Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-23
MORE RARE COINS.
F. T. Noble Makes Another Exhibit
From His Magnificent Collection.


Another interesting and instructive
exhibit of coins from the collection of
Frank L. Noble is being shown, this
week, in the window of the First Ma
tional Bank, and is attracting a great
deal Of attention. 1t embraces gold,
silver, copper and porcelain CONS of
China, Japan, Siam, Corea and other
countries of the Orient.
The Chinese coins are especially va
fied and interesting, some being very
cid, as for example, five specimen of
the ancient knife or razor money, or
Tao, dating back to the Ming dynasty
217 years before Christ, a good old age
of more than 1000 years. This Chinese
knife money is known as one of the
most curious coin shapes. The Mongols,
ever since the bronze age, have used
as objects of barter sword blades, knife
blades and arrow heads and the Chi
nese Tao shape is that of the old
scythian knife. In shape the blade
gradually dwindled III size, the suspen-
sion ring was fiattened to receive the
inscription, until as a frog developes
from tadpole, the Chinese round cash
came into existence The regular cash
coinage, all classified, has examples
from the Shun Chip dynasty, 1644-1661,
down to the present time, including
extra fine specimens Of the 100 and 500
cash, very large coins, with raised
Chinese characters.
A beautiful bronze l. Stu of Alsita
province readily claims attention from
its odd shape and ornamentation These
pieces are sometimes called sword hilt
money, as they make excellent hits
for sword or dagger, the oblong open
ing in the center being Just right to
admit the blade.
The fire specimen Of the Pei Tang
silver dollar with its remarkable hui
man faced dragon, issued in the 18th
year Of Kuang Hsu, and the Kwaang
Tung, imam piece. are characteristic
coins. Hong Kong (Britism and Cochin
China Qrench) money is also shown.
The series of japanese coins make an
interesting display, the oblong square
eornered domino shaped Blu and u Blu
and double Blu (Niphon coinage) of
which there are several, and the fine
old Oval gold Koban, covered with ctf<
Iious Japanese characters, are the
specially attractive pieces These, with
the odd oval shaped bronze Tempos,
with their square holes, make up the
more ancient coins of the F'loWery
Kingdom. For beauty, the silver set
lst coinage of Mikado Mutsuhito, 1861,
5, 10, 20 and 50 sen, all native inscrip-
tons. would be readily awarded first
place. The small Rim and the newer
bronze coins show the usual fine work
of the Japanese.
OF the coins of Siam, the land of the
white elephant, the series of ancient
silver bullet money will claim tle
greatest attention, the set embracing
10 pieces from l Tical to the tiny 132
of teal. This bullet money is made
from Jumps of pure silver-slightlX
elongated and the two ends turned in
to meet. making a most singular for
nation for a coin. Each is impressed
by counter stamp with the kings pri-
! waite mark. There are also specimens
of porcelain money with colored char
acters, which are rarely seen.
The lead coins showing the sacred
white elephant on one side and the
Royal parasols on the other, were is
sued by King Maha Mongkut in the
EARLY SOS. Following these is a fine
series VI DIOllZc COlllS Vi Nib Nhti"
Longkorn, issued in 1868, also with
parasols and the kings initial crown
ed. and later and more modern coins
showing the bust of the king.
Among the Corean coins deserving
mention is silver set issued by King
Liki in 1864, l, 2 and shot. Each
cain has blue enamaled center on
which is n Corean character These
are rare and valuable. Some very old
Corean cash is shown as well as the
more modern coins.
The coins shown from Java are
highly interesting, the copper bar
money being peculiar and not unlike
our gold bars in shape. The series
commenced with the rule of the Dutch
East India Co.-l727 TO 1897. Under
Napoleon. 1903 to 1911, the English
East India Co, 1911 to 1915, and later
under Holland.
Taken as a whole the display is in
deed an interesting one, and shows
much painstaking and study as Wen
as many years of indifatigable ana
persistent collecting.
In conversation with Mr. Noble the
Journal was informed that his entire
collection of coins and medals num-
bered some 12000 pieces from all parts
of the world and that if it was feasible
he would gladly make an exhibit of
the entire collection at one time ana
thus give the townspeople an opp"f-
tunity of viewing his mumismat.c
treasures in their entirety. Possibly
some way may yet be devised of DO
ing so in the near future.
DON'T GET LEFT.