New-York tribune., 1900-01-20
LONGING TO MRS. EDWIN KNOWLES

LONGING TO MRS. EDWIN KNOWLES.
A leading expert numisnatist is responsible for
the statement that the best American coins for
collection come from abroad. Another authority
states that most of the coins discovered
come from farms and rural districts
Some employees of the Treasury are said TO be
engaged in small way in coin and note collecting
and are permitted to take good numismatic speci-
mems and substitute their value in other coinage.
In Washington pawnshop numismatist re-
Gently discovered gold badge of the Order of the
Cincinnati bearing the date 1888 The gold in the
badge is worth only about $40. but as a relic its
value is far greater.
To the dealer in old coins copper Is said to be
far more valuable than gold or silver. 1t has been
the general impression that gold or silver coins
command the greatest premium. Copper Is perish
able. while gold and silver will keep in good condi-
tion indefinitely One dealer states: There is not
an absolutely perfect set of American copper coins
in the world" More than $1,000 has been offered
for copper cent of 199 in perfect condition, but 1t
is not thought to be in existence
Values of coins vary according to condition ana
demand. coin that is comparatively rare IN New
York may be common in New-orleans or chicago
made from Whales teeth, which painted red
anu & "iie wnen , wU1an d np 1racfice for the
wife to present her husband with dowry OF
whales teeth
WOMAN COLLECTORS.
1t is claimed that there are, on average. two
women coin collectors to every
Mrs. Edwin Knowles of No. S6S Lafayette-ave'
Brooklyn, while not ardent collector has large
number of coins that have been given to her from
porter yesterday. The most valuable coin IN her
collection is Jewish shekel which made in
the days of King Solomon. On the reverse side are
the Hebrew characters for "Jeroushalem hedo-
figure which represents Aaron's rod. On the OBJ
verse side Hebrew words for Shekel and Israel,
around pot of burning incense.
spanish pistareen bearing the date I'LL, is a
Augustine Fla. 1t was dug out of entrench-
ment and given to Mrs. Knowles by officer OF
the Army. This coin, she thinks, was probably a
part the pay of of the soldiers of Philip OF
Spain. The remnants of an old Spanish teapot
''Thfs" said Mrs. Knowles as she picked up
something that looked like a large, thick, bronze
medal 'is a penny that is a penny-a penny clear
through. Think of the streetcar conductor that
would be obliged to carry these about and make
change to the amount of $2'
On one side the mammoth penny was Inscribed
"Georgius III. D. G. Rex and on the other side
1877, Britannia" Compare the big fellow with the
modern English penny and halfpenny' said Mrs
Knowles she laid the two small coins by the
old penny.
A Spanish piece about which nothing is known, is
dated 1881 and bears the inscription of Carolus Ill
The rest of my collection said Mrs. Knowles
'is composed of American coins that will be valu-
able some day. Here is one of the five-cent pieces
of 1888 that did not have the word cents When
the Treasury discovered that they being
glded and passed off for S. gold pieces they were
Among her collection are two half dollars of 1872
and 1918 respectively with 80 cents milled in the
edge old fashioned big pennies; flying eagle PEN
MES and the 20-cent piece that caused confusion
string of wampum is a quaint part of this col
lection.