Illustrated history of the United States mint / with a complete description of American coinage, from the earliest period to the present time

by Unknown

JANUARY 1888.
COIN (APPROXIMATE) PRICE CURRENT.

Prepared by Mason & Co., Coin Dealers, 175 Washington St., Boston. Mass.

Gold Colonial Coins.
		FINE.	GOOD.
1785,	Justice-eye, “Immune Columbia”	$600.00	$500.00
1787,	Sun-eagle, “Nova Eboraca”	300.00	150.00
Silver Colonials.
1652,	N. E. XII, New-England shilling	$35.00	$25.00
1652,	” VI, ” sixpence	40.00	20.00
1652,	” III, ” threepence	100.00	40.00
1650,	Pinetree XII, “Masathusets” shilling	45.00	30.00
1652,	” ” “Massachusets” ”	10.00	5.00
1652,	” Smaller and thicker ”	8.00	3.00
1652,	” XII, “Masatusets” variety shilling	25.00	15.00
1652,	” VI, “Masachusets” sixpence	15.00	5.00
1652,	” III, ” threepence	15.00	5.00
1652,	” II, ” twopence	15.00	5.00
1652,	Oaktree XII, ” shilling	5.00	3.00
1652,	” VI, ” sixpence	6.00	4.00
1652,	” III, ” threepence	8.00	4.00
1662,	” II, ” twopence	8.00	4.00
1662,	” I, ” penny	30.00	10.00
1659,	head, shield, Lord Baltimore shilling	15.00	10.00
1659,	” ” ” sixpence	20.00	10.00
1659,	” ” ” fourpence	20.00	10.00
1760,	Charles III. rose, Florida half dollar	30.00	20.00
1773,	George III. shield, Virginia shilling	20.00	15.00
1783,	U. S. 1000-eye, “Nova Constellatio”	200.00	100.00
1783,	” 500-eye, ” ”	150.00	75.00
1785,	” Justice-eye, “Nova Constellatio” quarter dollar	75.00	40.00
1783,	hands clasped, Annapolis shilling	15.00	5.00
1783,	” ” sixpence	15.00	8.00
1783,	” ” threepence	15.00	8.00
1790,	head “Standish Barry” ”	25.00	10.00
1796,	female head, “Castorland” half dollar	2.00	1.50
Tin Colonial.
1690,	horseman-shields, James II. tin piece	$3.00	$1.50
1776,	Sun-dial, “Continental Currency”	15.00	5.00
Colonial Copper Coins.
1616,	hog-ship, “Summer Islands” shilling		$300.00
1616,	” ” ” sixpence		400.00
1694,	Elephant, “God preserve Carolina,” half dollar	$40.00	20.00
	” “God preserve New England”	150.00	50.00
	” “God preserve London”	2.50	1.50
1721,	2 L’s, “Col’s Francoises,” Louisiana	2.50	1.00
1722,	2 L’s, ” ” ”	2.50	1.00
1667,	L’s, “Col’s Francoises,” stamped R. F., Louisiana ha’penny	2.00	1.00
1767,	L’s, “Col’s Francoises,” without R. F., Louisiana ha’penny	4.00	1.50
1766,	head ship, no stamps, Pitt halfpenny	2.50	1.50
1773,	George III. shield, Virginia halfpenny	1.00	.25
1773,	” ” smaller size, Virginia halfpenny	.75	.25
	U. S. A., 13 bars, Bar cent	3.50	2.00
1722,	George I. rose, “Rosa Americana” penny	4.00	1.50
1722,	” ” ” ” halfpenny	2.50	1.00
1722,	” ” ” ” farthing	3.00	1.50
1722,	” ” ” ” farthing	4.00	2.00
1723,	” ” not crowned, “Rosa Americana” farthing	15.00	5.00
	George I. rose, “Rosa sine spina,” halfpenny	30.00	15.00
1723,	George I. crowned rose, “Rosa Americana,” penny	4.00	2.00
1723,	George I. crowned rose, “Rosa Americana,” halfpenny	2.50	1.50
