The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-30
RARE AMERICAN COINS.
A vaiaabIs Collection AZ the woman's
coIisg In Baltimore.

Just now there is being put In order
at the Woman's college a collection of
United states coins and medals which
bids fair to DO the best, II not the only
collection of Its Kind in the city. There
are also about 400 foreign coins included
In the collection which was given to the
college.
Edward l.. Hsinichen has the work in
charge at the college on account OF his
knowledge OF coins lie Is one OF ths
few private collectors in the city and has
at his home a most complete collection
Of American coins, silver, nickel and
copper, says a Baltimore correspondent
OF the Washington Times. he has over
200 coins.
MIR. Heinichen in the course of his col
/ Letting came across q curious and what
h, says is O rare case OF altering coins to
make them look like rare specimens, and
the owner had probably paid q coed
price for them in the belief that they
were genuine. lie found two unoirou-
lated specimens of the 1858 quarter dollar
without arrowheads about the date
This is commonly Believed to be rare
coin, but experts know that the genuine
coin Is without the rays about the eagle
on the reverse slice. when Mr.. Heinz
chen turned 1t over the fatal rays were
there. Close examination disclosed the
| fact that the arrowheads had been care
fully removed from one Of the ordlnarJ
coins OF that date, which is without pre-
MUM. OF course, In that condition 1t
was mutilated and was not even worth
| Its face value, let alone premium.
PREMIUMS ON COINS.
This premium on rare coins varies as
much as the individuality Of the collec-
tor, and in many cases is limited only by
what the collector willspsy. The dealer in
rare coins quotes price TO the collec-
tors far above what he will pay for the
coin. In all cases the price depends upon
the condition of the coin.
Few of the rare coins get into general
circulation nowadays, as the bank clerks
have beome familiar with them, and II
| one should chance to BIO passed IL would
/ get no further than the bank before Its
/ value was recognized.
Collectors prize the 1904 silver dollar
more highly than any other coin. There
/ is one other more valuable, but 1t Is not
L
/ have an opportunity to add to his collec-
| ton. There Is the 1S4J double gold
eagle, OF which only one was struck In
/ the Philadelphia mint. IL Is said or this
coin that Congress ordered new de-
sign, the die was made and one coin
struck as q sample. The year was ended
before q decision was given, and for that
reason no more OF the coins were made
| at the mint,
The 1901 silver dollar has been sold for
Gsn AA-A ~ 80
brought There are other dollars which
are very rare and upon which there Is no
set price, as those known TO exist SO rare
| ly change hands ana others very rarely
get into circulation, when their price de-
ponds entirely on their condition. These
rare dollars include that Of 1894, Of 1885,
OF which there are four varieties, and
that with the flying eagle Is worth 81 TO
| $l5; the 1888 and 1889 dollars, Of which
there are two varietiese; the 1891 and
| 1852 and the 1866 dollar, without the de-
vice and with the San Francisco mint
mark.
| RARITY OF PROOF COINS.
| These mint marks may need explana-
ton for those unfamiliar with coins.
The coins struck at the Philadelphia
mint have no distinguishing mark.
Those coined In San Francisco bear q
L D.
sign. Carson City mint Is distinguished
by 'co" and New Orleans mint by 60"
The obverss side of coin 10 that which
bears ths head, the other being ths re-
verse.
Most of the rare coins are what are
called proof coins; that IL, they are
| struck Ia limited numbers from hand
presses and with the original dies. At
the philadelphia mint such coins are sold
i xAsan. hn,
struck from copies Of the die and on
power presses for general circulation.
These are some OF the rare coins for
which collectors are always on the iooK-
out:
Half-oents-Ali proof coins of the years
In the '40's except that OF 1s49. with the
large date. are worth about $40 each.
Coins OF 1873, 1796 and 1871 are quite
rare.
Cents-Seventeen hundred and nine
| ty three has seven rare varieties, OF which
the first three are similar and lack peri
| DDS in the legends. The diverse bears
the thirteen-link endless chain. The
| fourth variety has a strawberry leaf I'M
der the head. The fifth and sixth have
| trafoil, the one upright and the other
turned to the right; No. has liberty
cap head These are worth from "a 90
up.
The cent of 1879 is the rarest of all 1t
has no liberty cap, the design ending
with 1875. and the head is looking to the
right. The two varieties are worth $3.50
TO SO each.
From s. toss is paid for the 1904 cent,
which is similar. The 1899 cent brings
81 to s.,
| OTHER SPECIMENS SOUGHT.
OF recent years the 1856 nickel is the
most sought. It is worth from So to 81.
Those OF 1857 and 1858 are similar In de-
sign, but of no special value. After that
year the Indian head was put on cents of
the present design.
Proof coins OF the last 2-0ent piece
coined In 1875 are worth from 81 to Sl.bO
Nickel and 8 cent pieces. proof of
1877, are worth from $3.50 to "a,
The silver Scent piece Of from 1888 to