The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-28
A DOLLAR OF 1904.
Curious History of n Valuable Coin BE
lieYeI to he Genuine.


Department. had in his possession re-
Gently 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 $500 to collectors. If it
is bogus it will get some one into
trouble.
In 1894 the Government issued 1900
silver dollars. For some reason or
other it was decided to recall the issue;
1896 Of the dollars were returned to
the Treasury and destroyed. -Four Of
the dollars remained in circulation.
AS soon as this became known the
value Of these dollars took jump, and
since that time collectors have anX-
iously sought after them. 1t is claimed
that one of the original coins is still
missing. There have been many coun-
terfeits of the dollars, but they were
so poor that they We're soon detected.
However. Captain Abbott is unable to
tell whether or not this 1904 dollar is
genuine. AS a result it was forwarded
to the Chief of the Secret Service De-
partment at Washington.
The coin in question was obtained
by the Government officials from B. H.
Smith. at Lima, o.. a few days ago.
upon the suppositon that it was a
counterfeit. Smith was taken to To-
ledo. 1t is said that he is a gambler
who travelled all over the State. While
on one of his trips he Went to Lima.
where he became stranded. He par
took heavily of morphine. it Is claimed
and acted strangely. Smith visited
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 in
turn reported to the United States au-
thorities. The latter decided to arrest
Smith, as they We're strongly of the
opinion that the dollar was "A counter
felt.
Smith is now in Jail at Toledo await
ing the decision of the authorities at
Washington as to whether or not the
dollar is a counterfeit. The whole
cas-: against Smith hinges upon this de-
c:sion. Captain Abbott and District
! Attorney sullivan Were of the opinion
another date. but that IT'S figures had
been changed TO read "1SO4.' 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 and
| gave him the coin as security for a SO
| loan The teacher failed TO redeem the
coin. according to Smiths story. The
teacher was sent for and he appeared
! before the authorities at Toledo. He
was asked how he came into posses
/ sion of the dollar and he then told a
rather strange story.
Smith claimed that the teacher had
| told him lie had had several such dol
! lars made il Cincinnati every year and
sold them. The authorities do not be-
| lieva 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 out Oh hunting trip. During
the evening the subject of old coins
was discussed. during which. the Ger
man said he had a pie-e of money that
| was a relic. He then went to a drawer
and took out this 1904 dollar. The
| teacher asked the old man how much
| he would take for it. I've been offered
Sl.2o FOR it. the farmer replied. not
| knowing its real worth. The teacher
said he then offered 50 for it. and that
| the bargain was closed at once
ni u III h.,
man told the following story about
how the dollar came into his posses
sion: Il got it in South Africa many
/ years ago. | was Il soldier III the Eng
t lish army and was sent to South Africa
! for service When | WAS DISCHARGED
| | was paid off, and among the coins in
| my pay WAS this dollar. | did not
( know what it was worth. or what it
was. except that 1t was an American
| coin, and so l thought | would keep it
| as relic Of the war and of the United
! States. shortly aftel. my discharge /
! came to this country"
The alleged history Of the dollar could
not be traced back any further. 1t re-
| mains to be seen whether or not Smith
was trying TO pass counterfeit coin
| Whether or not Smith will ever get the
| dollar back is question. If il is Il
counterfeit il will be contiscated by the
| Government. If it is Il genuine coin
the Government may contiscate it, as
all the 1904 dollars were allied in short
| ly after they We're issued The other
three existing dollars cannot be taken
| by the Government, as they are owned
| by certain persons. but this particular
| coin has fallen into the hands of the
Government which will probably re-
| tain it.-CRyeIand Leader.
Trolley For Fire Engines.