The Ocala banner., 1906-10-05


loon coined in 1877 by Ephriam
Brasher. a jeweller. This coin has
record price of only s5n5. but many
experts regard it as the scarcest Of
all American issues, and beheye that
lie one were offered for sale today it
would bring $4,000 and perhaps more.
Only five of these coins are de-
finitely known, one being in the cabi.
net of coins in the Philadelphia mint
and the rest in private collections.
The doubloon is the only gold coin
struck in America prior to the open
ing of the United States mint in
1895.
The next most valuable coins are
the half eagles dated 1915 and 1922.
which are worth respectively $4,000
and s2,165.
The 1904 dollar. which is fourth on
the list, has record price Of $4,000.
II Is so wei known that it hardly re-
quires description.
The fifth coin is the Washington
cent of 1871. struck in gold. One
thousand dollars is a low estimate OF
| it's value.
Ranking with this coin in point of
rarity is the Washington half dollar
of 1892, struck in gold. This is sup
posed TO have been struck as a COM
pliment to George Washington an
to have been carried by him as a
pocket piece, as it shows some signs
Of wear It sold for 300 in 1875.
The Nova Constellatio series comes
fnext in the list Of great American
rareties, with the 1000 mill pieces
ranking seventh. the 500 mill pieces
eighth and the 100 mill pieces ninth.
The three coins which are dated
l17S3, were sold in set some years
ago for $3.50. but would bring very
much more now.
There Is in existence one other
specimen of the quint, with an OBJ
verse somewhat different from the
one just described. which is worth
every nit as much.
The Massachusetts Good Samaritan
shilling, credited to New England, is
well up in the list of the most valu-
able coins, the only specimen known
having brought $3.50. This shows the
Good Samaritan attending fallen
traveller by the roadside, horse
and tree in the background. There Is
the inscription Massachusetts," The
reverse has 1859 xII.." within a
circle of dots, and "In New England
Ano."
The Lord Baltimore penny is worth
$3.50. This the only coin OF the de-
rn-,irc.ion of the series Of pieces
struck by Cecil Calvert in the sew
Ienteenth century for Marylanders and
lit came very near getting him into
trouble, for on account of this issue
Ihe was summoned to appear before
the council in London to answer the
charge of usurping the royal prero-
lgative in issuing colonial money.
! The other denominations were the
shilling, sixpense and groat. or four
pense. The, latter three denomina-
1 tions are worth from $50 to $50.
While this penny has record price
Eof $3.50. still it Is probable that it
would bring $1.O0 il offered for
sale. This one specimen came from
England and was sold at the auction
of the Micgley collection in Philadel
phia for 1910. AT subsequent sale
it brought $3.50.
i Twelfth in this list comes the
Washington New Jersey cent, which
has a record price of s640, but is
easily worth more than $1,000. 1t is
unique. 1t shows the words "Gen
eral Washington" around the bust OF
the patriot. On the reverse is the
shield always borne by the New Jer
sey cents surrounded by .he motto
"E Pluribus Unum."
The Continental currency dollar
! should rank next. This was the first
silver coin struck by authority OF
the colonial government.
A New York cent struck in 1871
follows. 1nis SHOWS an Indian hold
ing a tomahawk in his right hand, a
bow in the left. while on his back is
a CULVER. Around this is the inscrip
ton "Liber Natus Libertatem De
lfende"
The Confederate half dollar winds
up the list of fifteen rarities. OF
these there are only four known The
record price for this coin is sS7o
These are the only pieces of metallic
currency struck by authority OF the
Confederate government.
When the Confederate government
seizd the New Orleans mint in 1861
they at once laid plans for a dis
ltinct coinage. Dies were made for .
; fifty cent piece. For some reason the
dies we're not suitable for the regu.
lar coinage press, so four pieces were
struck in an old screw press.