The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-12-17
A NUN|SNAT|C MYSTERY
Templeton Reid Was Known
Only by His Coins.
ARE EXCEEDINGLY RARE
He Strucl, Gold picccs IN Georgia i'm
the SOS aud Later in California
OF Tie Latter Issue Only Two Spec
imcns RcmCin--Thc Former Also
Very Rare.

W. y h'N'
There are many coins which have
a romantic interest for the collector
on account of their historical asso-
Citations, and yet others which have
an equal interest because little IL
anything can be learned of their ORR
gin. To the latter class belong the
coins issued by Tcmpleton Reid as
sayer, who struck gold pieces of va
rious denominations at his private
mining establishment near the gold
mines in Lumpkin county, Georgia.
in 1890.
While the denominations of these
coins and their designs are definitely
known, next to nothing has ever been
learned about Temple;on Reid. All
that is known Is that in 1880 when
the gold mines of Georgia we're fur
nishing a not inconsiderable proper
ton OF the gold production of the
United States he conducted an as
saying and smelling establishment at
which gold coins of the denom;na-
tions of $3.50, So and $40 we're
struck.
Scarcest of the Reid coins is the
ten dollar piece dated 1890. On the
diverse It bears the denomination
and the inscription "Templeton Reid
Assayer." while the reverse shows
the words Georgia Gold" surround
ed by circle of stars. The gold
pieces of this denomination struck
in 1880, 1881, 1892 and 1898 weigh
ed 24S grains, were of fineness of
.942 and had an intrinsic value OF
s10.06. There is one other variety
of this denomination undated, but
of equal rarity with the dated speci-
mems.
The only specimen of the ten dol
lar piece low known is in the mint
collection at Philadelphia, where it
has been preserved through the fore
sight of former United States Assayer
Dubois, who was instrumental in or
ganizing the collection Of coins at
the Philadelphia Mint.
Next in rarity comes the five dollar
piece, also dated 1880. The last
specimen sold brought $555 at one
of the Low sales couple of years
ago. 1t is probably the only speci-
men definitely located with the eX-
ception of one in the mint collection.
The third denomination, that of
So. 30, showed the same design as the
five and ten dollar piece. 1t weigh
ed COZ grains and was of a fneness
of 1872. with an intrinsic value of
$2.43. A couple of hundred dollars
would be needed now to buy one of
the little gold pieces.
After he ceased coming in 1894
nothing more is heard of Reid until
1S49, when it is supposed tha: he re-
moved his coming too,s ana machin-
cry TO California, where gold had just
been discovered. There he struck
gold coins of the denomination of
ten and twenty-five dollars.
The California issues of Templeton
Reid now exceed those of his Geor-
gia mint in point of rarity. So far
as Is known there is in existence but
a single specimen OF each denomina-
Of Reid's Georgia m.nt, owe their
preservation to Mr.. Dubois.
From appearance the coins were
struck from California gold without
artificial alloy, md the value of the
ten and the twenty-five dollar piece
was respectively about 1913 and
s24.50. The ten dollar piece differed
greatly in design from any of the
coins issued by other private estab-
hshments. On the diverse around
the extreme edge are three concen-
trio lines close together In the CEN
tre of a wide field is the date,
"1S49," and around the border just
inside the circles is inscribed TEN
| pleton Reid Assayer.' On the re-
! verse in the center of the field en-
| closed in three lines similar to those
| on the diverse, are the words: Ten
Dollars" and around the inner edge
| of the circles California at the top
and Cold at the bottom.
The twenty-five dollar piece was
| unique not only in design but a,so in
| denomination, as no other coin of an
| equivalent value was ever issued in
this country. II shows single line
| around the diverse border inside of
which is an ornamented circle SINH
lar to that on the borders of some of
our present silver coins. Around
this inside the circle is ''Templeton
Reid Assayer." At the top
is the denomination in Roman mum
erals. XIV, surmounted by dollar
mark, and below is the date 1S49.
The reverse has the same kin1 OF
ornamental border as the diverse, al
the top being the word California in
a curve, below which is the value
twenty-five. Still further below
is a diamond shaped orupment with
the words Dollars ana Gold at the
extreme bottom.
Careful investigation In Cal!for'
| ME fails to brinG to .l,hl the s,lSht'
est sclap of information regarding
Reid. 1t is not known even wherf
his plant was situated Those who