The sun., 1893-03-18
4 MYSTERIOUS POCKET PIECE
Only by Losing II Did the Owner Come to
Learn About the Coin and Its Worth.

Only by losing 1t Did the Owner Come to
Learn About the Coin and Its Worth.
1t was nearly two years ago that Henry F.
Fanshawe OF the Equity Gaslight Construction
Company found that queer. weird. Jagged
edged coin among his small change. Just
how 1t came into his possession he doesn't
know to this day. Just why he did not follow
the impulse that invariably comes to the man
who finds that he has been made an involun-
tary receiver OF questionable money. is equal
ly puzzle. anyhow he slipped the thing into
his vest pocket. where in the process Of time,
it became elevated to the dignity OF n recog-
nfzed and established pocket piece In his odd
moments Mr.. FSnshawe fell into the habit OF
speculating on the origin OF the token. 1t was
queer enough to furnish much food for theo ries
The metal used was apparently OF impure
silver. On the face OF the piece in high relief
was a sort OF cup or chalice. with thin stem
and broad. fiat foot. Around the top OF the
cup was row Of raised dots What WAS evil
IDENTIFY IN inscription in misshapen characters
encircled the vessel Two detached charac-
ters were placed In the centre. over the cup
On the reverse. was something like u spray of
hyacinth with three flowers. Another inscrip-
tion encircle ed this design also.
friends could not place the coin in numis-
matte sense Sc, ne fell into the habit OF regardinG
liz besa to M
presence IN his vest pocket with his personal
welfare. lie WAS not quite com mfortable II by a
change OF garments 1t was left in his ward
robe. He Identified its companionship with
certain successful deals on the street. In
power Of developing that latent vein Of super
sstition which the manager OF the Equity Gas
Light company possesses in common with
When. therefore. two weeks ago. Mr.. Fan
shave found that his fetish was missing he
vest ot his were Investigated, so was every
pocket In every other garment; and 80 was
home. hut the coin was not found. and Fam
shave was disconsolate and uncomfortable.
NJ tanshaTe has beautiful blond nous
nm artist near the E1uitab BILE building. Naturally
the training Of this moustache is matter OF
er's barber: But when. two days since. Mr..
Esnsh"ws Es Gia ir9rpsd int2 hs chair
81 q hs
ing erJ wh" was in the af, q risinS
la E5SH!'''ol Of the place
i%' ssd az l9s 3sS" sH''eTff amt often that one
picks that UP in this shop''
tion in the lie o. everybody. Such period
camo 70 Mr.. fanshawe at this juncture DASH
and spea king through his suds. he yelled:
MS nhout about the size Of aGuarter. color
oI clrty NICKEL. i.as cup on one side sort
Of iiower on the other. and JabDerwock letters
round the edges. Gimme my pocket niece"
Great soap" cried ths barber. "ion
Mr.. ,Fanshawe did not reply. but casting
aside his towel and chintz. arose and with an
air OF determination that could be seen
the customer who had the coin. 1t was yield
cd forthwith and with an inner glow OF COM
fort: Mr.: Fanshawe returned TO his chair.
think said the other customer. that
you've got a rare coin there. I'm in the bust
takenot It jewish half shekcl OF the reign
OF Simon Maccabaeus. date l43 b. e. The cup
represents a not OF mama: the flower. the rod
issue, and the inscriptions. Jerusalem the
Holy and God of our Fathers Ifyou,ll lot
With some reluctance Mr. Fanshawe loaned
his coin to the dealer. The next day 1t was
returned to him with the statement that it was
genuine half shakel. and that he could get
SO for it II he desired to sell it. The .proba-
bilities are that 81 900 would be refused.