The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-03
A DOLL r OF 1904.
Curious History of a Valuable Coin.
Believed To Be Genuine.

From the Cleveland Leader.
Captain Abbott Of the Secret Service
Department had in his possession recent
ly an alleged 1904 dollar that has set many
secret-service men to work. If the dollar
is genuine. it Is one of the. rare coins of
the United States and is worth about
1880 to collectors. If IL is bogus it will
get some one into trouble.
In 1904 the government issued 1900 sill
yer dollars. For some reason or other 1t
was decided to recall the issue; 1896 of
the dollars were returned to the treasury
and destroyed. Four of the dollars re-
manned in circulation. AS soon as this
became known the value of these dollars
took jump, and since that time cofec-
tors have anxiously sought after them.
1t is claimed that one of the original
coins is still missing. There have been
many counterfeits of the dollars, but
they were so poor that they were soon
detected. However, Captain Abbott IS
unable to tell whether not this 1904
dollar is genuine. As a result it was for
warded to the chief of the Secret Service
Department. at Washington
The coin In question was obtained by
the government officials from B. II.
Smith, at Lima, Ohio, few days ago.
upon the supposition that it was a coun-
terfeit Smith was taken to Toledo. 1t is
said that he is a gambler VINO Travelled
all over the State. While on one OF his
trips he went to Lima, where he became
stranded. He partook heavily of NOR
phine, 1t is claimed and acted strangely.
Smith visited a pawnbroker and wanted
to pawn the supposed 1904 dollar for S25.
The pawnbroker knew the value of the
1904 dollar and became suspicious, and re-
ported the matter to the police, who An
turn reported to the United States au-
thorities. The latter decided to arrest
Smith, as they were strongly of the opin-
ION that the dollar was a counterfeit.
Smith Is now in Jail at Toledo, awaiting
he decision of the authorities at WASH
ington as to whether or not the dollar
is a counterfeit. The whole case against
Smith hangs upon this decision. Capt,
Abbott and District Attorney Sullivan
were of the opinion that the dollar was
genuine money of another date, but that
the figures had been changed to read
''1804." A close inspection of the coin,
however, failed to establish this theory.
Smith claims that he got the dollar from
school teacher at Hamilton, o., who
was in hard luck, one day ana gave him
the coin as security for a $25 loan. The
teacher failed to redeem the coin, ac-
cording to Smiths story. The teacher
was sent for and he appeared before the
authorities at Toledo He was asked
how he came into possession of the dol
lar and he then told a rather strange
story.
Smith claimed that the teacher had
told him he had several such dollars
made in Cincinnati every year, and sold
them The authorities do not believe
this.
The teacher explained that he got the
coin from an old German farmer in the
Southern part of the State, at whose
home he stopped one night while on a
hunting trip. During the evening the
subject of old coins was discussed, dur
ing which the German said he had
piece of money that was a relic He then
went to drawer and took out this 1904
dollar. The teacher asked the old man
how much he would take FOR it. i've
been offered $1.20 for It," the farmer re-
piled, not knowing its real worth. The
teacher said he then offered 81 for it, and
that the bargain was closed at once.
The teacher also said that the German
told the story about how the dollar came
into his possession. II got it in South
Africa many years ago. I was soldier
in the English army and was sent to
South Africa for service. When | was
discharged I was paid off, and among the
coins In my pay was this dollar. l did
not know what 1t was worth, or what it
was, except that 1t was an American
coin, and so l thought / would keep 1t as
relic of the war and of the United
States. Shortly after my discharge I
came to this country"
The alleged history of the dollar could
not be traced back any further. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether not Smith
was trying to pass counterfeit coin.
Whether or not Smith will ever get the
dollar back is a question. If 1t is coun-
terfeit it will be confiscated by the gov
eminent. If it is a genuine coin the gov
eminent may confiscate it. as all the 1904
dollars were called in shortly after they
were issued. The other three existing
dollars cannot be taken by the govern
ment, as they are owned by certain per-
sons, but this particular coin has fallen
into the hands of the government, which
will probably retain it.