1724,	George I. crowned rose, “Rosa Americana,” halfpenny	15.00	10.00
1723,	George I. crowned rose, “Rosa Americana,” farthing	2.50	1.50
1723,	George I. crowned rose, “Rosa Americana,” halfpenny	5.00	3.00
1733,	George II. crowned rose, “Rosa Americana” penny	30.00	20.00
1737,	Three hammers, “Connecticut” cent	40.00	20.00
1737,	“I am good copper,” cent	40.00	20.00
1739,	” ” ” Granby cent	40.00	20.00
1737,	“Connecticut,” Granby cent	40.00	20.00
1737,	Axe, “I cut my way through,” Granby cent	40.00	20.00
No date,	axe, “I cut my way through,” Granby cent	40.00	20.00
1778,	Head Indian, “Non dependens,” cent	25.00	15.00
1783,	U. S. eye, “Nova Constellatio,” cent	1.00	.40
1783,	” ” ” ” ”	1.00	.40
1785,	U. S. eye, “Nova Constellatio,” cent	1.00	.30
1783,	Liberty caged, “Georgius Triumpho,” cent	3.00	1.25
1787,	Indian stars, “Inimica Tyrannis,” cent	40.00	20.00
1785,	” in circle, “Inimica Tyrannis,” cent	40.00	20.00
	Scroll-triangle, Kentucky cent, plain edge	3.50	2.00
	” lettered edge, Kentucky cent	3.50	2.00
1796,	Britannia-children, British settlements	25.00	15.00
1787,	Indian-eagle, Massachusetts cent	1.00	.40
1787,	” ” half-cent	3.00	1.25
1788,	” ” cent	1.00	.50
1788,	” ” half-cent	3.00	1.25
1787,	Sun-dial links, “We are one,” Franklin cent	.50	.25
New York Cents.
1786,	Head, Justice; “Non vi virtute vici,”	$75.00	$40.00
1787,	Indian-eagle, “Neo Eboracus,”	50.00	30.00
1787,	” arms of New York, “Excelsior,”	40.00	20.00
1787,	George Clinton arms of New York, “Excelsior,”	50.00	25.00
1786,	Eagle, arms of New York, “Excelsior,”	60.00	30.00
1787,	” ” ” ”	60.00	30.00
1787,	Justice-eagle, “Immunis Columbia,”	8.00	4.00
1787,	Head, Liberty to right, “Nova Eborac,”	2.00	.50
1787,	Head, Liberty to left, “Nova Eborac,”	2.00	.75
Vermont Cents.
1785,	Head Justice, “Immune Columbia”	$15.00	$10.00
1785,	Justice-eye, “Immune Columbia”	25.00	15.00
1785,	Sun-eye, “Vermontis Respublica”	3.00	1.00
1785,	” “Vermontes-Res-Publica”	5.00	2.00
1786,	” “Vermontensium Respublica”	2.50	1.00
1786,	Head, Britannia “Vermon Auctori”	.60	.30
1787,	” ” ” ”	.50	.25
1788,	” ” ” ”	.75	.30
1786,	Baby head, Britannia “Vermon Auctori”	1.50	.50
1787,	Head, Britannia “Vermon,” “Et lib Inde”	1.00	.50
1787,	” ” ” “Britannia,”	1.00	.40
1787,	” ” George III., “rex Inde et lib”	2.00	1.00
New Jersey Cents.
1786,	Horse head, shield, “Nova Cæsarea”	$1.00	$0.30
1786,	Horse head, shield (date under beam), “Nova Cæsarea”	100.00	75.00
1787,	Horse head, shield, large size, “Nova Cæsarea”	.60	.25
1787,	” ” ” smaller, “Nova Cæsarea”	.30	.10
1787,	” ” ” “E pluribs,” “Nova Cæsarea”	2.00	1.00
1788,	” ” ” “Nova Cæsarea”	.50	.20
1788,	” ” ” Fox type, “Nova Cæsarea”	1.50	.40
1788,	Horse head to left, shield, “Nova Cæsarea”	4.00	1.00
1787,	Justice-shield, “Immunis Columbia”	25.00	15.00
Connecticut Cents.
