The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-14
COINS RARE AND COMMON.
4 Billion Of Cents in Usc-Coins for
Which High Prices arc PAID.


The demand for one-cent pieces Is 50
great that the Philadelphia mint is COM
PEELED to turn out nearly 100000 a month
to keep up the supply There are at
present something ike l,oOOOOO,ooo cents in
circulation.
II YOU want 10 exchange a hundred
dollar bin 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 Phil
adelphia mint. Collectors often pay high
prices FOR coins bearing certain mint
marks which otherwise would not nave
been worth more than their face value.
The first United States cents struck for
circulation bear the date 1875. They are
OF six varieties. and are valued az $50
10 1925.
Very rare are the New York doubloons.
coined I'm 1857. OF which only five are
knorn TO exist on one. side of this rare
and curious coin Is "a picture Of the sun
rising over a mountain surrounded by the
legand. Nova Eb0r8cO Columbia Excel
sior." Below is the name Of the designer.
"Brasher" The other side has the origl-
nal form Of the national motto, "unum
r Pluribus" There is am heraldic eagle
on one wing of which are the letters
"E. b." the deAgncrs initials ihese
coins are worth about 500. The last one
sold brought S27 10 had belonged to an
Old Maryland family ever since II was
coined.
The fve-dollar cold piece of $50 is
rare coin. AT one time only two were
said To- be I'm existence; one in the Phila-
delphia mint. the other I'm Boston. but
a third was picked no in New YORK
money changer shop few years ago.
81 was afraid at drst that it might be
a counterfeit" said The collector Of coins
who happened TO spy It. The man was
so delighted 10 secure IL that before
leaving the shop hc bought several other
coins which he didn't want Tie paid only
81 for it, Tire same day he received an
offer OF $50: later $50 was onered oy
another gentleman, 900 by another one
but the gentleman. at last accounts, was
holding it for $1,000. one or the most
sought after colonial coins Is the Hlshiy
copper IL was struck IN 1871 by Samuel
Highly Who was q physician ana piach-
smith a CRANKY. Conn lie got the cop
per from mine near by and shaped the
coin al . forge
About nine wears ago a silver shekel
was found i'm Texas which dates BACK 10
i42 g. G. It's intrinsic value IS about ~
cents its value 10 collectors 5000
one OF the earliest known coins Is
didrachm OF ancient Aesina, coined about
20 b. O. It's intrinsic value Is 20 cents
It's market value ST.
The coins spoken of IN the Biole are
sAekels. which were of silver. the widow
mite. the tribute penny and the Juuea
CAPITA" The bronze coin struck by ne
Emperor Titus 10 commemorate the de-
struction OF Jerusalem.
In Japan coins are chiefly of porcelain.
Whales teeth form the coinage OF me
FIJI Islands They are painted white and
red the red toeth being worth ABOUT
twenty times as much as The "hiIe'
These teeth are worn as "a he,hi1ee III
stead Of carried I'M a pocketoook
The entire collection Of COINS ana me
dals IN the British Musuem consists %.
10000 specimens. and Is one OF ne hnes,
in the world. At the Phladelphia MN,
is good collection Of American CONS, pu,
the Government only allows II ~ =
year 40 buy coins with. inc hIi''sn
Government spends $500 n year III
coins.-N. Y. Sun. q s.