Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1890 — Page 6

THE SCIENCE OF COINS.

RELATION Or NUMISMATICS TO HISTORY AND EDUCATION. the Early English Colonies In America. the stamped pieoee f lof metal circulated as money throughout the W I American colonies of Engf jja ■ land, prior to the revoiu- | w.ir, is a coin, or ww much prized bj collectors, known as The CarotH "Tina Eleuhant. The obverse of this is from a rather f ** common Enel ish piece, now designated as The London Elephant. Che effigy ie that of the great animal, standing with lowered head and there is 10 legend. The reverse bears six lines and reads: “God Preserve Carolina and—The Lords—Proprietors—lo94.” A particularly rare variety spells the word i Proprioters,” and is much prized. There is also a New England Elephant, ihe obverse die of which is a fnc simile it the London and Carolina piece, while »n the reverse is: “God—Preserve—New —England—l6 ( J4” in live lines. Only Ihree of these pieces are known to be in sristence at the present time. A very ice one was sold in or with the Miekley sollection, in 1867, and was purchased by Mr. William S. Appleton, of Boston, Mass. He paid $2 i.» to secure it. A medalet that is most interesting to numismatists is named by them Ihe Pitt Token. It was used as money among ;he colonists.. Upon the obverse is a nu«t of the orator and statesman for whom the piece is called, circumscribed with the legend: “The Kestoreu of Commerce. 1766. No Stamps. ” The reverse shows a ship with square sails set aud Sve flags flying, sailing toward the observer's right; she is about striking on the word “America,” which is placed in a straight line on the right held. The legend on this side is: “Thanks to the Friends of Liberty and trade.” The great needol the colonists for suficieut of the circulating medium was mpplied in 1722-23 by the issue of the Rosa Americana money. A man by the same of William Wood obtained in Eniani patents or grants for coining tokens for both Ireland and America, and the p eces intended for the former country were extensively circulated in this, ms well as those specially struck for the American colonies. The Rosa Americanas are made, as acrording to the terms of the patent, of a composition metal composed of silver, araws and spelter. The laraest of the pieces, commonly called The Penny, has, mi the reverse, a head of George I. looking to .the right, and laurented. Legond —Goorgivs: D: G: Muj: Bri: Fra: Et: Hib: Rex, Reverse, n full-blown rose Jin some cases surrounded with a crown). Legend—Rosa Americana, 1722, or 1723. On a scroll below is the sentiment: U+fle Dulci. Ono variety exists that ha 3 not the scroll. The Rlalf Penny is of design similar to the penny, and some are found bearing the date 1724. The farthiug varies only in nmount of metal from the other coins. On the uncrowned half;>ancG and farthings, however, the words Dulci” are never placed. A very few of the extremely rare, largest-sized Rosa Americauas of date 1738 are in the hands of collectors and museums. One of the specimens is said m be in the British Museum numismatic cases. Another was sold from the collection of Dr. Chns. Clay, of Manchester, England, in New York City, in the year 1871, for $l!)0. The obverse of tliese shoice prizes bear a laureated bust of George 11., and legend: Geortivs 11. D. I G. Rex. On the obverse is a rose brunch with seven leaves, a lull-blown rose and bud, crowned. Legend—Rosa Americana, 1733, and Utile Dulci on a scroll beneath the rose. The collector sometimes meets with a copper coin, somewhat smaller in diameter, and not so thick as the old United States cent piece, h ving the following characteristics: Obverse, two L’s crossed, nnder a crown. Legond—Sit Nomen Domini Benedictum. Reverifr. Colonies —Francoises—l722—H, in four lines. On

FRENCH LOUISIANA COPPER.

some of the pieces the date is 1721. This coin tells its own story, it having been issued during ihe minority of Louis XV., by the French Government, for its colonies. As Louisiana was under French control at that time, it probably circulated there, and may accordingly be ■cl ..seed among American col onials (though not English). Another, considerably heavier, copper piece, engrailed on the ■edge, was struck by the French Government in the year 1767. Its obverse car;ried two flambeaux crossed and tied iocether." Legend: Colonies Francoises, li. XV, (Thq reverse, three fleur-de-lis 'under a crown, encircled by two halfwreaths fastened at their stems. Legend: .Sit Nomen Domini Boned cturn. 1767. Most of these coins obtained liave had the three fleur-de-lis obliterated, and the letters It. F. stamped upon them, this,change having been made by . order of the Republican Government of France after its establishment. Virginia half-penny coins are well known, and seem to havo been made in 'vast numbers. A considerable variety of -dies were Used in their manufacture. A Inures ted bust of George the Third is on the obverse, surrounded, as on the English half-penny, with his title, Georgivs

VIRGINIA HALF PENNY.

lit. Bex. The reverse has an ornamental and crowned shield, emblazoned qusrte>!y: 1, England empaling Scotland; 2, France; 3, Ireland; 4, the Electoral Do.minions. Legend, Virginia; date, 1733.

