Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-03

deIphia mint in the year 1894 one year
after the first cent piece was struck
and was continued each year until 1913
when for some reason not apparent
their issue was completely suspended
for {. period of thirty-three years or
until 1886.
Why this long suspension was or
1ered by the authorities and Kept III
force for more than quarter of
century numismatists are unable to
discover after many years of dillgent
investigation. By some it is intimated
that with the prevailing high price
of silver the bullion value of the dol
= lar was trifie in excess of the face
value and that a profit could be made
by exporting them which nullified the
object Of their issue.
However that may be the good peo-
pie of the United States were denied
their silver dollars from 1903 to 1896.
Four years more of waiting the mo-
ton of the mint authorities or the
powers behind them and with the year
1910 new series was begun which
continued almost uninteruptedly to
1873 In 1873 the Trade Dollar that
everlasting disgrace to American fl
nance the only coin of the United
States Government that was ever re-
pudiated, was born and for six years
usurped the honored place heretofore
occupied by the real dollar. In 1878,
upon the resumption of specie pay
ments the Bland Dollar, or Standard
Silver dollar as it is known, was given
to the people in more than heroic doses
and was continued until 1904 when the
last of the big silver planchets dropped
from the dies.
The history of the U. S. Silver dol
lar is deserving of a much more ex-
tended biography than these "Short
Talks" in the ever crowded columns
B of a daily newspaper will permit. a
4 small volume could be filled with the
recorded facts and the shadowy ro-
lnances surrounding the various is
sues.
Ill Traditions are so numerous and OF
such great interest not only to the
coin student but to the general read
er that some one more capable than
the writer should compile them into
concise and detailed history of this
highly interesting coin.
1894
The dollar of 1894, the first of the
series or the first dollar to be struck
in any metal by our Government is as
may be imagined exceedingly rare
and specimens in anything like good
condition command large price.
Description-The diverse bears q
female head. mot unlike the early
cents of 1881 facing right. neck short
\ no bust. the hair entirely unconfined
:. and falling below the neck. Above Is
- the word LIBERTY" and below the
date 1894" Seven sixpointed stars
adorn the outer circle of the field al
the right of the head and eight at the
left. The reverse has an eagle stand
ing upon rock surrounded by q
laurel wreath and the legend "UNIT-
I'D STATES OF AMERICA" On the
et7~n-incuse--is CONE DOLLAR or
D UNIT HUNDRED CENTS" It's
= weight was 4121a grains.
1895
The dollars coined this year up tc
September were of the same type as
the preceding year, but later the de-
sign was changed thus giving us two
distinct types under one date. In the
second type the effigy is much more
pleasing to the eye and appears viii
= the hair tastefully secured with 8
f1llet of ribbon, which forms a bow al
the back of the head. falls gracefully
below the lower part of the bust max
ing a particularly striking if not q
highly artistic design. In 1896, 1884,
and 1898 the type of dollar remained
the same but in the latter part of 1875
a new and much more pretentiOuS re-
Al 1<iv In
of the defiant eagle, the heraldic eagle
similar to that on the great seal OF
United States was substituted. With
wings outstretched it bears upon its
breast shield end holds in its beak
ribbon with &c PLURIBUS UNUM
thereon. Above are 10 stars below a
circle Of clouds and the legend as be,
fore UNITED STATES OF AMERI
CA"
This device with only slight changes
continued to the end of the series II
1903. when the issue of this very old
fashioned dollar was brought to
close.
1904 GU
Probably more numismatic thought
and literature has been devoted to The
nyste cries surrounding the history OF
that great American rarity. the lso'
dollar, than has been expended on an!
other single coin either American OIL
foreign.
II That it should still be claSsed among
the unsolved riddles Of American nu
mismatcS or more properly speaking
the mysteries of the early days of tht
United States mint. is surprising II
these days of modern persistent re
search. Yet still it so remains ant
although the recent history of thu
= few known specimens is not at al
. clouded with uncertainties, as each l.
carefully guarded with its known an'
intrinsically valuable pedigree. eacl
pedgree dates back-not to the yea
1904 as one uninitiated might suppose
but to a far more recent date il
the early forties when this rare coil
was first discovered CD AS one wfite
terseiy remarks: Some day perhap
NumismatiSts may have the true stor.
fof the 1904 Silver Dollar coinage. blu
i'm the absence of records and sine
the secret which it undoubtedly Is
seems to have died with those VIII
Epav- IL tho much sought information