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                        My First Silver Dollar





  I'm not a coin collector, but I am a Constitutionalist. In fact, I

  probably wouldn't even own this coin were it not for the Federal

  Reserve system. But first let me tell you about my first Silver

  Dollar.



  The first thing I noticed about the coin was it's "heft." One ounce

  of fine silver. (According to the lady at the coin shop.) When I

  picked it up, I was immediately impressed w/the feel of the coin.

  This was no "tin" coin like the change in my pocket. I've had other

  "dollar" coins, but this one immediately got my attention. In fact,

  if you try and "flip it," it takes a serious amount of "thumb

  action" to get it spinning a few feet up in the air.



  The next thing I notice is the condition of the coin. For a coin

  over 100 years old, it is in fair condition. On the front side the

  lady's hair is worn smooth and her features are almost none existant.

  The overall feel of the coin is very smooth, as smooth as a babies....

  (as they say.) "E. Pluribus Unum" is worn but readable. The stars no

  longer "twinkle." In fact, the only striking feature of the front of

  the coin is the word "LIBERTY" in the lady's hair band. Those letters,

  L I B E R T Y, all caps, are razor sharp and very distinct. My eyes

  found that word instantly.



  When I turn the coin over, again; "smooth" is the name of the

  game. The eagle looks more like a plucked chicken than an eagle. The

  arrows are totally dull, and the olive leaves look like seaweed. The

  "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * ONE DOLLAR" is certainly readable, but

  again, there is one feature that just jumps out at you: "In God We

  Trust" between the eagles outstretched wings. In fact, on my first

  Silver Dollar, there is a dark "shadow" around the letters (Old

  English script, by the way) that makes the letters even more

  pronounced.



  Over the years, there are a few things that have endured on this

  Silver Dollar: LIBERTY, In God We Trust, and VALUE. You see, I paid 7

  Federal Reserve Notes for this ONE US DOLLAR. Even though the FRNs

  said, "one dollar," no matter how hard I tried, the lady at the coin

  shop would not trade me even up! In fact, she wanted 7, SEVEN, of

  those FRN "dollars" to get this ONE US Silver Dollar. The lady must go

  through this all the time, as she was very good natured about it.



  I asked her, "Is this Silver Dollar still a US Dollar? Is it still

  `money?'" "Oh sure," she said, "you can spend it just like any other

  `dollar' but you wouldn't want to." I asked "Why not?" She answered,

  (with a smile) "Because it's worth much, much more." She said they had

  a "buy back program" in which she'd pay "about $5" for it, if I ever

  wanted to sell it. I asked "How much will you give me for one of

  these? (holding up a FRN dollar)." She smiled, "One of these (holding

  up another FRN dollar)."



  So now I carry my 1885 Silver Dollar w/me all the time. When I get

  home, I toss it onto the table and it makes a heck of a racket. The

  noise represents the substance of money backed by "gold or silver"

  as specified in the United States Constitution. I recommend everyone

  go out and buy one. Just to experience what real money is at least

  once in their lives.



  I get a kick out of carrying around a piece of our history.

  Especially something over 100 years old. I wonder what it was like

  to use this money. I imagine walking into a saloon, tossing it onto

  the table and ordering a complete meal.



  The heft of this coin really makes an impression. The ratio of 7

  FRNs to ONE US Dollar also makes an impression. The buy back made an

  impression. I hope you get your own Silver Dollar, it'll make an

  impression on you too.





  eric







   Without Prejudice, all rights reserved, 1995

   Eric Gray - The Desert Reef BBS - c/o 3705 N. Runway, 

   Tucson, Arizona, postal zone 85705.  Electronic "e-text" 

   Non-profit Distribution permitted. Any other use requires 

   written permission from the author. ALL uses require forwarding

   of publication to the author to above address or via email to 

   ericg@flash.net or Fido 1:300/507.

   http://freedombyfaith.com
   
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