The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-28
COINS RARE AND COMMON.

ihe demand for one-cent pieces is so
great that the Philadelphia mint is
compelled TO turn out nearly 100000 a
month TO keep up the supply. There are
at present something like 1000, 100000
cents in circulation.
III you want 10 exchange a hundred
dollar bsll for cents you would get ten
good, large bags full Of coppers. Nickel
ana copper coins have no mnu marks.
neither have coins issued ak the Phila-
taSlphla mint 2t'ollectors often pay high
Pr9pes Tor coins bearing certain mint
ctnarks which otherwise would not have
fpeeh WoftbnRq than their face value.
The first United States cents struck
Tor CIRCULATION bear the date 1893. They
are OF six varieties, and are valued at
$3.50 to S625.
very rare are the New York doub-
looms, coined in 1857, of which only five
are known 10 exist. On one side of this
rare and curious coin Is a picture OF
the sun rising over a mountsen sur
rounded by the legend, Nova Eboraca
Columbia Excelsior" Below is the name
OF the designer. "Brasher." The other
side has the original form Of the ma
tional motto, 'Unum T. Pluribus. There
rs an heraldic eagle on one wing OF
which are the letters "E. b." the de-
slgner's initials. These coins are worth
1 about $500 tt last one sold brought
s521.lt had belonged To an oil dMaryland
family ever since IL was coined.
The five-dollar gold piece OF 1922 is a
rare coin. Al one time only two were
said to be in existence; one in the Phila-
delphia mint, the other i'm Boston, but
third was picked ~ in n New York
phanRQr'S Ghns
Il was afraid at first that IL might be
a counterfeit" said the collector OF
coins who happened TO spy 1t. The man
| was SO delighted TO secure II that before
leaving the shop he bought several 9TH
| er coins which he didn't want. He paid
| only Sc for IL. The same day he received
| an offer of $3.50: later $3.50 was offered
/ by another gentleman: $500 by another
/ one. but the gentleman, at last accounts
was holding } for $1,000. One of the most
| sought after colonial coins is the High
| ~ copper. 1t was struck in 1887 by Sam
/ ue Highly, who was physician and
! blacksmith near by and shaped the coin
| at his forge.
About min years ago q silver shekel
was found in Texas which dates back
70 142 r. G.. Its intrinsic value is ahout
80 cents: its value 30 collectors $4,000
one OF the earliest known coins is a
ddrachm of ancient .>Aegina coined
about 700 r.. G. IT'S intrinsic value Is 30
cents: its market value 81.
The coins spoken Of i'm the Bible are
shekels. which were OF silver; the Wild
ow's mite. tn. tribute penny and the
| "Judsa CAPITA" ghe bronze coin struck
I by the Emperor Titus TO commemorate
the destruction Of Jerusalem.
In Japan coins are generally OF iron
! and in Siam they are chiefly of porce-
| lain Whales teeth form tn coinaga of
the Fiji Islands. They arc painted white
| and red the red teeth b ing worth
about twenty times ~ much az the
| white These teeth are wcrn as a neck
lace instead Of carried in pocks tbook
The entire collection Of coins and
! medals i'm the British Museum consists
of 250.O00 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
q 5000 a wear 10 buy coins With The
British government spends $4,000 yeal
fur coins.