The Washburn leader., 1891-07-25
THE SILVER cCLLa...


who have mover ceased TO complain of
they dcrisivcly term u ''buZzard." This
talk has borne such fruit that Congress
has decided to improve the figure of the
eaglo and has authorized tho director
of the mint to procure now designs.
Therefore, the present seems to be a
good time to give 4 history of Americas
most popular coin, and VIC can not do
better than give the substance of an in
terview with Il. a. Mcclure, curator of
tho cabinet, and one of the bCst-llnOwn
numismatists in the world, says Golden
Days.
Tho first silver dollar was coined un-
der the act of February ~, 1852, and
weighed 41G grains. and had {; tincness
of S92.4, which standard was continued
for a number Of years.
In 11os the silver dollar issued had on
the diverse side Il liberty head facing
right with flowing hair, fifteen stars,
above the head the word "Libcrty,"
beneath 1891. Reverse sidc, an eagle
with raised wings, cncirclcd by
branches Of laurel. with the legend
"Unitcd States of America" around the
edge Of tho coin, while the edge Of tho
coin containcd: "llundrcd cents, ono
dollar or unit"
The next year, 1905, the design was
again changed as follows:
Diverse side-bust of Liberty, facing
right, hair bound by ribbon, shoulders
drapcd and fifteen stars showing in tho
field. Reverse sidc--an eagle with OK
panded wings standing upon clouds,
with a wreath of palm and laurel,
which is crossed and tied, and the in
scription: "Unitcd States of America. +"
In l79S the same design was used, ex-
ccpt tho using of two stars less in tho
field on the diverse side.
On the reverse side of the 179S dollar
a change was made by placing on it an
eagle with raised wings, bcaring tho
United States shield upon its breast
and in it's bcall a scroll with the in
scription ''E Pluribus Unum'' upon it:
bundle of arrows, thirteen in number,
in tho right talon. Above were clouds
and thirteen stars, and upon its field
United States of America.
From 1905 to 1890 inclusive there were
no silver dollars coined for general cir
culation. In 1910 another change was
made. On the diverse side of the coin
was Liberty seated upon rock, sup
porting with her right hand the United
States shield. across which floats a scroll
inscribed Liberty" and with her left
hand supporting tho staff and liberty
cap; below the date Of coinage.
On its reverse side an caglc with cx-
pandcd wings, bearing the United
States shield upon it's breast and an
olive branch and three arrows in its
talons. Legend: Limited States of
America, Ono DOLL" rccdcd edge, size
"a. From 1866 to 1876; same design was
used, the words ''In God We Trust" be-
ing added above tho eagle.
From 1874 to 1877 none wcrc issued,
and the next design accepted was tho
present ono in use, which WAS struck off
for general use in 1878. On tho diverse
sido we have tho Liberty head facing
left, upon which is IL cap, 4 wheat and
cotton wreath and band inscribed
Liberty. Above the band the words ''E
Pllribus Unum;' beneath, tho date and
13 stars.
The reverse sidc has an eaglo with
expanded wings, pointing upward; in
it's right talon an olive branch with nine
leaves; in it's left talon three arrows; in
. the field above, the words, ''In God We
Trust;' beneath, scmi-wreath, tied
and crossed, reaching upward to the
wings of the eagle. Legend: Omitted
States of America. One Dollar"
TVbo 4r.i1n Ic1lnrS ,yoro roinn1 frOno
1873 to 1883, inclusive, under very pc
culiar circumstances. American NOR
chants, trading with Asiatic and South
American ports, were seriously
hampcred for lack of suitable currency.
The standard dollar of 412 grains was
light weight and would not pass current
outside of tho United States, and SO
these traders appealed to Congress to
coin trade dollar of 420 grains, stamp
ing on its weight and finencss.
1t was really an ingot of silver, and
not intended for circulation in this
country at ali. But, somehow, the
trade dollars flowed back to this country,
and fer timc floatcd at par, until their
legal standing was discovered; then they
dropped to 50 or 90 cents.
This decrease gavo rise to a clamor
that the Government should redeem the
trade dollars, and eventually Congress
passed law to that effect. At the
present day trade dollars are only worth
their bullion valuc.
Upon the obvcrsc side of the trade
dollar was Liberty seated upon cotton
bale, facing left: in her extended right
hand an olive branch; in her left o
scroll inscribed ''Libcrty;' behind her
a sheaf of wheat; beneath, scroll in
scribed In God We Trust" and below
the date arc thirteen stars. On the re-
verse side an eagle with expanded
wings; in its talons three arrows and an
olive branch; above, a scroll inscribed
"E Pluribus Unun:" beneath, on the
field, 1920 grains 900 fine. United States
of America r"
In 1896. 1888 and 1889 some designs
wero struck off, but none of them were
accepted or put into general use. About
1000 1886 dollars were circulated in this
way.
This is tho history Of the silver dol
lar up to date. and wc must wait for q
year, perhaps, before VIC can add to it
description of tho now silver dollar.
SMALL A1out:lcd Rock BASS.
r,5:o~ ,,;.,or hr;oh;o,r l,,o ifo