The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-14

the inexperienced collector, who thinks
the Washington cent to be Of regular issue :
yet It was merely a private speculation.
Another example is the Washington cent
Of 1871.
This bears on one side a spread eagle Of
a style that has ever since been used on
nearly all United States coins, more es-
peoially the later designs Of twenty dollar
gold pieces. Above the eagle were repre-
sented clouds and stars, and this idea was
reproduced on the famous 1904 silver dollar.
This cent was also the work Of q private
coiner, having been made In Birmingham
England.
Inc costliest coin Of the series Of cents
is the jersey cent minted about 1850 with
Gen. Washington on the diverse and e
Puribus Unum' on the reverse, which has
cold for $40.
One scarce New York cent brings 500. In
fact, a complete set Of the New York State
Colonial issues would cost in the neighbor-
hood OF 81 900.
The cent issues Of the other Colonial States
are much more common, but most Of them
fetch prices ranging from $40 to 500.
After having finished a set Of the Colonial
oents, then would come the regular issues.
This Government altogether has coined 81!
die. digtinct varieti es Of the copper cent ana s
has been In operation only il2 years, and
also despite the fact that during the past
forty years there has been no change In the
designs Of coins Of this denomination.
In the year Of 1874 alone the Mint produced
ifty-six varieties Of the big copper cent.
Now nearly very one Of these is very
valuable, many Of them commanding high
premiums.
A dealer IN town received a i7pl cent from
an out -of-town customer the other day.
He didn't want 20 sell Il, but Just 10 md
out how much Il was worth, The coin
was submitted to a New York collector
who makes a speciality Of coins Of this year,
and who y a leading authority.
He said that II was one Of the four sPeci-
mems Of scarce variety, and was by far IN
the best condition Of any that he had ever
seen. II differed from the other cent pieces
OF the same year by bearing tiny stars BE-
tween the milling al the way around on the
edge, perhaps fifty Of them.
They are hardly distinguishahle unless
one looks closely, but when seen under
magnifying glass the eject Ia very pretty.
The owner was told that his ooin, which
he had probably picked up somewhere. was
easily worth 500.
The cent issues from i7Ss to I7ee, In
elusive, are the ones which command the
former year having brought t72S at one
sale. Other varieties Of i7eS have brought
from 500 70 800. These are known aS
the ohain or wreath series.
II was during this period that % many
varieties were Issued The ifpe cent IL the
most valuable Of the lot, and in uncirculsted
condition Ia worth $500
Cents bearing this style Of bead without
the cap were issued until 1903, when a new
general design was made, With the head
facing 70 the left, the previous onss having
faced the right, and al our coins ever since
have been made with the head facing %
the left.
A cent Of 1904 In uncirculated oondi.
ton is worth 500. Another Of 1923 IL
valued At $40 and 80 on, the price depend
the coin is found.
II is thus easy 70 zee that only the
wealthy collector Is really in a position
30 indulge the desire 10 collect copper oents,
and even be win hnd a stumbling block 10 a
issues, lie one New jersey cent, for in
etanoa. ofsWhich there a only on8 In exc
intannnr $3.50 49, ---------.