1787,	Head to right, Britannia “Auctori Connec”	$0.25	$0.10
1785-6-8,	Head to right, Britannia “Auctori Connec”	.50	.20
1785,	(Negro head) Britannia “Auctori Connec”	1.00	.50
1785,	(Laughing head) Britannia “Auctori Connec”	1.50	.75
1785,	Head to left, Britannia “Auctori Connec”	.50	.20
1786-7-8,	Head to left, Britannia “Auctori Connec”	.50	.25
1786-7,	” ” ” “Et lib Inde Connec”	1.00	.50
1787-8,	” ” ” “Auctori Connec”	1.00	1.30
There are many more minor types of the Connecticut and New Jersey 5 cents to 25 cents, etc.
Silver Dollars.
1794,	flowing hair	$125.50	$50.00
1795,	” ”	3.00	1.50
1795,	fillet head	3.50	1.50
1796		4.00	2.00
1797,	6 stars facing	5.00	2.50
1797,	7 ” ”	4.00	2.50
1798,	13 ” small eagle	6.00	4.00
1798,	15 ” ” ”	12.00	8.00
1798,	13 ” large eagle	2.50	2.00
1799,	5 ” facing	7.00	5.00
1799,	6 ” ”	2.00	1.60
1800,	spread eagle	3.00	1.50
1801		5.00	2.00
1802		4.00	1.50
1803		3.00	2.00
1804		1000.00	500.00
1836,	name in field	40.00	23.00
1836,	flying eagle	10.00	6.00
1838,	” ”	50.00	25.00
1839,	” ”	30.00	20.00
1840,	Liberty seated	2.25	1.60
1841		2.00	1.60
1842		2.00	1.60
1843		2.25	1.60
1844		2.00	1.00
1845		2.50	1.00
1846		2.00	1.00
1847		1.75	1.00
1848		3.00	1.25
1849		1.75	1.00
1850		2.00	1.10
1851		40.00	30.00
1852		50.00	30.00
1853		2.00	1.50
1854		8.00	6.00
1855		6.00	4.00
1856		2.50	1.75
1857		4.00	2.00
1858		40.00	30.00
1859		1.50	1.40
1860		1.80	1.50
1861		1.80	1.50
1862		1.80	1.50
1863		1.80	1.50
1864		1.80	1.50
1865		1.80	1.50
1866		2.00	1.60
1867		1.80	1.50
1868		2.00	1.75
1869		1.50	1.40
1870		1.50	1.40
1871		1.50	1.40
1872		1.30	1.25
1873		2.00	1.60
1873,	trade dollar	2.00	1.50
1874,	” ”	1.75	1.40
1875,	” ”	1.50	1.40
1876,	” ”	1.20	1.15
1877,	” ”	1.20	1.10
1878,	” ”	1.20	1.15
1879-1884,	proof	2.00	1.75
Half Dollars.
1794,	flowing hair	$8.00	$5.00
1795,	” ”	2.50	1.50
1796,	15 stars	75.00	50.00
1796,	16 ”	100.00	60.00
1797,	15 ”	75.00	40.00
1801,	fillet head	8.00	5.00
1802		10.00	8.00
1803		3.00	1.50
1805		3.00	1.50
1806		1.50	1.25
1807		1.50	1.25
1807,	head to left	2.00	1.50
1808		2.00	1.00
1809		1.00	.75
1810		1.00	.75
1811		1.25	.75
1812		1.00	.75
1813		1.00	.75
1814		1.00	.75
1815		8.00	5.00
Half dollars from 1817 to 1885, inclusive (excepting 1851 and 1852, worth from $2.50 to $5.00), from 75c. to $1.00.
Quarter Dollars.
1796,	fillet head	$8.00	$4.00
1804		7.00	3.00
1805		3.00	1.50
1806		2.00	1.00
1807		2.50	1.25
1815,	head to left	2.00	.50
1818		1.00	.75
1819		1.50	1.00
1820		1.00	0.75
1821		1.00	.75
1822		2.00	1.00
1823		75.00	30.00
1824		2.00	1.00
1825		1.00	.75
1827		100.00	.50
Quarter dollars, from 1827 to 1885, inclusive (excepting that of 1853, without arrow heads, worth from $6.00 to $10.00), worth 30c. to 50c.
Twenty-cent Pieces.