One variety is so nn«largj£ttan the others as to be called;t% scnny, b»t it ia not of sufficient value jto :re*ch that denomination. ML#* 1 Jk A similar jjariceffifal A \774, fees beeia found in sil<|£%' asudi ß known as theaVitri ginia shilling./it ijgfcosybieMiA a (kinawe of silver* shjll|iif» %aiu intended at that time, aiy so mg patter nouly. ma

A “NOVA EBORAC.”

coin is of exceeding great rarity; probably less than half a dozen in all nre known to collectors of the present day. A very rare if not unique piece, the history of which is still nnknown, is

called the Non Depcndens Status, from that legend ou the obverse. This legend surrounds a draped bust, facing right, the hair fallingon the shonlder. Reverse: an Indian in a tunic of feathers, facing left, seated on a globe. In his right hand is a bunch of tobacco, his left resting upon a shield. Legend, America; date, 1778. The Bar Cent is believed to have been made in England in the year 1785, and carried over to New York for circulation in America. It has a monogram com;>osed of the letters “U. S. A. "in largo loman characters. In one variety the “S" is over the other letters, and in another die the “S” is placed over the“U” and the “A” oyer the “S.” The reverse shows thirteen parallel bars. Thore were copper pieces besides those nbove mentioned in circulation in the colonies. They were unauthorized by the Euglish Government, and most probably were of home manufacture. In New York there was: The Nova Eborac cent, its obverse bearing a laureated head, facing right, with mailed bust. Legend: “Nova Eborac.” Reverse: The Goddess of Liberty seated on a globe; in one variety facing to the right, in three other styles facing

NEW YORK “EXCELSIOR” COPPER.

to the left. She holds the liberty-pole with the cap in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. Beside her is the shield of New York. Legend: 1 “Virt. etLib.” Date, 1787. Excelsior coppers have for their obverse the coat of arms of the State of New York, with the word “Excelsior” in the exergue. Reverse: An eagle displayed; on the breast a shield ar. ent; in one talon a bundle of arrows, in the other an olive brunch, and thirteen stars are about the head of the bird. Date, 1787. The New York Washington cent has a bust of General Washington, with wig and military draping, faced to the right. Legend: “hon vi virtute vici.” Reverse: The Goddess of Eiberty, seated, with liberty-pole and scales of Justice. Legend: “Neo Eboraconsis. ” Date, 1786. The. Impmnis Columbia cent, of New York, ha£ on its obverse the Goddess of Liberty seated upon a globe, the scales in

her left hand, the liberty-pele, with cap an flag, in her right. Legend: “Immunis Columbia.” Date, 1787. Reverse: An eagle displayed, with arrows and olive branoh in his talons. Legend: “E i, Pluribus Unnm." f Market prices for the coins mentioned above are about the following: Condition. Year. Coin. Fine. Fair. lßm. Elephant, Carolina, halfik penny $ 40.00 820.00 1694. Elephant, New England, halfpenny 150.00 50.00 1694. Elephant. London, h,’f-penny 2.50 1.50 1766. Pitt token, “no stamps” 2.50 1,50 1722. Geo. 1., Rosa | Americana, ■* penny 4.00 1.50 1722. Geo. 1.. Rosa Americana, halfpenny. 2,50 1.00 1722. Geo. 1., Rosa Americana, farthing 3.00 '1.53 1723. Geo. 1., Rosa, not crowned.. 15.00 5.00 1723. Geo. 1., Rosa, Resa sine spina, halfpenny 00.03 25.00 1723. Geo. 1., Rosa, crowned, rose, penny 1 4.00 2.00 1723. Geo. 1., liosa, crowned rose, halfpenny 2.50 1.50 1724. Geo. 1., Rosa, crowned rose, halfpenny 15.00 10.00 1733. Geo. 1., Rosa, crowned rose, farthing 2.50 1.50 1723. Geo. 1.. Rosa, Am. halfpenny 5.00 3.00 1733. Geo. 11., Rosa Am. penny.... 30.00 20.00

