Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-07
HUNTING RARE COINS
EUROPE A RICH FIELD FOR AMER
ICAN COLLECTORS.

From the New York Sun.
Europe is the hunting ground of Amer
lean coin collectors" said a dealer land
every one who has the hobby looks forward
with keen delight to the time when he can
ransack the old stores on the other side of
the water. Continental coin collectors take
little interest in our coins, and many OPP
portunities are presented of getting rare
United States coins at a low figure.
1.-THE reason for this indifference to our
coins Is simple While very few coin
collectors gather coins Of every period
from all over the world. the great majority
conf1ne their field to coins issued by their
own country.
And this same thing is true Of the aver
age American collector. He cares next to
nothing for English or continental coins.
Now. there isn't any doubt that there are
many persons in this country who have in
their possession coins of European
issue that a continental collector would
almost give eye to get, but upon which
their owners set only a trif1ing value.
England really is the best field for a
collector from the United States who Is in
search of bargains, for that country is the
greatest in a coin collecting way in the
world. Thousands of collectors and scores
of dealers are to be found in every town
or city of consequence. OF course, when
any one Of these collectors comes into pos
session of an American coin he holds on to
it, but he takes only a casual interest in 1t,
and thus it Is that collector from here can
sometimes secure a rare bargain at almost
his own figure.
Deceived Dealers.
There is one well-known coin dealer in
London who has a hatred for all other coin
dealers, and If he knows 1t he will have no
business dealings with them. preferring to
deal exclusively with private collectors.
Thoroughly versed as he Is In every phase
of the old coin business. still he is not well
up in American rare coin values. and this
fact Is known to our dealers here.
"A dealer from this city, on the lookout
for bargains. walked into his store not
long ago and asked to see some American
coins, representing himself as a collector.
The English dealer brought out about
twenty-five specimens of early American
copper coins, the greater number of them
dating from 1893 to 1900. They were all in
superb condition. and every one of them
was of rare variety.
The price for the lot set by the London
dealer was SIS. which he seemed to think
was fully what they were worth, but as
fact this was very low figure for them.
and finally bought the coins for $50
He brought them back to this country
and In less than month disposed of the
whole lot. realizing a total profit of nearly
$500. Not satisfied with his large pront,
he wrote letter to the London dealer,
telling him of his bargain. The London
dealer was furious. and sent word back
that If the dealer ever again dared to come
into his store he would have him kicked
out of 1t.
"a short time ago another American col
lector, while making tour of Ireland, stop
ped at a farmhouse. Following universal
custom with all collectors. he asked the
owner If he had any old coins for sale.
A Find in Ireland.
1.-The farmer said he thought he had a few
slowed away somewhere that he had no
use for. He rummaged about for time
and then appeared with a small box which
seemed to be full OF old Roman coins which
as rule are scarcely worth anything, as
er ormous numbers of them are in existence.
'The collector gave a couple of dollars
for the lot. thinking there might be some
thing worth keeping. He put the box OF
coins in his trunk and paid no more atten-
ton to them until he came back from his
trip.
Upon examining the coins he was sur
prised to find a beautiful specimen of q
New York cent OF the date of 1877. one OF
the rarest of the colonial coins This coin
Is known as the Clinton cent. having been
issued when George Clinton was governor
of this state, and bearing his portrait. The
coin was worth up in the hundreds of dol
lars. but Just how much no one knows, for
"A millionaire collector from one of the
New England states is constantly travelling
about trying to find coins for his collection.
One of his special lines is American gold
coins. and his collection Of these is said to
be the finest in the world.
while In Paris some months ago he told
Of his hobby to the head Of one of the large
French banks. The banker said that this
reminded him that in one of their branch
banks was a $50 gold piece which he could
have at face value. and welcome.
These pieces are octagonal in shape, and
were issued by private concerns In Califor-
MIA during the days of 40 and 80 and they
are valued at from 800 to almost any rea-
soEable figure. OF course, the collector did
not eat or sleep until he had located the
coveted coin 1t WAS found to be just as
represented in splendid condition The
new owner now says that $500 would not
buy 1t.
And there are hundreds of other chances
awaiting the lucky man in the thousand
and one old shops In European cities.'