The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-11-11
COINS RARE AND M
A Billion of Cents in Use-COins
for Which High Prices
Are Paid.

II ~ " ~ >NHS HANN>o 49, ~
great that the Philadelphia mint is
compelled to turf out nearly 1000, 900
a month to keep up the supply. There
are at present something like 1,000,-
600, 600 cents in circulation.
If you want to exchange a 500 bill
for cents you would get ten good, large
bags full of coppers. Nickel and copper
coins have no mint marks, neither have
coins issued at the Philadelphia mint.
Collectors often pay high prices for
coins bearing mint marks which other
wise would not have been worth more
than their face value.
The first United States cents struck
for circulation bear the date 1898. They
are of six varieties and are valued at
$2.5066.25.
Very rare are the New York doub-
looms, coined in 1857, of which only five
are known to exist. On one side of this
rare and curious coin is n picture of the
sun rising over a mountain surrounded
by this legend: Nova Eboraca Column
bia Excelsior Below is the name of
the designer, "Brasher." The other
side has the original form of the ma
tional motto, "Unum E Pluribus."
There is an heraidic eagle, on one wing
of which are the letters "E. b." the de-
signer's initials. These coins are worth
about $500. The last one sold brought
S527. 1t had belonged 10 an old Mary
land family ever since it was coined.
The %five-dollar gold piece of 1872 is a
rare coin. At II time only two were
said to be in existence, one in the Phil
adelphia mint. the other in Boston. but
a third was picked up in a New York
money changers shop Il few years ago.
81 was afraid at first that it might be
a counterfeit" said the collector of
coins who happened to spy it. The man
was so delighted to secure it that be-
fore leaving the shop he bought several
other coins which he didn't want. He
paid only six dollars for it. The same
day he received an offer of $3.50: later
$3.50 was offered by another gentleman,
5000 by another one. but the gentleman
at last accounts was holding it for
$1,000. One of the most sought after
colonial coins is the Highly copper. 1t
vas struck in 1871 by Samuel Highly,
who was a physician and a blacksmith
at CRANKY. Conn. lie got. the copper
from Il mine near by and shaped the coin
at his forge.
About nine years ago a silver shebel
was found in Texas which dates back
to 142 b. c. Its intrinsic value is about
so cents: its value to collectors. $1,000.
One of the earliest known coins is a
didrachm of apeient Aegina, coined
about 200 Il. {. Its intrinsic value is so
cents; its market value. seven dollars.
The coins spoken of in the Bible are
shekels. which were of silver; the
widows mite, the tribute penny, and
the "Judea CAPITA" the bronze coin
struck by Emperor Titus 20 comment
crate the destruction of Jerusalem.
In Japan coins are generally of iron,
and in Siam they are chiefly porcelain.
Whales teeth form the coinage of the
FIJI islands. They are painted white
and red, the red teeth being worth about
20 times as much as the white. These
teeth are worn as 4 necklace instead OF
carried in q pocketbook.
The entire collection of coins and
medals in the British museum consists
OF 100000 specimens and is one of the
finest in the world. AT the Philadelphia
mint is a good collection Of American
coins. but the government only allows
it $500 a year to buy coins. The British
government spends 5000 a year for
coins.-N. Y. Sun.