The Washington herald., 1909-06-20
AN EARLIER $50 PIECEl
Chance that Cincinnati Nay Take
Honor Claimed by MOrnons.


Coin collectors are interested in the
recent discovery OF an entirely new 50
piece Of the Cincinnati Mining and Trad
ing Company dated Is49 50 dingent have
collectors been in their search for speci-
mems Of the gold coinage Of the West.
and so high have been the premiums
paid for rare coins OF this series that It
was supposed that all the varieties had
been found. SAYS the Boston Herald
A SD piece OF California bearing a date
earlier than IS5l was not known The
Cincinnati company had been accredited
with gold coins OF the denominations OF
8 and so, both OF which are extremely
rare one OF the SO pieces not long ago
bringing $500 al an auction. but no one
knew that the same company had con
templated the Issue Of a SO piece until
the coin came 20 light q few days ago
In the possession OF an Ohioan. from
whose hands 1t passed into those OF
Thomas l. Elder
The coin IS a trial piece and IS com
posed Of copper. The diverse shows the
head OF an Indian IN the center OF the
field. wearing a head-dress of feathers.
Around the border IS the name OF the
mlntlng hrm. Cincinnati Mining and
Trading Company" On the reverse IS a
thin-looIing eagle IN the center Of the
neld. while around the border is Inscribed
California Twenty Dollars" Below the
eagle IS the date, ISIS" The diameter
Of the coin Is about the same as that Of
a United States 50 piece; its weight is
II grains.
The Cincinnati company was organ
ized az Cincinnati early IN 1Sss. The coin
IS interesting IN a number OF ways II
may upset the claims OF the NIOrmons
that their salt Lake City mint was the
first 20 issue So pieces.
The latter mint. II has long been nam
tained by the NIormOns. issued a SO
piece that preceded the coin made by
the United States government. The gov
ernment authorized the issue Of the d0u-
/ bic eagle by act Of March 3, Is49. bat no
/ piece OF this denomination was issued
FOR circulation until 1850. The Norm0ns
issued their double eagles within two
months after the authority n strike
/ United States pieces Of the denomina-
ton az the mint had been given by Con-
ELeee- mere - lElal- l-a.-N NAAA+ All -s-ti
/ 1873. a California trader. Cary PEBBLES.
who had just disposed OF a large guam
/ tity of goods 70 the leaders Of the Mormon
church. stood IN the newly opened Nor
mon mint. on South Temple street. Sait
/ Lake City. and watched the primitive
] coming press strike sfooo worth OF gold
I pieces bearing the odd designs Of all
/ seeing eve and bishops miter.
/ Now this new coin comes up 10 add a
/ question mark 10 the Mormon claim. fC-
\ Il IS possible that gold coins were struck
! by The Cincinnati company from the 50
die. The coins Of the Cincinnati company
Z were among the very earliest struck for
/ circulation IN California and must have
been made early in the summer Of 1873
/ The Cincinnati coin also can be regard
! ed as the first piece 20 circulate IN the
/ United States bearing an Indian head as
/ the chief design. as the first regular gov
/ ernment coin 70 bear the device did not
/ appear until 1SA
/ The owner Of the coin apparently car
ried Il for a long time as a pocket piece,
as q IS worn smooth IN parts The
/ chances are he would not have heen 50
] careless with the co!n II ne had known
of its great value