1721. 2 L’s Col.’s Francoises halfpenny 2.50 1.03 1<22. 2 L’s Col.’s Fi ancoises halfP enny 2.50 1.00 1767. 2L s, stamped R. F 2.G0 1.01 1767. 2 L’s -without R. F: 4.00 1.50 1773. Geo. 111., Virginia halfpenny 1.25 .5) 1773. Geo. 111., Virginia small size .75 .25 1734.. Geo. 111., Virginia shilling, „„„„ 9ilver 33.00 20.0(1 1/(8. “Non Dependens" cent 50.00 2.3.00

NEW YORK IMMUNIS COLUMBIA.

1785. Bar cent U. S. A.. 13 bars.... 4.0) 2.00 1787. N. Y. cent, “Nova Eborac"... 2.03 1.00 1787. N. Y. cent, “Nova Eborac" Indian head 50.03 30.00 178(. N. Y., cent, “Excelsior” 40.00 20.00 1786. N. Y., Washington cent 100.00 50.00 J. 787, N. Y., cent, “linmunnis Col- • uinbia” 8.00 5.00 A. M. Smith, Numismatist, Minneapolis, Minn.

The Chinese Compositor.

That the public may see what the Hong Kong Telegraph has to put up with from the man with the queue, it publishes a portion of a familiar piece as “set up” by a Chinese compositor: “The Burial of Sir John Moon.—Not a drum was heard not a funeral note as his corse to the ramparts. We hirmed not a soldur discharged his farewell shot O’er the gram when our Hero we buired. We buired him doubly at dead of night. The soda with our bayonets turming. By the shuggling moonheanrs mirty light and the lantern drinly buning. No melen coffin enclosed his breast not in slu< nor in shorsed we Wound him. But he lay like a wanior taking his not. Wilt his martial clock around him. Few and short were the prayers and, we we spoke not a word of sorrow. But we steadfastly galed on the fall that was dead and we bittelly thought of the morrer.” A wife was complaining bitterly of her cruel husband. A friend advised her still to treat him kindly and gently and thus heap coals of tire on his head. She replied: “Ah, that will not do, for h have tried two kettles of boiling wate4 on his head and he’s no better.”

