The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-29
LETTERS TO EDITOR
OLDEST COINS YET REPORTED

To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
 I notice in The Herald lobby column several times several parties are growing over one lonely old United States silver coin. Birming- ham is only about three hours drive to Talladega, on the Bankhead high way. If any one wants to see cigar box full of about 400 old United States silver coins, drive over to Tal- ladega and I will show them old United States silver dollars of 1795 and 179S. and all down the inc, and I will also show them United States silver half dollars of 1795 and 1901, and down the line. and I will show them also sil- yer quarters of 1895 and 1906. and down the line. and I will also show them United States silver dimes of 1911 and half dimes of 1929 and down the line.
 Also United States 3-cent pieces of 1851 and down the line, and United States copper 2-cent pieces. 1864, and United States copper half-cent, 1903 and 1So5; also copper cents 1794 and 1797, and down the line.
 I will also show them gold dollar, 1851, and $5 gold piece of 1854. will also show them paper money issued by banks as far back as 1S1S-Bank of Augusta, Ga, Bank of South Caro- lima. Charleston; Exchange bank of Tennessee, Murfressboro; Lawrence burg Bank of Tennessee, Northern Bank of Kentucky, Lexington; State Bank of Ohio. and its branch, Dela- ware County Delaware.
 The paper money don't read like our paper money now. It says the president, directors and company will pay to or bearer on demand.
 will also show them something most of the people never heard of that is, the railroads were allowed to issue money. I have bill issued by the Mississippi and Alabama Rail road company, 1887, and payable at Brandon, Miss, to bearer on demand I can also show checks issued in 1799. reading as follows: On corner of check is written the amount:
 '12,000 Dollars. Bank of the United States. July IS, 1799. Pay to order of MT. Benjaman, Twelve Thousand Dollars. G. SIMPSON, Cashier.
 Cashier of the Office of Discount and Deposits at Baltimore"
 These checks do not say where the Bank of the United States Is located, but were made payable at Baltimord, at the Cashier of the Office of Dis- count and Deposits, and the paper it is written on is very thin tissue pa per and the ink 1t was written with l suppose is made of acids, so 1t can not be changed. If you go to try to change figures I imagine it will eat through the paper.
 l will also show them some of our George Washington handwritings, one an order given to his doctor about six months before he died AS1uih6 do lOllOWSs
 Mount Vernon, July 27. 1799. The Cashier of the Office of Dis
 counts and Deposits, Baltimore:
 "Sir: Please pay to Doctor James Craik or bearer the sum of Fifty Dol lars and oblige Your Most Obedt. servt. GO. WASHINGTON. $50 Dolls"
 I will also show them letter writ ten in the treasury department of the United States at Trenton, N. J., dated December 19. 1799, before we had treasury department or Washing ton City, D. C., when the treasury department was located at Tren- ton, N. J.
 ~I will also show them copper coined in United States mint 1S37 One side of coin reads, "E Pluribus Unum," and the Head of Liberty, dated 1887, and on other side around the face as follows: Millions for Defense and Not One Cent for Tribute" This coin is about the size of 25c piece.
 Also will show them letter written before we had any envelopes-just folded and sealed with wax. Before we had any postage stamp. The post master collected and marked on cor ner of envelope, Paid" The only thing I regret about owning this collection is I have no children to hand 1t down to. OTIS COOK.
 Talladega, September 27. 1921.