1875,	Liberty seated	$0.40	$0.30
1876,	” ”	.60	.50
1877,	” ”	5.00	4.00
1878,	” ”	5.00	4.00
Dimes.
1796,	fillet head	$4.00	$2.00
1797,	13 stars	6.00	3.00
1797,	16 ”	8.00	4.00
1798,	fillet head	6.00	3.00
1800		8.00	5.00
1801		6.00	4.50
1802		10.00	6.00
1803		4.00	2.50
1804		12.00	10.00
1805		1.50	.75
1807		2.00	1.00
1809,	head to left	3.00	2.00
1811		3.00	2.00
Dimes, from 1811 to 1885, inclusive (excepting that of 1846, worth $1.00 to $2.50), from 20c. to 35c.
Half Dimes.
1794,	flowing hair	$6.00	$4.00
1795,	” ”	2.00	1.00
1796,	15 stars	6.00	4.00
1797,	15 ”	5.00	3.00
1797,	16 ”	4.00	2.00
1800,	fillet head	2.00	1.50
1801		5.00	3.00
1802		125.00	80.00
1803		5.00	3.00
1805		15.00	5.00
Half dimes, from 1805 to 1873, inclusive (excepting 1846, worth from $1.00 to $2.50), from 10 to 30 cents.
Silver Three-Cent Pieces.
From 1851 to 1872, inclusive, worth from 5 to 50 cents, according to condition.
1873		$2.00	$1.50
Nickel Five-Cent Pieces.
		PROOFS.	FINE.
1866		$0.15	$0.10
1867,	with rays	2.50	.50
1867,	without rays	.15	.10
1868		.15	.10
1869		.15	.10
1870		.15	.10
1871		.15	.10
1872		.15	.10
1873		.15	.10
1874		.15	.10
1875		.20	.15
1876		.15	.10
1877		2.00	1.00
1878		.40	.25
1879		.12	.10
Nickel Three-Cent Pieces.
1865		$0.15	$0.08
1866		.15	.08
1867		.15	.08
1868		.15	.08
1869		.15	.08
1870		.15	.08
1871		.15	.08
1872		.15	.08
1873		.15	.08
1874		.15	.08
1875		.20	.15
1876		.10	.08
1877		2.00	1.00
1878		.25	.20
1879-1888,	proofs	.25	.05
Two-Cent Pieces.
1864		$0.40	$0.10
1865		.40	.10
1866		.40	.10
1867		.40	.10
1868		.40	.10
1869		.40	.08
1870		.40	.08
1871		.25	.15
1872		.50	.40
1873		1.25	.75
Copper Cents.
		FINE.	GOOD.
1793,	chain America	$20.00	$10.00
1793,	” ”	10.00	6.00
1793,	wreath	8.00	5.00
1793,	lettered edge	9.00	6.00
1793,	liberty cap	25.00	8.00
1794,	” ”	1.50	.75
1795,	” lettered edge	4.50	1.50
1795,	liberty, thin die	1.50	.50
1796,	” ” ”	2.00	.75
1796,	fillet head	2.00	1.00
1797		1.50	.40
1798		1.00	.10
1799		35.00	15.00
1800		1.00	.50
1801		1.00	.50
1802		.50	.25
1803		.50	.20
1804		10.50	6.00
1805		1.50	.50
1806		1.25	.75
1807		1.10	.40
1808,	head to left	2.00	.75
1809		4.00	1.50
From 1810 to 1857, inclusive, worth from 2c. to $3, according to condition.
Nickel and Bronze Cents.
1856,	eagle nickel	$5.00	$3.50
1857		.50	.01
1858		.50	.01
1859,	Indian head	.50	.01
1860		.25	.01
1861		.25	.01
1862		.25	.01
1863		.25	.01
1864		.25	.01
1864,	bronze	.10	.01
1865		.10	.01
1866		.10	.01
1867		.10	.01
1868		.05	.01
1869		.05	.01
1870		.05	.01
1871		.05	.01
1872		.05	.01
1873		.05	.01
1874		.05	.01
1875		.05	.01
1876		.05	.01
1877		.50	.05
1878		.05	.01
1879-1887		.05	.01
Half Cents.
