The herald., 1898-03-20
THE COINS OF FORMER DAYS
Some Of the Terms Used in This Coun-
try to Designate Them

try to Designate Them
In Ohio, in 1874 and previously, there was
a good deal Of foreign coin in circulation,
mostly Spanish, with some of the old state
coinage of different states occasionally
making its appearance. One of the most
plentiful Of these foreign coins was piece
which passed current for 6A cents. In
Ohio this was known as a flppenny bit, a
contraction, probably, Of fivepenny bit. The
half dimes of American coinage were also
becoming frequent at that time. and as a
distinction between the half dime and the
fippenny bit, the former was contracted to
the word ''fip." The dime went under
its lawful name, while the old Spanish
double of the fppenny bit was known as
the "bit," and the Spanish and Mexican
quarter dollars were nearly always re-
ferred to as 1.-TWO bits" The latter term, I
think, still obtains in reference to quarter
dollar American pieces In some sections.
There was also New York state 1.-TWO
bit' coin, as well as "bit" Of the same
coinage, which was sometimes called the
york shilling" The New England shil-
lings value was 16 % cents. The old
fashioned big copper cent of American
coinage was plentiful, while occasionally
an English halfpenny Of copper was found
floating around, generally passing on the
same basis as the American copper cent.
Queen victoria's head was then shown on
the English halfpennies.
Later, when, as boy, removed with
my mother to Illinois, I met my first stum-
bling block in money names. There the
fippenny bit was the picayune, while the
| ftp had its proper name Of a half dime or
s cents. But the larger coins retained the
old names, as did the copper cents. As
near as I can learn, the term picayune or
iginated with the French. who had settled
st. Louis and had settlements at points all
the way from New Orleans to st. Louis
and the further northwest, and their names
for money predominated In that region.
Still later, when had strayed away to
New York state, again encountered new
names for money. There everything was
based on the Shilling" which represent
ed 12h cents. A quarter Of dollar was al
ways "two shillings," and all sums under
500 were calculated on the same basis.
When I asked the price of board. was
told It ranged from 18 to 80 shillings a week.
The price of a suit of clothes was generally
stated in shillings. That was all right for
Tie udtlNcSS Out SoAAcSS AdN IL hCQ0ChtAy
to brush up my arithmetic to get at what
a3 shillings, % shillings. II shillinss or some
other high number amounted to. It was ali
clear enough when 1t was 2. or 6 shillings,
but when 1t got above the dollar 1t required
some "ciphering'' on the part Of stranger
to get correct results.
The three-cent piece, originally coined In
silver, came into general circulation in the
north about 1850. and was later made In
nickel, being coined in that metal at about
the same time as the present nickel Ave.
cent piece.
Some time before the civil war the old
fashioned copper cent was replaced at the
mint with the present small copper cents
and the two-cent pieces. Later the first
nickels eyre made, but almost went out OF
circulation during the war, and were sue
ceeded by the fractional currency Of that
day, issued in s. 10, 25 and so cent bills
These were never very popular with the
masses, and were looked upon by the gov.
ernment as temporary expedient. The
most popular designation for them was
"shinplasters." though In Memphis and
some other parts Of the country they were
referred to as chicken feed.''
During the war there were many other
substitutes for money. mostly In the form,
Of cardboard promises to pay everything
from drink Of whisky or ride on the cars
to . suit Of clothes, from quart Of mill,
or pound Of beefsteak to Z weeks sal
ary. They have dropped out Of use In
most sections, and in their plso~ unds
sam's coppers, nicksls, dimes. quarters
half dollars and ''dellar Of the dkddiss''
now reign supreme.-0alveston News.