The Washington herald., 1912-12-22

! mental currency dollar is q similar design
to that mentioned above but the engrav-
er. in cutting the dies, made an error in
spelling currency with but one r" \
similar specimen. showing this error, and
the only one known in the metal was
, formerly in the collection Of John G.
! Mills. OF Albany. 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. il Of
! fered for sale.
The design showing the error was also
struck in brass and white metal. It has
been stated by experts that only FIVE are
known in brass. One Of these, also offer
I'd at the --ills sale brought 81 which
would be largely advanced IL sold to-day
The same variety in white metal brought
SIS at the Mills sale.
There must have been a considerable
issue Of coins of this design in white
metal. Judging by the number Of dies that
were made, as evidenced by the known
specimens. One design, with the error in
the spelling of ''Currency.'' shows q com
ma under the letter n" 1t was struck
in brass from recent dies. But two such
specimens are known. and the last record
OF sale of one, the ParmcIee sale of 1890
held in New York was IS Even the
commonest Of the white metal speci-
mems are held at a premium OF several
dollars.
The only contemporary mention NJ
these pieces is given in Crosby's Early
Coins of America" and vas taken from
Watson's Chemical Essays Dublin
1I9D. Interference to coins Of this design
struck in tin.
Said he: The Congress in America had
recourse to the same cxpedient Cevident-
y discussing the striking of pewter
coinsp. They coined several pieces of
about an inch and a half in diameter and
of 20 grains in weight. on one side of
which was inscribed in a circular ring
near the edge. Continental Currency,
1716. and within the ring rising sun
with 'Fugio' at the side of it shining up
on a dial. under which was Mind Your
Business On the reverse were thirteen
small circles. on each of which was in
scribed the name of some one Of the thir-
teen original States. On another ring
within these was inscribed. American
Congress- and in the central space, We
Are One I have been particular in the
mention Of this piece of money because
like the leaden money which was struck
at Vienna when that city was besieged
by the Turks in l529, it will soon become
a great curiosity. estimated the weight
OF a cubic foot of this Continental cur
lSh'S II dS t4udl W tsftU OuUCeS- MS
exceeds the weight of our best sort of
pewter, and falls short of our worst. I
conjecture that the metal of the Continen-
tai currency consisted of twelve parts
tin and one of lead"
The reverse design of the Continental
dollar was also used in conjunction with
a very rare medal issues in 17S, in COM
memoration of the final arrangement for
peace between England and America. The
diverse of this medal showed Britannia
seated facing to the left. By her side is
a shield, with the crosses of St. George
and st. Andrew. In her left hand is a
spear. and her right is extended to an In
dian queen, who is advancing with a bow
In her right hand and quiver behind her
back. Between them fles a dove. with
an olive branch. In the distance is q
view OF London in which appears ST
Pauls Cathedral and the monument 1t
Is said that there are only two known
specimens of this metal. one OF which,
formerly owned by DIR. Charles Clay, Of
England, was sold In New
York in ISL for $31