The Calumet news., 1912-06-03
Coin OF l766 IS
RAREST DOLLAR
ONLY TWO ARE BELIEVED TO BE
IN EXISTENCE AT THE
PRESENT TIME.

silver pattern dollar. dated 1876 and
valued at $4,000. which was exhibited
at Chicago at the convention of the
American Numismatic association,
brought to the immediate attention
of both the general public ana collect
ors a silver piece which for rarity,
value and historical worth completely
eclipses the celebrated 1904 dollar. or
indeed any other coin I'm the United
States series. Even i'm some respects
IL is more interesting than the excess
sively rare and valuable silver pat
tern dollar or mark" of 1888, pro-
posed by Robert Morris. the "finan-
cier of the revolution"
This coin, which is known as the
continental currency dollar. is owned
by II. o. Granberg of Oshkosh. Wis,
and represents unquestionably the
very first metallic issue to bear the
stamp of the United States,
or United Colonies. as the
confederation was originally known
The continental dollar preceded by
nine years the issue OF the first reg
ularly authorized cent of 17S7-the
Fusio or Franklin cent-and the is
sue of the latter coin no doubt was
largely influenced by this first dollar.
for it bore it's principal features of
design.
The continental currency dollar Is
about the size of an ordinary silver
dollar and contains 37s grains of sill
yer. ON the diverse the principal de-
sign is sun shining on a sun dial,
with the word "Fugio" to the left. Be
low the dial is the motto mind Your
Business" a saying attributed to
Franklin. This central design is in
closed by two circles. while around
the border in large letters is the in
scription. Continental Currency,
1776." on the reverse is a circle OF
thirteen links. each of which bears the
rame of one of the thirteen colonies.
In the center is a radiation, which
ncloses a double circle, in which are
the words American Congress. We
Are one"
IT'S OIl9lV w oOhbbs
No definite information as TO where
the continental currency dollar was
made can now he obtained, but it
Is thought to have been produced by
one of the engravers of birmingham.
England. in which city were made
many of the coins that were circulated
H. this country during colonial days
and the most OF which are now highly
valued by collectors.
The design Of the dollar was evil
IDENTITY suggested by the devices of the
first continental currency paper issues.
on the diverse of ore OF these notes
was representation of sun as a
human face shining upon a dial, with
the word "Fugio." Just above was
a representation of the moon, also as
a face. The latter however. found
no place In the design of the silver
dollar Underneath the dial was the
motto "Mind Your Business" The
reverse design of the note showed al
most the Identical design borne by
the continental dollar and seems to
have been embodied intact.
Several varieties of the continental
dollar are now known. and not only
were there various designs showing
trihlng differences, but they occur in
different metals. silver, brass and
white metal The rarest of the series,
the one owned by MIR. Granberg,
shows marked differences from some
of the others. Underneath the dial
and above the motto is inscribed i'm
small letters, "E G Fecit" "E G. are
supposed to have been the initials of
the engraver Of the dies.
From what can be learned, there
are only two specimens Of the above
dollar known in silver. the one own
cd by Mr.. Granberg and another SAID
10 be i'm the collection of an eastern
historical society. The variety is al
so known i'm brass and white metal
The specimens in the latter two met
ais are also rare, and held at pre-
MUM. The one in brass is much
rarer than that in white metal
Currency With One "r"
The next rarest variety Of the conti-
ncntal currency dollar is of similar
design to that mentioned above. but
the engraver. i'm cutting the dies, made
an error in spelling currency with
hut one ~" A similar specimen
showing this error. and the only one
known in the metal, was formerly
I'm the collection of Jonn Mills of Al
hany. whose collection was sold IN
1904. The coin at that time brought
$500. Since that time the values OF
colonial coins particularly have risen
enormously. and that dollar would
now bring very much higher figure
II offered for sale.
The Cesign showing the error was
also struck In brass and white metal
II has been stated by experts that
only five are known in brass. one OF
these. also offered at the Mills sale
brought s27. which would he largely
advanced If sold today. The same
variety I'm white metal brought SIS
at the Mills sale
There must have been consider
able issue of coins of this design I'M
white metal judging by the number oi