BLAINE VS. SALISBURY,

ON SEAL FISHING IN THE BEHRING SEA, History of the Negotiations Between the United 6 tales and Great Britain Relative to the Seal Fisheries—Secretary Blaine’s Position. [Washington special,) Following is the official correspondence between Secretary Blaine and Lord Salisbury, touching the seal fisheries of the Behring Sea, sent to the House of Representatives by the President, in answer to the resolution introduced by Representative Hitt, of Illinois: The correspondence between Secretary Blaine and the new British minister began Jan. 22 of this year with a long letter from the Secretary to Sir Julian Pauncefote. This letter maybe fairly taken as setting forth the position of the United States in the controversy. The Secretary says: “in the opinion of the President the Canadian vessels arrested and detained in the Behring Sea were engaged in a pursuit that v as in itself contra bonus mores, a pursuit which of necessity involves a serious and permanent Injury to the rights of the government and people of the United Smtes. To establish thin ground it is not necessary to argue the question of the extent aud nature of the sovereignty of this Government over the waters of the Behring sea. It is not necessary to exidain, certainly not to define, the powers and privileges ceded by his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia in the treaty by which the Alaskan territory was transferred to the United Slates. The weighty considerations growing out of the acquisition of that, territory, with all the rights on land and sea inseparably connected therewith, may be safely left out of view, while the grounds are set forth upon which this Government, rests its justification for the action complained of by her Majesty s Government,” The Secretary then speaks of the value of the seal fisheries which were controlled by Russia without interference or question until the cession of Alaska to the United States in 1867, This undisturbed possession continued to the United States until 1886, passing whaling vessels abstaining from seal capture. He says that this uniform avoidance of all attempts to take fur seal in those waters had been a constant )G3ognition of the right held and exercised, first by Russia and subsequently by this Government. It had also been the recognition of a fact now held beyond denial or doubt that the taking of seals in the open sea rapidly leads to ihsir extinction. The Secretary, continuing, says that this is proved not only by expert testimony but by the total destruction of all seal fisheries, except the one in the Behring sea, which the Government of the United States is now trying to preserve, not altogether for the use of the American oeople, but for the use of the world at large. ‘ He recites the successful efforts of the United States Government to improve and preserve the fisheries, resulting in the payment of more than *12,000,(XX) to English laborers for the preparation of the sealskins and the elevation to civilization of natives of Alaskan islands. He says : “So groat has beenkhe injury to the fisheries from the irregular and destructive slaughter of seals In the open waters of the Behring Sea by Canadian vessels, that, whereas the Government had allowed 100,000 to be taken annually for a series of years, it is now compelled to reduce the number to 60.000. If four years of this violation of natural law and neighbors’ rights has reduced the annual slaughter of seal by 40 per cent., it is easy to see how short a period will be required to work the total destruction of the fisheries. “This Government has been ready to concede much in order to adjust all differences of view, aud has, in the judgment of the President, already proposod a solution not only equitable but generous. Thus far hsr Majesty’s Government has declined to accept the proposal of the United States. The President now awaits with deep interest, not unmixed with solicitude, any proposition for reasonable adjustment which her Majesty's Government may submit. The forcible resistance to which this Government is constrained in the Behring Sea is, to the President's judgment, demanded, not only bv the .necessity of defending the traditional, long-established rights of the United Slates, but also the rights of good government and good morals the world pver. “Nor is the Government of the United States disposed to exercise iu t*hose possessions any less power or authority than It was willing to concede to the imperial government o( Russia when its sovereignty extended over them. The President is persuaded that all friendly nations will concede to the United States the same rights and privileges on the lands and in the waters of Alaska which the same friendly nations always conceded to the Empire of Russia.” The Marquis of Salisbury, under date of May 22 last, In a letter to the British Minister, replies to Mr. Blaine’s arguments : “It requires something more than a mere declaration that the Government or citizens of the United States, or even other countries interested in the seal trade, are losers by a certain course of proceeding to render that course an immoral one. “Her Maeesty’s Government would deeply regret that the pursuit of fur seals on the high seas by British vessels should involve even the slightest injury to the people of the United States. If the case be proved they will be ready to consider what measures can be properly taken for the remedy of such injury, but they would be unable on that ground to depart from a principle on which free commerce on the high seas depends.” Says the Marquis in conclusion : “The negotiations now being carried on at Washington prove the readiness of her Majesty’s Government to consider whether any special international agreement is necessary for the protection of the fur-aeal Industry. In Its absence they are unable to e.dmit that the case put forward on behalf of the United States affords any sufficient justification for the forcible action already taken by them against peaceable sub.ejts of her Majesty engaged in lawful operations cn the high seas.” The thirtieth and last letter of the mass of correspondence, which would, if printed entire, fill over twenty newspaper columns, was addressed by Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote from Bar Harbor. In it the Secretary says : “I am instructed by the President to say that the United States is willing to consider all the proceedings of April 16, 1888, as cancelled, so far as American rights may be concerned. This Government will ask Great Britain to adhere only to the agreement made between Lord Salisbury and Mr. Phelps on the 25th of February, 188 rt. That was an agreement made directly between the two Governments and did not include the rights of Rnssia. Asking Lord Salisbury to adhere to the agreement of February 25 we leave the agreement of April 16 to be maintained, if maintained at all. by Russia, for whose cause and for whose advantage it was particularly designed.”

NO NEWS FROM CENTRAL AMERICA.

All Telegraphic and Mali Communication with .Salvador Cut Oft. The Department of State has as yet received no confirmation of the rumored war between Salvador and Guatemala, and there is no one on duty who has any information on the subject, writes a Washington correspondent. Since hostilities opened between the republics Guatemala has assumed a most dictatorial position, not only toward her unruly sister, but toward, the other Central American States. It is alleged at the Department of State that the reason for the apparent delinquency on the part of Minister Mizner in keeping the department properly informed is that not only are the telegraph wires cut, but that the ordinary postal facilities ' have 1 een abridged. Whether unitary espionage would be extended to diplomatic dispatches sent by an officer of a ftiendly government is not known. At all events the summary methods adopted have interfered with the heretofore easy communication between Guatemala and the United States.

SAYS HE KILLED HIM.

