The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-25
A BELT OF SILVER COIN
WHICH SNOW WORN BrA GOTHAM
FAsHIOyLBLE.
Thirty-Three Dollars, Picked Up In All
Parts OF the World and Representing
Each Of the Republics.


! Eacn OF the Htp"N
/ Few OF New York's fashionable women
| have Travelled more than Mrs. Marie r.
| Wright, and probably none OK them pos
sesses more original memento Oh for
eign wanderings than the belt OF repub-
; lies owned by the lady named. The
belt is made OF thirty-three silver dol
lars representing almost every prominent
republic now known, and has been in
process Of collection for years, the coins
costing all the way from their face value
to S35. The belt proper is composed Of
dollars from the foreign republics, seven
American dollars forming the chatelaine.
The latter are by a clever arrange nent
so placed in frames that they may be re-
moved intact, thus complying with the
United States laws in regard to the de-
facement Of coin. They run from The
dollar OF our dads" TO the edition
which was discussed so exhaustively at
the recent special session of congress.
All are placed according to age. and as
the New York Press says they are oxy-
died they are much less conspicuous
than bright silver dollars. The silver
design that connects them introduces a
double scroll with rOsette centres, rep
resenting cactus flowers. As all the doll
lars in the belt proper are Spanish, the
device IS characteristic and clever. Con-
Meeting the belt and chdtelaine IS an eX-
quisitely designed monogram Of M. r.
W. wrought in heavy Intricate work.
and 50 arranged that II can be unfastened
from the belt and worn separately, either
as a brooch or clasp for a shopping bag.
Next the monogram Is placed the old
est coin in the collection, Spanish Fer
dinand VII. Of 1910, next the same dol
lar in the 1872 edition. Then comes the
Mexican dollar vi 1875, wonderfully pre-
served but dark from age. This was
given TO Mrs Wright by President Diaz,
Of Mexico, whose guest she was last win
ter. Joining this Is the dollar OF Peru,
inscribed "Peruana, 1855" worn by some
one for romance or luck. Succeeding
these comes another Peruana coin OF
1884, bearing the Chilean mint stamp,
for circulation in Chile. 1t IS rare TO
find II on any existing dollar, as It was
only temporary measure.
Next this Chile-Peruyian dollar comes
the Bolivar dollar dated 1885. There
are two Of these rare dollars I'm the belt
and they are set diverse and reverse
Another 1910 dollar comes next from Gem
trail America, coined before Central
America had been divided and subdiyi-
ded into small republics Joining il is
another Central American dollar OF a
six years later edition. Then comes
again a Peruvian dollar of 1916 date
and another from Bolivia, marked Con
federation Grandma 1859 Then fol-
lows an interesting one from Guatemala
in 1864, the first one that shows Guat-
emala's position as a republic. The
Ecuador dollar of 1851 bears a motto
God order, Liberty" in large letters.
Its diverse has a curious cOnelOmerate
Of marks. The signs Of the zodiac, with
blazing sun are Giscernible, the Ameri-
can eagle floats above, O. ship at sea
comes just under the zodiacal signs, and
below IS a bundle OF fagots with bat
tie axe thrust through them.
Following this intricate coin comes one
Of great value from u historical point.
1t is the last edition Of the imperial dol
lar Of Mexico-stamped 186f-and bears the
head of Emperor Macmillan. with the
motto: Equality ard Justice" Another
cactus flower joins dollar from the Re
public OF Bogota, stamped 1896. 10 an
1863 dollar Of the Empire Franchise. bear
ing the head of Napolean III. Immedi-
ately after comes the ~ coin NJ the
Republica MeXicana, shONing MeXicos
freedom. Retween tie cactus flowers,
GUaten ala and Chile follow each other
The former, date Of 1873. Is the finest dol
lar in the Central American collection.
other dollars follow from Peru, Rondu-
ras. Ecuador, and the last cactus flower
holds pendent q late coin Of Salvador,
dated 1892. As Mrs Wrights daughter
is shortly 10 marry the President eject
or Salvador, The choice IS quite grace
ful.
From the monogram hang pendant the
seven coins Of the United States. There
is a dollar of 1875 with a wOman's head
and flowing hair-supposed TO be the head
Of Martha Washington. although she de-
clined to sit for portrait FOR this pur-
pose. The half-dime OF 1898 is said TO be
the only coin really bearing the true
portrait Of Martha Washington Next
comes the 1899 dollar. its Liberty head.
with fillet bound hair said 10 be the
head OF Mrs. jefferson. The flying eagle
dollar OF 1896 follows. This coin, struck
in Philadelphia. was never I'm extensive
circulation, and perfect copies like this
one are valued az $50 or $5j each. An
1871 coin comes next with n seated Lib
erty. struck az the Philadelphia mint. and
I'm good condition. a trade dollar Of
1877 hangs next. with am ideal figure
adclphia mint dollar and following comes
another trade dollar struck al San Fran
cisco These trade" dollars were made
for circulation I'm the orient, especially
10 use I'm the United States commercial
dealings with China.
The seventh and last dollar OF our
day was struck in Philadelphia, bearing
the portrait of 3liss Williams, one Of
the young women employees OF the mint
The coin is called the Morgan head"
The letter ~" is seen intag.io fashion
i'm the hair of Liberty" and. as the
slnker's name is Morgan. & IS supposed
10 be his initial. The sinker's name is
not allowed IN relief on our dollars so
the letter was carved on the metal die,
thus securing an intasro. The sinker
was said 20 be French because he used
the French liberty cap; English, be-
cause one can find both the lion ramp
ant and the face Of King George in
the hair Of the woman, but all finally
agreed that he must be an American,
since his Liberty bore the lovely face of
an American girl.