Evening journal., 1916-10-18
DIG UP OLD Cash
.BOXON RESERVOIRLOT
Engineer Finds Treasure
Chest Containing Old
American and Foreign
Coins
ONE COIN BEARS
DATE OF 1877

What was apparently a private cash
box buried for safe keeping on the old
farm which formerly was located on
the site of the new reservoir now be-
ing constructed az Eighth and Rodney
streets, has come to light during the
process of excayating suggest
ing scenes of the Spanish
Main and the events Of the
early history of this country. The
box. apparently of sheet iron, was dug
up by w. NJ. Christian, engineer on the
steam shovel being operated for VIII
liams and Kinnamon. general con-
tractors for the work. The box was
so badly rusted that il fell apart when
lifted by the shovel, permitting a col
lection of silver and copper coins to
roll over the ground.
Christian had run his steam shovel
out near Eighth street, q little dis
lance from the line Of the old reser-
voir and picked up the box in his
shovel. II was near the surface, only
about rs inches under ground, and
had the appearance OF hPving been
buried by some one living on the farm.
The boX contained 1853 pieces, sill
yer and copper coins varying in date
from 1877 to 1909. Most OF the coins
we're of the old fashioned one-cent
pieces all badly corrOded. The others
we're silver coins, the older ones old
Spanish dollars and half-dollars. There
we're twenty coins OF value thought TO
be about one dollar; twenty-siX coins
OF half-dollar value and 100 old fash
toned large One-cent pieces.
The oldest coin was a Spanish half
dollar. dated 1909. The latest coin was
an American dollar. dated 1877. Two
interesting Spanish coins were one
apparently OF about a half-dollar
value with the following inscription on
reverse side: His pan-et-In ReX-nl-
2R-F. r. and on the diverse. Carolus
uI-Dei-Gratia, a head OF some king
presumably Charles ILL., and the date
1891. The other coin has the sam y
inscription on the reverse side with
SRI. p. in place OF the latter part of
the inscription. and on the diverse,
Carolus- IlI-Dei Gratia, and the date
1913.
An interesting part Of the find was
what had been apparently a watchfob
formed of three American half dollars,
utltQ lovD loVo anu loNts Autoc Npiho
were connected by means OF short sill
yer chains.
Just what the value of the coins
may be Christian could not say when
interviewed today by an EVENING
/ JOURNAL. reporter, as he said many
/ of the coins were so badly worn as
TO give no indication OF their date OF
issue. Since the find Christian has
been besieged by friends asking for
pocket pieces. and he has given many
OF the coins away. While on his way
home to Baltimore on Saturday even
ing he sold most OF the one-ceni
pieces and some OF the other coins
1913 pieces to man on the train fOl
So. He presented coins also to Charles
Zinc. his superintendent at the works
and Zines brother Walter.
AS the latest date on the coins il
1877, It Is pointed out the box mus
have been placed where II was founC
after that date. No explanation il
given for its being in the ground, an'
it is supposed It must have been hid
den by some person living at the OLE
farm in that locality and forgotten
One Of the pieces was presented b.
Mr.. Zinc to the Water Department
and will be placed in a frame an,
hung in the Office as a souvenir.