Q. David Bowers
"The first die described in Linderman's inventory is none other than the obverse of an 1804 dollar! The fact that the later director referred to the lot as 'experimental dies' is of considerable interest, since he was undoubtedly reiterating the description given in Snowden's records. If there had been no records, Linderman would hardly have known the exact dates on which both groups of dies had been impounded. The Hon. Director Snowden would have been well acquainted with the history of the 1804 dollar die, since a few employees whose services dated beyond the inception of the Coin Cabinet were still associated with the Mint. Nevertheless, documentation must always be welcomed and in the present circumstance it establishes, without recourse to any further Proof, the true status of the 1804 dollar.
"In 1861, James Pollock was appointed by President Lincoln to succeed J.R. Snowden as director of the Philadelphia Mint. Pollock had served three terms in Congress, was elected governor of Pennsylvania in 1854, and, in 1860, as a peace delegate from his state, he was sent to Washington 'to counsel with representatives from different parts of the Union as to the possibility of amicably adjusting our unhappy national troubles.'
In Feb. 1861, war broke out, and Pollock, having failed to reform the bulk of his countrymen, was given charge of the lesser turmoil at Chestnut St., Philadelphia.
"In order to start the incumbent off on the right foot, members of the Boston Numismatic Society, in a letter dated Nov. 12, 1861, dutifully related certain recent events:
" 'The undersigned, a committee of the Boston Numismatic Society, were instructed to call your attention to the abuses which have of late years been practiced at the Mint of the United States whereby a number of pattern pieces and coins from dies of former years have been freely struck and disposed of by Employees of the Mint to dealers who have in turn disposed of them at great prices. Two years since Members of this Society were offered specimens of the Dollar of 1804 of which, previously, only three or four examples were known; on applying to the Director of the Mint, he peremptorily replied that none had been struck; further investigation resulted in the fact being proven that three specimens had been struck, two of which had been sold for $75.00 each; various pattern pieces, in large numbers, have also been issued without the sanction of the proper officers. Under these circumstances, we respectfully urge the expediency of destroying the dies of the current coin, and also of pattern pieces at the close of each year.'
"On the 21st, Pollock replied: " 'Gentlemen, Yours of the 12 inst. has been rec'd. The abuses to which you refer, if they have ever had an existence, can no longer be practiced in this Institution. The practice of striking pattern pieces and coins from dies of former years cannot be too strongly condemned, and great care is now taken to prevent the recurrence of any such abuse. All the dies of former years are secured in such a manner that it is impossible for anyone to obtain possession of them without the knowledge of the Director. The dies of the current coins and of pattern pieces will be destroyed at the close of the year. The dies of the past few years have also been destroyed."
"The members of the Boston Numismatic Society may have wondered how care could be 'taken to prevent the recurrence' of abuses which were not acknowledged as ever having existed, but possibly they thought it wise to leave well enough alone.
"In 1840, the 1804 dollars were unknown and unsought. Three decades later their fame had become such that the ereative demon stirred once more in the hearts of the Mint officers. The third distribution is said to have occurred in 1869 when they were offered for sale by one of the officials at six hundred dollars each, the going price at that time. The editor of Numisma, writing about the 1804 dollar in December 1885, tells us: J.N.T. Levick authorizes us to say that one was offered him in 1869, but he "took no stock in it" because he saw at a glance that it was a restrike.'
"It is not without significance that a similar restrike later turned up among the effects of Henry R. Linderman, director of the Mint from 1867 to 1869. There is, unfortunately, no record as to how Dr. Linderman came by his 'rara avis,' although a few interesting conjectures have been made from time to time.
"Since the distribution of the 'original' (i.e. circa 1834-1835) 1804 dollars had now passed beyond the memory of most collectors, official affidavits were issued, confirming the genuineness of a particular specimen. That such affidavits, however, should have been issued for the latter day restrikes (which were known to be such!) is an alarming testimony of the moral tone which then prevailed over the Mint.
"The Ellsworth dollar now reposes in the world famous 'Money Museum' of the Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City. It is accompanied by a certificate written in longhand by Mint Superintendent O.C. Bosbyshell, an 'agent' in the transaction.
'The Mint of the United States at Philadelphia. Superintendent's Office
James W. Ellsworth Esq.
Feb 15, 1894
Chicago, Ill.
My dear Sir:
" 'The 1804 Silver Dollar purchased by me for you today, from W. Isaac Rosenthal of 190 Berks Street, this City, came into his possession in the following manner: A Mr. Julius Driefus, Nos. 3 & 4 South Wharves, Alexandria, Va., does business for Mr. Rosenthal, and borrowed money from him. Mr. Driefus met with a colored man who had the dollar for forty years-that he received it from his father, who was a Freedman-the father kept the dollar because it either was the date of his birth, or the date he became a freedman=Mr. Rosenthal cannot remember which. I am promised a more circumstantial account, and will transmit it to you as soon as I receive it. This dollar has been subjected to the most severe scrutiny in the Mint, and all of (the) experts are entirely satisfied that it is (a) genuine dollar struck in the year 1804. Our Curator, Mr. Robert A. McClure is thoroughly convinced of this as is also our Engraver, Mr .. Charles E. Barber-Mr.Jacob B. Eckfeldt, Assayer is a Numismatist of experience, and is entirely satisfied of its genuineness. Hon. A. Loudon Snowden has also added the weight of his opinion to those already granted. Personally I have not the slightest doubt in the world regarding the genuine character of this coin and I heartily congratulate you upon .possessing so rare a numismatic treasure. Very truly yours, (Signed) O.C. Bosbyshell, Superintendent.