FIREMAN ROODHOUSE MAKES A CONFESSION. He Tells How He Killed Engineer Tandevander with a Hammer—The Locomotive Tragedy at Tan Wert, Ohio, the Result of a QuarrelVan Wert (Ohio; special: The mystery surrounding the horrible murder of Engineer Madison Vandevander has at last been cleared up by a confession from Fireman Samuel Roadhouse at the coroner’s inquest The evidence was so strong against Roadhouse that when he heard of it he concluded to make a full confession. He was still confined to his bed and after a few moments’ deliberation said: “Sheriff, I want to tell yen something. I killed Vandevander.” While he was speaking his throat clogged and he uttered the three last words in a husky voice. “I did it,” he continued, “in selfdefense. He accused mq of informing the superintendent that he was drunff at Devil’s Lake last week, and, although I offered to prove to him that I had not reported him, he refused to believe me, and had been abusing me more or less since then. Last Friday, while we were at Franklin getting ready to go out on our run, we had a quarrel and came near exchanging blows. “WhenVe reached Enterprise he commenced on me again and said: ‘D you, I'll fix you.’ Van was powerful and desperate, and, to tell the facts of the case, I was afraid of him. After leaving Enterprise he repeated the threat, and I walked back to the toolbox when he wasn’t looking and fixed the hammer they found with the handle sticking out so I could grasp it. I then started back to my seat in the cab. Just before I reached it Van reached out his left arm and dealt me a terrible blow on the left side of the head,” pointing to the gash on that side of his head. “I was staggered for a moment, and just as 1 was about recovered he raised his right hand from the throttle and gave me another terrible blow on the right side of the head. “I jumped back, grabbed the hammer, and catching it with both hands raised it, and, throwing all my weight on it, brought it down on Van’s head with all the force I could muster. The first blow did not appear to stun him and I showered several more blows —I don’t remember how many—and did not quit until he lay still. I then picked him up and sat him on the seat on his side of the engine, where he was found. I hardly realized what I had done until it was over with. At first I did not know what to do, and I lay down on the floor of the engine and in the few minutes which elapsed It came to me to fix up the story I told Dr. Woods. Just as we had passed Van Wert Van raised his head, and I again picked up the hammer and dealt him another blow which opened his head. I felt the blood and brains spatter on my face. That was all. You Know the rest.” The fact of Roadhouse’s confession was kept quiet until he could be placed in the county jail, as it was feared that should the news get out there would be an attempt to lynch him, coming so soon after the funeral of the murdered man. After he had been placed safely behind the bars it became noised about that he had iqade a full confession, and the news passed from lip to lip like lightning, and in a few minutes a large crowd had gathered about the jail, which is such a weak and poorly-con-structed building that it would not take more than half a dozen determined, men to break into it. Lynching is freely talked of, and as there are a large number of railroad men in town who came to attend Vandevander’s funeral it would not be surprising if there would be trouble.

LOOK FOR MORE FIGHTING.

It Will Be War to the Knife in Central America. City of Mexico special: The news received in this city to-day by private cipher cable dispatches fully confirms the account of the battle between the Guatemalan and San Salvadoran forces yesterday. The Guatemalan forces, under the command of Gen. Fuentes, were encamped a little to the southward and eastward of Bhalohuapa. close upon the San Salvador frontier. The Guatemalans, not expecting to receive much, if any, resistance on the part of the Salvadorans, were taken completely by surprise and retreated precipitately beyond the borders to their own territory. No estimate of the loss, of life on either side cam be formed, but from all accounts only thirty or forty were killed or wounded. The San Salvador troops did not follow up their advantage, as they had received instructions only to preserve the integrity of their own territory. It is sa ? d that in view of this defeat 2,000 Guatemalan troops are advancing as reinforcements under the command of Gen. Camilo Alvarez, the aspirant for Presidential honors in San Salvador under the protection of Guatemala. With Gen. Alvarez at their head as eommander-in-ehief of the Guatemalan forces there no longer remains a doubt that Guatemala intends invading her neighboring territory.

News in Brief.

Jessie Berry, aged 16, of Ottawa, 111., was drowned while bathing. Frederick Mii.t.er was run over and . killed by the cars Sunday night at Decatur, 111. John Elson, a Finlander, was drowned in the river at Iron wood, Mich., while in bathing. A C. Stenz & Sons, dry goods dealers of New York, have made an assignment to Benjamin H. Bayliss. C. M. Johnson of Farmerville, 111., died of injuries received in falling from a load of hay some days ago. Daniel Shannon of Buffalo, N. Y., driver of a hook and,ladder truck, fell under the wheels while going to & fire and was fatally injured.