Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-25

and as the coins had no raised 49,
to protect the surface from wear ~
devices speedily became obliteratos
1894.
In this year. the second of tha :.
ular coinage, a very much better ~.
was issued. 1t was larger in dians'
ter and much thicker and the de,..
and lettering more boldly struck n
and in every way more preten,in,
coin. The coiner devised rais.,
edge to protect the face of the eli,
from the wear incidental to circrt
ton and the wisdom of this is sbovr
III the fairly good specimens Obtain.
able today. The device remained i.
same as those of the last issue Of ia
viz. Goddess of Liberty with hb.-,
pole and cap.
In 1895 and the early part OF ITw
we find the same design with unm.
portant die varieties but in the lat,o,
part of 1898 new and much IN.
proved Goddess CT Liberty was H.
signed by the mint engravers. M,
time with a drapcd bust and the hi.
falling gracefully over the Shoulders
and confined b. fillrt or ribbon ,hs
liberty pole being discarded. Tbi,
beautiful device known as the flo,
head was used on al the cents "a,
eleven years or until
1903.
This year the mint engravers in;ro.
duce us to an entirely new conecpt ian
Of the Goddess of Liberty. yorv
matronly type, by some considered
great improvement over all those TIA,
preceded it, The entire diverse a,
the coin is likewise strikingly chang.
ed. Miss Liberty's head is turned
about and for the first time faces le,
instead of right and is shown sur.
rounded by 10 six pointed stars
which latter idea is continued 10 tha
end Of the series OF large coppers in
1857.
The bust is deprived Of its draperv
and is much shortened The hair Of
the Goddess tails in graceful rincJots
over her shoulders and above the fore
head il a broad fillet or ribbon on
which is inscribed LIBERTY"
Reverse the same as previous issues
except that the top of wreath is unit.
ed and below is lacking from this and
following dates the fraction "1-fb0"
This pattern was continued for seven
years to and including 1914.
In 1916 there were no cents coined
as previously stated.
1s16-1857.
IN the year 1916 coinage was re.
sumed and once more we have an en-.
tlrely new model. The head of TIN
Goddess is enlarged, the bust shor.
ened while the hair is done more in,
6reclan style with coil at the bas
OF the head. A very prominer.
diadem with LIBERTY tbcrpn
adorns the forehead and the sr.
rounding Is stars are somewhat Iarpr
ana more prominently struck up
win minor changes this head 50
tamlilar to the older generation wa,
continued throughout the series IA
1921 when the issue of the large 4od
tashoined' coppers was superceaea
Tor all time by the small sized mod.
ern cent now in general circulat;on
AND now for a few words as TO val
hVeryone at all interested in the
oih copper cents wishes first of all
TO Know what they are worth and also
WHY Trey bring the seemingly largs
and unreasonable sums quote, oc9.
slonaily in the newspapers. Like all
otner commodities the value is regu.
iated by the law Of supply and de.
mand and the scarcity of a coin-nO,
lts aSe-determines its value. A Greek
Or roman coin dating hundreds D,
Years before the birth of Christ can
De purchased for a dollar while an
extra fine specimen of some OF Tho
United States cents will bring ons
hundred or more. Condition is a npa
important factor in establishing cob
Vaiues and common date of oui
large coppers if fortunately discovered
IN very fine" or proof condition viii
often bring, a higher price than
cent of a rare date in poor or even
ordinary condition.
10 illustrate, cent of 1901, 90 OF
o". that has been more or less in cir.
culatlon might fetch at auction fifty
or seventy-tive cents while the same
date in strictly uncirculated or proof
CONDITION would be eagerly competed
for up to fifty dollars, perhaps seventy
five dollars
Again, take for instance, the l,S
cent. that "Rara Avis of all the series
the one date lacking in so many w-
lectlonS. Two specimens were Offered
In sale in Philadelphia last month
one described as fine brought So
while the other rated as god
brought only $Is In the same sis
flhe CHAIN cent of 1898 broushts
yet another evidently not so fine went
for 500. The present year "wTeath
cent of 1893. described as extra
fine" brought Ss1. "A Liberty cap
OF the same date. the record price Oh
S34o. while an extra fine" 1879 sold lcf
$220, and an "uncirculated" 1875 io'
S145.
OF more recent dates. 1921 in proof
condition sold recently for $3.50, while
an 1923 Ga, scarce date in proof con-
dition, brought an even 800. Veriis
line L. S. copper, formerly worla
but its weight in that humble metal
Is no" in demand at double, yes
quadruple its weight in gold.
Now as to why this steady increase
IN price values. Every year witnesses
large addition to the ranks OF NN
mismaticss. and coin collectors. In'
supply of fine American coins of earn
issue, pattern or trial pieces, Terri'"