The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-11
COUNTERFEIT 5D-CENT PIECES.
The Kind That Contains the Full Amount
of silver Causing Much Trouble.

For some days past it has been observed that
conductors on the trolley cars OF the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit Company in Brooklyn. rs well as
some OF those on lines in Manhattan. have been
paying special attention to the coins offered to
them in payment Of fares. Particular atten-
ton was called to this on Monday evening.
when n conductor on a Third avenue car in
Brooklyn got into several alterations with
passengers because Of his refusing certain 5O-
cent pieces offered to him and finally taking
them only because the passengers protested
that they had no other money.
This particular conductor declared that he
had received orders from his company not TO
tako anv ftty-ccnt pieces Of the dates OF 1898
or 1873. The order. he said. was issued be-
cause there were such large number Of coun-
terfeit coins OF that denomination and of those
two dates aoat
Further Inquiry in other quarters develops
the tact hat somebody presumably well or
flood Brookly with false nfty-cent coins and
that there are now probably thousands OF doll
hood, Many OF the bad coins, are. probably IN
the vaults OF banks. in the 'ilIs OF stores and
the pockets OF persons who are not often de-
II was about n month ago ms nearly rs the
Secret Service agents have been able 10 deter
mine when gang began to dump counterfeit
fifty cent silver pieces in Brook yn. II was
week after that before their operations at
tracted attention and then 1t was only by ac-
1t was found that during the time that had
elapsed thu counteririt- had been passing
current In cars and stOres and that tho banks
had taken them in freely without suspicion
OF their false character
Secret Service men were at once SET tn work
in large numbers to run down the source OF
the coins. The counterieits kept coming in
freely, and it is said that the Secret Service
men have been able to trace them success
fully that they are about ready to make arrests
and break up the gang.
Az may he inferred the bad nfty-ce pieces
are OF the Kind that have given the United
States authorities lots Of trouble for the last
two or three wears in New Orleans and tho
South. whore silver ID the principal currency.
They are made OF silver OF the standard nne-
ness and correct weight. STAMPED in close tmi-
tation Of the genuine, ana have the same value
as bullion that the genuine coin has. These
are the features which make tho counterfeit SO
dangerous. With silver at tho present price
the colners can afford to put in tho proper
weigh and quality Of metal and do good work.
and still make handsome profit Even the
experts have found but one marx by which the
bad coins can he distinguished from good ones.
This is To he found on the revrrs" or eagle
side, Above the eagle is group OF thirteen
stars arranged between tn" eagles head and
the II p.uribuS unum" scrOl. which he carries.
and tho letters states OF Am OF the inscrip-
tion, United States Of America. which runs
around the coin. In the genuine ifty cent pieces
these stars ecp well clear OF the letters. Whilo
in he countSrfeits the stars are larger and tho
NTH one in the upper row. counting from tho
loft. has n point which Just touches the final
letter s. in states