The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-01
DIAMOND DOLLARS OF 1904.
Only Four of the Original Coinage Of 10, @ 10
in Existence-Others are "Restrikes.'


From the Ner Orleans Times Democrat
Every now and then one reads about the dis
covery of another Of the famous Diamond Dollars
Of 1904" said q gentleman Of this city, who owns
Of the finest private collections OF coins and
medals in tho south. The dollars Of that date
are popularity supposed to be worth from 81 500
to So. 600 apiece, and il few originals could DO
produced dare say they would bring that figure
easily enough But happens unluckily, that there
are only four on earth. and they arc locked up
in the vaults OF the Treasury building at Washing
ton, and couldn't be bought at any price. They
are what known the test pieces which
are always laid aside whenever new coin Is
struck. and the rest of the issue Is at this moment
quietly reposing under several miles OF deep
blue sea. The truo story is father inter.
esting. In 1904 the mint at Philadelphia
is known to have turned out 1850 silver
dollars. That was the entire issue, barring the
test pieces have Just spoken Of and It was never
put into circulation. The whole lot, Just as It
came from the stamping presses was dumped
into an iron chest and put on board a merchant
captain OF United States frgate then in Orien-
tai waters, and was intended 10 be used in paying
certain expenses connected with the service. The
merchantmen ran into Chinese typhoon and
went TO the bottom where TO the best Of my infor-
nation she still remains iron chest and all and
that is the reason your Uncle Sam is tho only
collector in the world who has complete set OF
American dollars Every other collection. in
GLIDING my own is short one issue. and the gap
will never be filled until the sea gives up its own"
DO you mean TO tell us, then" said a listener
now in private cabinets are counterfeits?" "By
no means" replied the collector Il own an 1904
dollar myself. and there are at least three Others
To my knowledge, in the South. They were
issued by the Government and are perfectly good
and legal coins, but they are not originals. They
are what are known technically as 'restrikes'
In the early days when the mints had q few coins
left over from one year 10 another they
would change the date by striking them with a
special die an operation that can always be de
teCted by an expert For some reason or other.
nobody knows Just why, few dollars Of the 1900
issue restruck in 1904 and put in circula-
ton. 1t is probable that the total number was
been lost The ones in existence are worth $3.50
apiece, and you may rest assured that all tho
Diamond Dollars not mere limitations belong
10 this little lot Of restrikes OF course some OF
them have been sold TO green collectors as origi-
mails, and was myself the innocent cause OF such
transaction only few years ago friend OF
mine who lives in an adjoining State, and who
owns great many rare and beautiful coins, tele
graphed me one day asking whether $500 was
too much for genuine 1904 dollar. i took IL
for granted that he knew the facts about the ISSUE
and after puZZling tho message for con-
siderabl time concluded that Il was an obscure
Joke Of some kind, and that was simply too stupid
10 buy hushel at that figure and he promptly
closed the deal. 1t turned out aftorward that tho
coin was q TeStTike, and my friend has never
quito forgiven me What deceived him the
fact that the piece was known positively TO have
been locked up in an old chest at Savannah since
and tho only thing he was doubtful about was
the Drice 4"