The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-23
THE WASHINGTON CENTS.
AT LEAST ELEVEN VARIETIES
ISSUED IN THIS COUNTRI.

Eight known- IN Engiand-wOrth Now
From 80 Cents 60 s6OO-Al Rrar
washinktGn's Head-Ncw York Issued
One-The Rarest Made In New Jersey.
Washington cents, dear to every Amer-
can coin collector, are Of W kinds 81
issued In England, and those which Nsd
exclusive circulation in this country.
In iTss and the next few years there AL
peared In circulation here at least eleven
varieties Of coins bearing Washingtons
ortrait, while as many as eight varieties
were current in England. At this t.,.s
the establishment Of a United States min,
was being planned and the majority Of tho
Washington coins were issued by different
persons as pattern pieces for the contem-
plated regular coinage. Many of them
found their way into general circulation
All these coins bore on the diverse thA
portrait OF the Father Of his Country. while
the reverse varied. The reverse OF one
i7ss Washingto cent was embodied pracr-
cally entire on one OF the FIRST issues Of cents
al the United States mint In 1898, known az
the wreath cent,' and indeed this same
general design has been used without er-
oeption over, since. On the diverse the
bust of Warrington was replaced by the
head Of Liberty, with flowing hair.
This frst Washington cent bore the In
noription. -Washington and Independence.
1884, On. the diverse was the inscription
Unity States OF America The spelling
Of the svord unit ed" has led many persons
to suppose that the dies for this coin were
ont abroad, probably in France, which
country was credited with having provided
one of the Washington cents.
The reverse OF another variety OF the same
date showed the seated figure Of Liberty
holding a wreath in one hand. a pole sur
mounted by q Liberty cap in The other, at
the top being United States"
The four varieties Of th 1888 Washington
cents are among the most common OF the
series, and can now be bought for from
SO cents to o., according to state of preser-
walton. .,....
Another coin issued about the same tins
ia known as the double head Washington
cent. This shows a bu ct Of Washington
in military uniform on either side, but bear
ing no date. On one side is the word WASH
ington," while on the other is One Cent
This specimen in fine condition is worth q
trlfe more than the preceding.
In 1889 was struck a piece showing on the
diverse the military bust Of Washington.
Born Virginia, Feb. II, 17S2.' On the re-
verse was General of the American Armies
1775, Resigned 1888, President of the United
States 1850 This coin in fine condition Is
worth 80.
A larger copper cent, dated 1871. shows
on the diverse a large bust of Washington,
with his hair tied behind In a queue and
with Washington President, around the
border and the date underneath. On the
wings, its breast bearing a heart shaped
shield, on which are six parallel stripes.
A laurel branch is in n talon, while in the
beak il carried a scroll, on which is -E
Plpribus Unum;. Sunk in the edge Is
now worth 81 when in fine condition.
Another cent of the same date be ars the
same general design, but the bust and eagle
are smaller and the date Is under the eagle
and between the words zone Cent" are eight
stars, Immediately above being a band Of
clouds.
This design was used with notifications
for the reverse Of the silver dollar OF l7es.
with the motto, e Piuribus Unum,' as in
the first Of the two last mentioned Washing
ton cents, but not in the second. In fine
condition a specimen OF this variety is val
used az 90.
Another cent showing the same diverse.
dated 1901, bears the word Gent" on tn 3
reverse above an eagle with outstretched
wings, on the breast of which is a shield OF
six stripes. h right talon holds q laurel
branch. the left q bunch Of arrows. On
either side OF the head are three stars.
One of the rarest Of the Washington cents
shows on the diverse the bust OF Wash
ington, with q band surrounding ths
hair. Beneath the bust Is the date, 1892.
A ;ns y p the edge y the the inscripti;o Q wash Wash.
as hat Of the coin preceding. A specimen
Of this variety has sold for $3.50.
Another cent OF 1872 shows the bust Of
Washington In uniform, surrounded by
Washington President, I7g2.' The reverse
Is one Of the handsomest and best balanced
OF any Of the series.
A heraldic eagle, with a shield on its
breast and appraised wings, fills almost
the whole field. In it's talons are laurel
fifteen stars, the words United States
Of America being around the rim. This
coin IL supposed 70 be a variety OF the
Washington half dollar, which was struck
in silver and which has brought s2lS. In
copper the coin is valued at $50, while
one specimen In gold has sold 70 $500.
Still another Washington piece shows
about the same diverse as this. but the
eagle on the reverse has outstretohed
K Pi;sribGs Unam.. The tafons hold an
olive branch and a bundle of arrows, while
directly above the eagles head Is a large
star. Twelve other stars in a semicircle
extend between the wings
ANoW AOhh EbC u NbIy IdIC NuIhNNN
Of cent bearing Washington's portrait with
a wig and military dsaping. On the same
sic was the inscription, Non vi VIRTUE
Wei On the reverse 8 q figure of the
Goddess Of Liberty, seated. with liberty
pole and scales Of Justice, and the legend,
-Neo Eboracensis.' This coin is dated
1883 and Is worth $40.
New Jersey also issued a cent bearing
Washington's portrait, which Is said 20 b."
the rarest coin Of tina period. On the
reverse is q military bust of Washington,
with hair tied in a short queue. Around
the border Ia Gen. Washington"
> h reverse shows a heart MAPPED shield
of about the same design AZ that used on
all The New Jersey cents surrounded by the
motto -E PluTibus Unum." But one cent
OF this design rs known, and it sold for $3.50.
As there was only one of these coins found.
IL is supposed that IL was intended "a .
pattern piece for New Jersey coins.
A very handsome specimen of the Wash
ington cents seems 20 have been issued for
circulation in England. On the diverse IL
a portrait Of Washington in military dress,
with the hair tied in a queue, surrounded
by the inscription: Washington Presi-
dent underneath being the date, 1891.
On the reverse is a ship under full sail