900
fine, United States of America.
There were," said Mr.. Mcclure, sin
1886, '3s and 80 some designs struck off,
but none of them was accepted or put
into general use. | believe that there
were about one thousand of those of
1886 which got into circulation, but not,
of course, for general use"
IF Designer Morgan, whose design
upon the present silver dollars was ac-
cepted, had been allowed his own way
in the matter" said Superintendent
Bosbyshell of the mint, there would
be no crying out 'buzzard. as | under
stand the present design of eagle has
been called, but the dollar would have
upon its reverse side natural eagle in
stead of the present conventional one"
-philadplOhia Times