1793,	liberty cap	$5.00	$2.50
1794,	” ”	2.50	1.50
1795,	” lettered edge	3.00	1.50
1795,	liberty, thin die	2.00	1.00
1796,	” cap	40.00	20.00
1797,	” ”	2.00	1.00
1797,	” lettered edge	5.00	3.00
1800,	fillet head	1.00	.50
1802		5.00	3.00
1803		.50	.25
1804		.25	.10
1805		.50	.25
1806		.50	.25
1807		.50	.25
1808		.50	.25
1809,	head to left	.25	.15
1810		2.50	1.00
1811		3.00	1.50
1825		.40	.20
1826		.25	.15
1828,	12 stars	.40	.20
1828,	13 ”	.20	.10
1829		.30	.20
1831	(proof)	12.00
1832		.20	.15
1833		.20	.10
1834		.20	.10
1835		.20	.10
1836	(proof)	12.00
1840	”	8.00
1841	”	8.00
1842	”	15.00
1843	”	10.00
1844	”	10.00
1845	”	10.00
1846	”	10.00
1847	”	10.00
1848	”	8.00
1849	” small date	8.00
1849,	large date	.40	.25
1850		.30	.20
1851		.25	.10
1852	(proof)	10.00
1853		.15	.10
1854		.25	.15
1855		.25	.15
1856		.20	.15
1857		.30	.25
Gold Double Eagles.
1849		$1000.00
1850,	head to left	25.00	$20.00
1851		25.00	20.00
1852		25.00	20.00
1853		21.00	20.00
1854		21.00	20.00
1855-79,	consecutive	21.00	20.00
Gold Eagles.
1795,	head to left	$15.00	$13.00
1796,	16 stars	20.00	15.00
1797,	16 spread eagle	15.00	13.00
1798,	13 stars	16.00	14.00
1799,	13 spread eagle	14.00	12.00
1800		14.00	13.00
1801		14.00	13.00
1803		15.00	13.00
1804		15.00	13.00
1838,	head to left	15.00	13.00
1839		15.00	12.00
1840-68,	only proofs worth premium.
Gold Half Eagles.
1795,	head to right	$10.00	$8.00
1796,	16 stars	15.00	10.00
1797,	16 spread eagle	12.00	10.00
1798,	13 stars, ”	8.00	7.00
1799,	” ”	10.00	8.00
1800		10.00	8.00
1801		30.00	20.00
1802		10.00	8.00
1803		8.00	7.00
1804		8.00	7.00
1805		8.00	7.00
1806		8.00	7.00
1807		8.00	7.00
1808,	head to left	8.00	7.00
1809		8.00	7.00
1810		8.00	7.00
1811		8.00	7.00
1812		8.00	7.00
1813		8.00	7.00
1814		8.00	7.00
1815		100.00	50.00
1818		8.00	7.00
1819		8.00	7.00
1820		8.00	7.00
1821		8.00	7.00
1822		8.00	7.00
1823-54,	consecutive.	6.00	5.75
1855-79,	only proofs worth premium.
Gold Three Dollars.
1854,	head to left	$4.00	$3.75
1855		3.75	3.50
1856		4.00	3.75
1857-87,	consecutive	3.25	3.00
1875		40.00	25.00
Gold Quarter Eagles.
1796,	without stars	$8.00	$6.00
1796,	16 stars	10.00	6.00
1797,	16 ”	7.00	5.00
1798,	13 ”	5.00	4.00
1802		6.00	5.00
1804		5.00	4.00
1805		5.00	4.00
1806		5.00	4.00
1807		5.00	4.00
1808,	head to left	5.00	4.00
1821		5.00	4.00
1824		5.00	4.00
1825		5.00	4.00
1826		8.00	6.00
1827-49,	consecutive	4.00	3.50
1850		3.25	3.00
1851		3.25	3.00
1852		3.25	3.00
1853-87,	consecutive	3.00	2.50
Gold Dollars.
1848,	head to left	$1.50	$1.30
1850		1.50	1.30
1851		1.40	1.25
1852		1.40	1.25
1853-87,	consecutive	1.40	1.25
California Gold.
