The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-17
THOSE SOUVENIR HALF-DOLLARS.
Sixty Thousand Shipped from the Mint, In
Gliding the Ten thousand Dollar Beauty.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. l6.-The first sixty
thousand of the new Columbian souvenir
half-dollars were shipped this morning
from the United States mint in this city.
The FIRST delivery of ten thousand coins
left on the $50 ex press for New York city in
possession of John +. Shriver, representing
Colonel Elliott i. Shepard. The fifty thou
sand coins destined for Chicago occupied
five kegs in sealed bags marked $500 each.
On the head of each key was nailed a label
marked: COLUMBIAN coins. 10000 half-dol-
lars. Assistant Treasurer of the United
States, Chicago" Each keg was sealed in
such q manner that the seal must be broken
In removing the head.
Particular attention was devoted by
Mint superintendent Bosby she'll and his
assistants TO the PACKING of one key, which
was dlsting uished from the others by the
word Special marked In blue pencil or
the head. There were five bags of coins
placed IN this keg 90 In the others. but one
of them was marked "4.9YS." instead of
its contents OF four half dollars, one of
which is the most valuable piece of its de-
nomination ever produced. These four
were the first or 'ten-thOusand-d0llar
beauty" the four hundredth, fourteen
hundred and ninety-second and eighteen
hundred and ninety-sec0nd coins of the
new issue. These pieces. on account of
their extraordinary value, which is esti-
mated at not less than $4,000, were
placed in q separate package. Each
of them was first inserted In q small clrcu-
lar p~asteboard box lined with cotton. The
box was then wrapped in tissue paper. and
placed in q linen envelope with q certificate
from the superintendent of the mint de-
clarinR it's character. The four linen en-
vel0pes were sealed and placed in q paste
haard ltoy fnnr nv civ lnQhpa in aiyQ
which, after being wrapped IN stout paper.
was marked as follows: No. /. 400, 1892.
1897, Columbian balf-dollars. Sealed 10y
O. C.. Bosbyshell. superintendent United
States mint" This package was sealed
and packed in the keg marked special"
after being placed in a wooden cigar box.
which was used to prevent the heavy boys
of coin from crushing the package.
These extraordinary precautions in seal
Ing and packing were taken at the request
of the president Of the worlds fair CON-
mission. who i'll q letter to the Treasury
Department asked that the coins be- so ar
ranged that they need not be disturbed by
the sub-treasurer at Chicago. "One or
these pieces" he wrote, has already been
sold for $40. 900. anG it 10 very important We
should be able to show tho purchaser that
they are the Identical coins called Tor In the
separate certificates
Outside of the four especially valued
souvenirs the remaining half.Gollars ara
packed and shipped with no more care than
Is bestowed upon every one of the millions
of pieces which the mint Is continually
turning ont. Each of the kegs weighed q
little over 2S6 pounds and required two men
to handle them. The general agent OF the
United States Express Company declares
that no especial precnution will be taken to
guard the consignment TO Chicago against
loss by robbery or otherwise. They left by
the Colum ban express over the Pennsyl-
yania this afternoon.