The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-26
METRIC DOLLARS ARR SCARCE


ooSO raid for One Gpeeimen Reeeatiy-An
1Rxpssin,eat IN Coinage IA which Col
leetess Arc Now Taking BseneWct
Interest -+Reg Goload beliass left,
The four dollar gold ptscs. or stella q
speotnep Of which brought $40 81 D recon,
sais, h The faress Of Tho coins Issued by thu
| United f5tatea Mint since iS7s. Judging
from tho advancing prices paid OF lato sol
speoimens II b likely soon 10 anil among
| tho very rarest Of ell American coins.
Tho first OF the stellas was made In 1879
and was one Of . series Of three pieces whicf
formed what was known % o metrio set
Tho other two coins were dollarS, Of different
design and siss. The stella was Z grand
10 weight and 70 milllmstres In diameter,
the goloid dollar Weighed II CRANE and
was 70 millimetres In diameter, while the
silver metric dollar weighed 10 grams and
vas sb mi1limetres in diameter.
These coins were patented by q DR.. Hub
bell. and ffteen full sets. including the three
different varieties. were struck In ts79 and
presented to Government o~fAoiala. Add.
tional eets to the number OF 100 are said "a
have been struck asterward, butit h prob.
able that many Of these eets left The
Mint.
Each Congressman was entitled 70 q set
OF the coins at their intrinsic value, which
amounted to $o.to. II Is said that In many
casee Congressman gave their orders 10
outsiders, which resulted in considerable
speculation In tho piecea. They arc sup
posed 70 have been scattered oil over the
country, and many Of them no doubt have
been lost, for Of some Of the varieties only
q very limited number are now known.
There are five different varieties Of de-
Sign and date, which were struck In gold,
goloid "a composition Of gold, silver and
copper, silver and copper, but how many
In each metal we're coined Il not known, nor
is there any way Of finding out, for, being
pattern pieces, a record Of the number
struck waa not kept at the Mint.
The rafest variety Of tho 1879 issue Is the
one showing on the obverae the uhdraped
head OF Liberty to the left. The hair Ia
closely drawn and plated In a crown effect
low on the forehead and banged, With the
inscription, between aaterisks, "a follows
ss8sGsssSs7 Cs7sGsRsAsMsSs 1870
On the reverse ara tho words, united
States Of America Four DOL In the centre
h a large star with the words, 'One Stella
700 Cents" Between the points Of the star
ct the top L. the motto &c Ptuhbus Unum.
At the bottom between the points In the
same manner Is "Deo Est Gloria"
Only three specimens OF this variety In
gold are known. The highest price yet
paid for one Of these coins lie spas.
The second OF the 1870 varieties shows
the head Of Liberty with long. flowing
hair In heavy curtis over the shoulder and
q small coronet inscribed Liberty The
diverse and the reverse inscriptions on this
variety are as on the other coin.
This ia the stella Of he regular metric
Get and Ia worth from SIS to seS, the latter
being the record price for 1t. In 1890 q
specimen OF this stella In gold in proof
condition brought only $500.
Still another 1879 stella shows an obverse
similar to that Just described but With o
reverse having married d~iKefenees, thus
indicating that a distinct die was made for
the coins. In copper this variety is worth
$3.50. In goloid II Is valued at about $40.
A variety OF the four dollar gold piece Of
1879 was struck in silver, the only one Ia
be coined In this metal. The design Of this
variety Is similar to the others, but 1t Ia
somewhat smaller.
The rarest Of the four dollar pieces is
that Of 1880. This coin shows the same
design as the first described 1879 piece,
with the difference in date. Only two
OF these coins are known to have been
struck In gold, and one Of them cold for
$50. A copper copy Of this coin has brought
$50.
The second variety Of 1880, and also the
second In point OF rarity and value, is the
one which shows the same reverse as the
second 1879 piece. but with q different OBJ
verse die. OF these there are only three
known, In gold, and one Of them has brought
$3.50.
This coin Possesses more numismatio
interest than the other variety, az II narrowly
escaped being continued % regular coinage,
Q motion to adopt the pattern having been
lost by only one VOTE
The metric coins also included several
varieties Of soloid dollars and one twenty
dollar piece. The first goloid dollar, issued
small cap. ornamented with blades Of wheat,
and q band inscribed Liberty Above
was e Plurfbus Unum' In q curved line.
On the right were seven stars and OF the
left six. Within a circle Of thirty-eight
stars, on three straight and two curved
lines, was the inscription, '0oloid. 1-g.-
49,. 0 Fine. 2ss Grains" Near the
border was sUnited States Of America.
One Dollar
The border Of this variety was milled
and the edge reeded. 1t was a triie larger
than the bali dollar, and only thirteen are
said 10 have been struck, yet a specimen in
proof condition brought only IS at q recent
sale. Other specimens OF this variety are
known In standard silver and copper.
Another 1878 goloid dollar has the same
diverse, but on the reverse, within . circle
Of sit lines. k inscribed 'Goloid. Metric.
10. lo.i-s. &c. Grams 1875" Around
the border IL tbs inscription, united States
Of America, 100 oents.' This coin In goloid
composition IL worth $780, II was also
struck In copper.
Still another variety Of 1878, which was
struck In both goloid and copper, bore
tho General diverse design Of the others -,
but in the field Of the reverse. inside a wreath
Of laurel, was the inscription, sGoloid. l.
dold. "a. Silver, o Fine 2bs Grains"
Only twenty-five OF these coins are sup
posed to have been struck and yet one sold
for $3.50.
In 1879 a metric dollar showed q head Of