$50 1851, octagon and round		$65.00
$20 (Territorial), varieties		30.00
Eagle, ” ”		15.00
Half eagle, ” ”		10.00
Quarter ” ” ”		5.00
Dollar (California), octagon		1.25
Dollar (California), circular		1.25
Half doll., octagon, diff. dates		.55
” ” circular, ”		.55
Quar. ” ” ”		.35
” ” octagon, ”		.35
Bechtler dollar (N. Carolina)		1.50
Bechtler ¼ eagle ”		3.50

Note.—Persons who wish to buy or sell rare coins, or to ascertain their present value are recommended to write to Mason & Co., coin dealers, 175 Washington street, Boston, Mass.—Editor Mint Book.

NOTE TO THE VISITORS
OF THE
PHILADELPHIA MINT.

As there are many places of interest in “Penn’s Favorite City,” the publisher of this work would respectfully suggest that visitors, who have the leisure, should see some of the well-known institutions of “The City of Brotherly Love.” Among the rare places of interest, after the United States Mint, is 1st.—THE NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS (in same square), known as the NEW CITY HALL, the Largest and Finest in the World, surpassing even the Capitol at Washington. 2d.—FAIRMOUNT PARK, the largest and most beautiful public pleasure ground in the United States, embracing nearly three thousand acres, on both sides of the Schuylkill River, from Fairmount Water Works to Indian Rock, on the romantic Wissahickon. 3d.—GIRARD COLLEGE, where eleven hundred and fifty Orphan Boys are maintained, clothed and educated through the bountiful munificence of Philadelphia’s great benefactor, Stephen Girard. 4th.—WANAMAKER’S GREAT STORE, East of and almost adjoining the Mint. This immense establishment (the largest of the kind in the World) has grown to such vast proportions during the past decade that we feel compelled to give it a brief notice, as it has become one of the features of our city, and an object of interest to our visitors. The building itself is unique; it occupies an entire square, viz:—from Thirteenth to Juniper and from Market to Chestnut Streets—entrance on each of the four streets. The flooring space occupied in the interior, including first floor, basement and galleries, embraces more than twelve acres, and all this immense space is occupied with such goods as everybody, at some time in life, feels the necessity of purchasing. The general arrangement and classification of goods from all nations (there being over fifty separate and distinct departments), suggests a reproduction of the Main Building of our late great Centennial Exposition, with the Department of Public Comfort added. One of the great features of this Mammoth Bazaar is that visitors are made to feel at home, every provision being made for their convenience. There are commodious Retiring and Reading Rooms on either floor. One’s Satchel and Parcels are checked without cost, and no one is importuned to purchase. Visitors will find it hard to resist the Tempting Offers and Low Prices marked on the goods. 5th.—INDEPENDENCE HALL, (The Nation’s Birth-place) Chestnut Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets; National Museum, in same building, containing many interesting relics of the Revolution and of Washington’s Camp Life; The Old Liberty Bell hanging in the hallway leading to Independence Square, where the Declaration of Independence was read to the people, July 4th, 1776. 6th.—ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, Broad Street (west side) between Arch and Race Streets, should be visited by all lovers of the Fine Arts. 7th.—The NEW MASONIC TEMPLE, Northeast corner Broad and Filbert Streets. Visiting days every Thursday. 8th.—The NEW POST OFFICE and U. S. COURT BUILDING. This is one of the finest buildings of the kind in the country, and well worthy of a visit; also, the NEW “RECORD” BUILDING, adjoining. 9th.—The BURIAL PLACES OF BENJAMIN and DEBORA FRANKLIN can be seen at South-east corner Fifth and Arch Streets. 10th.—There are other notable places of interest in the City Of “Brotherly Love,” among which may be mentioned CARPENTERS’ HALL, UNION LEAGUE, DEAF AND DUMB AND BLIND ASYLUMS, LAUREL HILL CEMETERY, PENNSYLVANIA AND WILL’S HOSPITALS, and the hundred and one other benevolent institutions for which Philadelphia is justly celebrated.

FOOTNOTES

[1] Collectors estimate the loss to numismatography as very great by reason of the temptation the gold possesses for hoarding, and they are possibly the only class of people who have any apology to offer for the miser. Yet the world is debtor to this despised habit for some of its most invaluable specimens of art, and important corroborative history of the old world.