Evening star., 1937-08-25

money IIlAt nave Uccu 6cIlI ny AuAAA0.
matists throughout the Nation.
Mrs. Wilkins can speak with author
fly, for her own coin collection Is both
extensive and valuable. There are
several hundred pieces, about q fourth
of which are foreign. She Is more
keenly interested in United States
coins, Of course, preferring our own
currency both because OF the historic
import and her work with it. Has
pored over old mint records and as
q result can tell fascinating stories Of
many Of those treasures. Coins
become rather personal things when
you know the artists who design them,
the workmanship necessary and some
thing OF their history she said. Il
don't know why there aren't more
women In the numismatic 1eld-they
collect stamps and all sorts OF other
things that require technical knowl-
edge"
Here's a phase OF our technical set
ND" Mrs.. wilkins continued, handing
us two shiny new halt dollars. These
came to our bureau for assay this
morning. We take = number Of coins
from every coinage and test them to
see that they conform to legal require
ments as well as to the standards Of
the Mint Bureau" That third degree
IA but one example Of the protection
afforded the American public by that
division OF the Treasury. The half
ali nj ~%r hn
approaching celebration Of the Battle
OF Antietam and the 1898 Blue and
Gray Reunion at Gettysburg. All Of
the seven commemorative coined
during 1897 have been half dollars
THE first commemorative coin in
American history was the 50-cent
piece authorized by Congress in 1892
for the Columbian Exposition. There
have been n special issues since that
date. That does not mean n new
coins. however - some were repeat
orders. Five denominations Of COM
memoratives were authorized for the
Panama-Pacif1c Exposition, ranging
from so cents to $50, an all-time high.
Other coins were struck for the Stone
Mountain Memorial. the Hawaiian
Sesqucentennial Of 1928 and the Booth
anniversary Of the landing Of the Pill
grtms in 1920. One Of the most beau
tiful OF all commemorative was that
issued for the Illinois Centennial In
1918, and commonly known as "the
Lincoln coin" The triumphant eagle
on the reverse side is = beauty.
But not all Of them are. There IS
every sort and condition OF eagle on
our silver, ranging from the proud
chap ON the regular coinage to the
more modernistic types on some OF the
special coins. The bird on the Con-
necticut Tercentenary half dollar
looks more like = nice, amiable dove
OF peace than anything else. But the
designs are not limited to eagles-oh,
no, the menagerie has variety. There
are bears and whales and fish, even
the head Of q steer.
In the past commemoratives were
made at the three coinage mints-
Philadelphia, San Francisco and Dem
yer. This complicated matters for
collectors, ~ they must have speci-
mems from all three There has been
20 much dissatisfaction with this ar
rsngement and 20 much trouble caused
by 1t that the Congress may restrict
this coinage hereafter to one mint.
Their authority over special issues
arises from the constitutional pro-
vision that only 4 special act Of Con-
greas can change the design OF COIN
age oftener than every rs years.
y
"A MOTHER concession was made TO
collector interests last year,
when the mint resumed the striking
OF proof coins" the first made since
1921. Mrs wilkins had q set Of them
the cent piece, nickel, dime, quarter
and half f-dollar. They are perfect In
form and have 4 mirrorlike finish.