The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 14, April 8, 2007, Article 19

CANDIDATE FOR EARLIEST POPULAR NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON ERROR COINS

David Sundman writes: "In The E-Sylum of March 18 (v10n11), you 
mentioned '...it seems to me that only in recent years have errors 
found their way into the popular press. While there are many articles 
to be found in newspapers of the 1800s and 1900s about public reaction 
to the new coins, I don't recall ever seeing an article about an error 
coin. Can anyone cite one?'

"Well, attached is a scan of my candidate for the earliest mention of 
an error in a popular magazine or newspaper article. About 15 years 
ago I found this article pasted into the inside cover of my copy of THE 
AMERICAN NUMISMATIC MANUAL by Montroville Wilson Dickeson, together 
with other newspaper clippings of a numismatic nature from the 1890s 
and early 1900's.

"This article is from page 442 of METROPOLITAN MAGAZINE, year unknown, 
and contains an actual photo of the error - a very nice 50% off-center 
1884-S Morgan dollar. METROPOLITAN MAGAZINE ran from 1895 to the late 
1920's, and was aimed at the theatre crowd. Some bibliophile with access 
to a set of the magazine could look at every page 442 and supply the 
missing year. The text of the article is as follows:

A "QUEER" DOLLAR 
United States Mint officials declare that it is impossible for an 
imperfect coin to get into circulation, each piece having to pass 
through the hands of six persons, who examine and weigh the coins 
carefully. Yet imperfect coins do manage to elude the vigilance of 
the mint officials, as will be seen by the accompanying photograph 
of one of the "Dollars of our Daddies." This piece was taken from a 
sack of coin received direct from the mint at San Francisco, cashier 
of the First National Bank of Port Townsend, Wash. The mint officials 
very much chagrined when told by Mr. Hill of his find, and they desired 
that he give the coin up. This, as may be supposed, Mr. Hill refused 
to do, and he keeps it as a pocket piece. The photograph was taken by 
Jas. G. McCurdy, Port Townsend, Wash.

"I wonder where the coin is now? It looked like a nice EF from the 
photo, and even in that condition would still get Fred Weinberg excited."

To view an image of the Metropolitan Magazine article, see: 
Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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