The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-09

MAGNIFICENT COLLECTION ON FIX
HIBITIox AT AMERICAN
NATIONAL BANK.
BANK NOTES
EVERY VARIETY OF COINS USED BY
NATIONS OFF HISTORY, INCLUD.
ING THOSE OF VIRGINIA.
ARE BEING SHOWN.

Specimens CT money used by every
States postal savings bank notes,
nation In the history OF the world from
the Enthusiastically fashioned pieces of
metal used by the Chinese q OGDEN
centuries before Christ to the United
States postal savings bank notes:
from the walrus teeth used by the
savages to the artistic coins Of an
Gent Greece. from the gold penny
the large sheet Of copper weighing
six and one-half pounds. used by the
countrymen Of Wilhelm Tell, are now
on exhibition at the American Ma
tional Bank.
There are coins of leather, Of wood.
OF shells, OF bone, Of glass, of every
known metal In shapes and sizes ga >
lore. There scan be seen the widows
mite. the tribute money which was to
be rendered unto Caesar. strings OF
wampum used by the American Indian
the pine shtllinEs Of the American
Colonists. hundred rare bank notes
issued in Old Virginia at various per-
iods in her early history. more than
ten thousand individual specimens In
all. The collection IL owned by Far
ran Zerbe. OF Philadelphia. one Of the
foremost numismatlsts Of the coun.
try. The exhibit will be opened to
the public at the American National
Bank this morning and all who desire
to see the collection may do SO by
calling at the bank between the hours
of and 5 o'clock any day this week.
Besides the historical and educa-
tionai value of the coins, they are
surrounded with wealth OF romantic
interest. Odd tales Of fallen dynasties.
OF nations which have arisen to the
height Of national glory and then sunk
into Oblivion are recalled by the Diff
ference specimens. In tho collection
one can read the entire history Of the
struggle Of the human race from the
depths Of savaRery to the glory OF
modern civilization. In the continuity
of metallic currency. the history OF
the world has been indellibly writ
contain the history Of the world po-
little but also of religion. art, science.
MYTHOLOGY. architecture. A..
The large and heavy "Aes" tell OF
ancient Rome. The widows mite. the
shekel. denarius, recall to the minds
OF those who have attended Sunday
school. Bible stories. Amulet razor.
bridge. dress. spear. fan. bar and key,
formed pieces. each have their story
of ancient China. where coins were
first used as a medium Of exchange.
Heavy ring money brings forth bellies
of Africa. who wore the coin OF their
realm in the ears and around their
necks Half Pin" money, boat hat.
bullet wheel, shell and fish hook
shapes are from Soudan and the
the Indians. the bean money OF the
Filipinos and the cob money Of the
Latin American countries. each have
their quota OF interest The yoke Of
oppression and struggles for liberty
are shown in various odd types issued
in times OF siege and distress. The
Colonial history Of the United States
Is shown in the collection Of various
coins issued by the colonies, the pine
tree shiliings. the tree money OF Mas
sachusetts. sthe ''hogge" money OF
Sommers Island and various other
specimens of interest
The collection Of bank notes. of
promises to pay" Is no less interest
ing than the collection Of coins. Every
conceivable denomination and variety
Of bank note Of all periods and all
countries are included In the collec-
ton. The collection Of notes issued
In Virginia at various periods in her
history. from the ouriously worded
notes issued at historic old Salem in
the Colonial days to the Confederate
certificates. are especially interesting
to Richmond people. A number OF
old notes bearing the Richmond date
line have also been gathered by Mr..
Zerbe. Various satirical issues In time
OF presidential campaigns and other
political upheavals furnish subjects
for amusement. Another amusing
specimen IL one Of DIR. Cooks gum
drops which he IL supposed to have
used as currency in paying the Es-
quimos for their services in his dash
for the pole.
The collection il said to be the most
extensive one In the world.