This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor Stamp Department.
An accumulation of answers to correspondents makes it impossible to illustrate the remainder of the rare Confederate Locals in this issue. I shall try to finish the list next week. Meanwhile, I advise all readers of the Round Table in the Southern States to look over any correspondence of the year 1861.
A correspondent sent me some Cape of Good Hope stamps to pass on, all of which proved to be counterfeits. By mistake these stamps were returned to another correspondent. Will the receiver kindly return the stamps to the Editor of this Department, in care of Harper & Brothers?
H. S. Riederer.—All coins made in Philadelphia are without any special mint mark. Of the other mints the marks on coins are as follows: O. for New Orleans; D. for Dahlonega; C. for Carolina; C.C. for Carson City; S. for San Francisco.
R. W. L.—Dealers ask from $27 to $30 for a complete set of Columbian stamps unused, and pay from $23 to $26 for the same, if in good condition, well centred, original gum, etc.
M. F. Easton.—The green Centennial envelope is sold for 25c.
C. R. Bragdan.—Many firms in England have all their stamps perforated with their initials to prevent theft. This perforation destroys the value of the stamp, whether used or unused, except for postal service, and identifies the owner of the stamps. Russian coins are not collected in this country.
A. Carrier.—A Columbian dollar stamp with holes punched in the same has little value. Collectors want whole stamps or none.
W. P.—The $5 gold coin is a common date. It is worth face only.
G. M. Kelley.—See Round Table of December 17, 1895, for the value of U.S. cents.
R. Bennett.—"The Union" is a token, not a coin. It has no value. The 3c. U. S. purple stamp, used, is worth 1c.
H. M. Baldwin.—U.S. coins so badly worn that the date can not be read have no premium.
S. J. Dayton.—If the 3c. coin is in "mint" condition—that is, practically just as it came from the mint, not in the least worn, dealers in coins may pay half the catalogue value. It is not rare in ordinary good condition.
H. W. Ticknor.—See answers to S. J. Dayton and H. S. Riederer.
E. C. Wood.—I do not recognize any variety from your description. Probably you mean the 1890 and 1894 U.S. stamps. The last named are printed from the 1890 plates, with the addition of a triangle on the upper left and upper right corners.
Philatus.