The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-14
Humble Cents That Collectors Prize
Some of Them Valued at Hundreds Of DOar-AmOns the Most In
tercstinS Coins to CoIcet-More Than 500
Government Designs

The fact that CRANKY cent brought SIS
at an auction sale Of old coins In this city
the other day may cause surprise to some
persons and yet dealers say the CRANKY
cent is by no means either the rarest OF the
most costly coin Of that denomination
which has been in circulation IN the United
States. There are other cents which have
fetched sums ranging from 500 to 500.
Although it might seem that q collection
Of old copper cents, which in many cases are
worn quite smooth would be simple andin-
expensive matter, still II may entail greater
outlay than the gathering Of coins Of any
other kind, not even excepting the series Of
dollars, including the famous 1904 dollar
Copper cents have q peculiar attraction for
collectors. Beautiful as gold and silver
coins may be, their collectors are lOa
numerous than those Of the homsly copper
cent.
Copper cents are Of comparatively re-
cent date when one compares them with the
Greek coins, and yet complets collection
Of coins Of this denomination used In Amsr-
lea will take up a collectors entire time II
be goes in for IL thoroughly.
The favor shown 70 the cent n probably
due 10 its numerous varieties. and also
10 the fact that these coins illustrate the
most interesting period Of our oountry's
history-immediately before and after the
Revolutionary war.
First come the John Hlgiey cent?. These
were made by John Higley at CRANKY Conn,
in 1877, Of copper taken from mines In that
State. There are four varieties Of these
coins, each Of which is extremely valuable.
Some are worth 500 or more each.
The scarcity Of these cents is due 20 the
fact that though originally minted in great
numbers, they were made Of the purest
copper and the jewelers. Of that period, and
indeed for years afterwArd, used them IN
their alloys. Then many Of the coins were
soon worn 90 smooth that the design en-
tirely disappeared.
There are more than q thousand different
varieties Of Colonial cents. Some Of them
bring from t2S 70 $50, which latter sum
was paid not long ago at an auction sale
for a cent issued In New York IN 1851.
Many Of the States forming the Con-
federation Availed themselves Of the right
iven them by Congress 20 issue copper
cents, the most active In this respect being
Connecticut, which alone coined more than
200 varieties. Then came New jersey, with
great number. Of varieties; Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and
Virginia Most Of these State issues now
bring premiums which dwarf the prices
brought by coins Of matter nal mintage.
A good many Of the earlier issues were
made before the Mint opened In iTps and
were unauthorized, being coined by private
individuals In England and France. Some
Of the designs on thSss coins were adopted
entire by the Mint designers.
The Washington cent Of iT63, for ex-
ample, was made In France, the dienaker
not even being well enough acquainted
with the EnElish language 70 spell Unite
correctly. II appears Unity on the coin.
On the reverse was q wreath, IN the center
Of which were the words sOns Cent at
the lower part Of the rim being si-iO0.s
Nov. afaoaimile Of thia rgveruo was placed
on the mt Uniled R.etes Mint Oentof l7pS.