Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-15
COINS OF HIGH VALUE,
It is No ExagGeration to Say That They Are
Drug on the Market.

1t is No Exaggeration to Say That They Are
Drug on the Market.
THIS LIFE IS BUT ONE LONG At
Il tempt to profit by the bitterness Of expert
ence-les amerements de Ia vie, as the French
have 1t. In other words, We live and learn.
The STAR will know better in future than to
print any information on the subject Of the
values Of old coins. About six weeks ago an
article on that topic was published in this
newspaper, without any notion that it was des-
tined to become a cause Of distress to the
editorial staff, as well as burden to the Post
Office Department The material for the essay
in question. which was q mere fragment, was
obtained In conversation with New York
dealer in coin and paper money.
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
The desk editor who read the "copy" Of the
article felt, when he passed upon it favorably,
sort Of foreboding for which he could not ac-
count. Attributing it to some boiled cabbage
which he had partaken OF for dinner. he let the
matter slide into cold type, and in due course
1t appeared in the Saturday STAR. Now, THE
STAR is scattered all over the United States. A
copy Of it appears regularly on the exchange
desk OF every important newspaper in the
country. Every exchange editor who knows
his business grabs the Saturday STAR each week
and with avid shears dissects its pages Every
body ia interested in money, and there are few
people who will not read about the values of
old coins.
COPIED BROADCAST.
Accordingly, the article referred to was
copied within week in about 100 newspapers,
which spread it before the eyes Of millions Of
people. Every reader of 1t who possessed any
coins examined them carefully to see If any of
them were included in the valuable list. Not
boy with few jingling coppers in his pocket
but looked them over with eager scrutiny. The
farmer receiving money for his produce at the
market compared the dates on the pieces of
silver with those given in the newspaper clip
ping. At home the frugal housewife got down
the cracked teapot from the mantel shelf or
withdrew the family stocking from its conceal
ment to ascertain whether the hoard might
contain a rare three-cent piece worth $40 or q
cent of 1904 valued at 5000.
STILL FURTHER CIRCULATED.
OF course, the article was copied from the
big newspapers into the little newspapers. The
latter are mostly made up with material sup
piled to them by Wholesale. either in the shape
Of stereotyped columns or in sheets already
printed on one side. Thus a single concern
will furnish matter to 500 or perhaps 200
journals. In this form the luckless screed was
disseminated throughout the rural districts
everywhere, spreading the infection of greed
from inc cities 10 the most remote farm houses
where weekly publication was taken In
everybody VINO read 1t was equally inspired to
try and exchange old coins for new ones at an
enormous percentage of profit. Unfortunately
and unexpectedly every newspaper that copied
1t credited 1t to IHE WASHINGTON EVENING
STAR.
LETTERS POURING IN.
As matter Of course everybody who imay-
ined that he or she nossessed a valuabIe coin
10 TtYr -
"ro'e uireo' " ihh STAR foi'y-eigh' hours
had not passed when letters on the subjest be-
gan pouring into this ofce. In every case the
writer mentioned having one or more OF the
pieces OF money referred to by the article as
unusually precious. Would The STAR be kind
enough to place the subscriber In correspond
ence with the dealer in coins referred to in the
interview! rather more IMAM haif OF the peo-
PIE "aet on,y .ie tht uuS nearly a. many
bps;ness Of bnY;po and sailing coins The do de-
sired to be informed as to how much The STAR
would give for this or that piece Of money, or
announced that they had such and such curiosi-
ties in silver or copper which they we're ready
to send on receipt Of the advertised price. OBJ
viously, when person learns that he owns a
three-cent piece worth $40 he does not like to
intrust it to the mail.
o1ur IN THE N.pupr
l.. A.. h,,.;-
~ An- 90 "o,. AZ 'no business =, buying