R. T. K.—The token inscribed on the reverse, "Not one cent for tribute, millions for defence," issued 1841, is very interesting. It is one of the "hard-money tokens" issued between 1837 and 1842, and are very common. They have no money value. The 1871 U. S. dollar is worth face only.
E. Pattison.—The coins mentioned are quite common, and are worth face only.
W. Goff.—There is no way of cleaning cancelled postage-stamps, hence the high value of most unused compared with used specimens. For instance, the U. S. 3c. 1857, with outer line, used sells for 25c., but unused commands $15.
K. F. Kurtz.—The K die U. S. envelope 1853 issue on buff can be bought for $3 and less, whether the stamp shows cancellation mark or not. If the entire envelope is unused and clean it is worth $10 and upward. On white paper the prices are much higher.
C. C. B.—The dealers pay $1.15 each for the U. S. gold dollars dated 1850 to 1855, and sell them for about $1.50. These are the common dates. The valuable gold dollars are those of which a few copies only were coined within the past twenty years.
B. Magelsen.—There are not two varieties of any Columbian stamp, but almost every denomination can be found in two or more distinct shades. Purple is a very difficult ink to compound, so are certain reds. For instance, there are over 100 different shades of the current 2c.-stamp, all printed within the past year, and all nominally the same color.
J. Smythe.—There are not many collectors of U. S. envelopes bearing express names, such as Wells, Fargo, & Co., etc. Hence the envelopes are rarely worth more than the regular issues.
San Antonio.—The San Antonio of Padua jubilee issue now current in Portugal and the Azores, although good for postage in those countries, is frowned upon by collectors, as their postal use is a mere side issue, the chief reason why they were made being for sale to collectors. There are fifteen varieties, viz., 2½, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 80, 100, 150, 200, 300, 500, and 1000 reis, also one 10-reis postal-card. The same stamps are surcharged Acores for use in that colony.
A. Lewkawsky.—There are no reprints of U. S. stamps issued after 1870. If you can buy the $1 and $2 Columbian issue do so by all means. They are going up in value rapidly. The present $1 stamp it is said will be printed in some other color. If so, the chances are that the black ones will advance in price materially.
Philatus.