Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-07-11
ANTIQUATED MONEY.
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE
NEVER BEEN REDEEMED.

Many Small Notes Are still Treasured as
Curiosities-A Little Comes in Every
year-How Counterfeits Are stamped.
Facts About Scrip.
Say, mister, are these any gocip" in
quired n timid looking youngster of
Doorkeeper Brady at the sub-treasury
the other day as he hauled out a half
dozen pieces of ragged, dirty paper.
A close inspection showed that they
were pieces of fractional currency, or
''shinplasters, such as played so i'm
portant part as circulating medium
before the resumption of specie pay
ment.
The young man was directed to the
small change room, where he again
asked the same question of R. G. Half,
who is in charge of that department.
Mr.. Half took the soiled and crumpled
bits of paper in his hands, smoothed
them out, and with the hasty touch of
an expert singled out one of the pieces
and turned around to a block of wood
behind him that looked like butchers
chopping block. He laid the selected
piece of paper on the block and gave it
whack with steel instrument; then,
turning to the young man, he said:
"These five are good, but that one is
counterfeit"
AS he spoke he handed back the bad
token, and across the face was the word
counterfeit" cut clean and clear The
steel instrument with which he had
struck the paper was sharp stencil die
that cut the tell tale word so clearly
that the bit of currency never would be
current again, and any fool could see
that it was worthless.
"Do you want these redeemedY' con-
tinued Mr. Half, as he pointed to the
five grimy slips on the counter.
Yes, sir, if you please" stammered
the youth, as he eyed with panied sur
prise the mutilated piece returned to
him. Mr.. Half put two bright silver dol
lars and silver quarter on the counter,
which the boy picked up in a hurry, as
though he were finding them in the
street.
LOTS OF MONEY LOST
DO you get much of that old frac-
tional currency now?' somebody said to
Mr. Half as the boy went out.
No" he replied; 1--WE get very little
now-not more than $1,000 year. The
amount coming in for redemption is
growing less and less every year. 1t used
TO come in here by the bushel basketfu
But for many years now we only receive
it in driblets. we seldom get as much
at /. time as that young man just brought
in"
But it has not all been redeemed,
has it,?
No, indeed. and, what is more. a very
large amount will never be redeemed.
There is now outstanding in old frac-
tional something like $15,000,000. And
of that it is estimated that not more
than 100000 to 100000 will ever
come in"
"But where is the rest and why will il
not come in for redemption?"
.. "a great deal of it has been worn out
by the wear and tear of twenty odd
years. Any quantity of it has beer
burned up in the fires that have occurred
since the time it was issued, and il
numerous other ways it has been lost Oh
destroyed. Then there are some people
who hold all they can get to use in send
ing small amounts by mail, finding il
handy. Then, too, the old currency i.
now so scarce that people keep the occa
sional pieces that come to hand as curl
osities or pocket pieces. A great many
coin collectors have crisp, un irculatet
specimens of it in their collections.
know one wealthy gentleman in the city
who carries in his pocketbook, wrapped
up with the greatest care, four clean
l bright specimens-a fifty, twenty-five
a ten and "A five cent piece. He said il
was the first money he ever earned L
was paid to him in these identical pieces
brand new from the press, and he ha
kept them ever since for luck. do no
l believe you could buy them from him to
day for 81 900 apiece. He calls them hi
, reserve capital. and if he ever loses 1
million or more, as he is now reported tC
y be worth, he will have his ninety cent
] reserve to fall back on"
DETECTING COUNTERFEITS.
! A good deal of the fractional currency
that is brought to the sub-treasury TO,
I redemption turns out to be counterfeit
I and the moment it comes into that place
S no matter from whose hands it comes, i
is hurried to a block and stamped 'coun
terfeit' with the stencil cutting die
/, They ask no permission, but just go ant
r do it. The same rule is followed, too, il