UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 18, Page 5
February 4, 1993
Coins reflect economic history, offer clues to the past 

     Keeping young children occupied during lengthy family trips is a
challenge. In the late 1960s, Robert Stark, professor of mathematical
sciences and civil engineering, and his late wife, Carol, discovered an
unusual diversion for their offspring.
     They would place a batch of coins on the floor in the rear of their
station wagon and their children would seek different dates and mint marks
to fill blue cardboard coin folders. Quietly, relatively speaking, the
youngsters matched the dates on the face of pennies, nickels and dimes with
the designated spots in the folders. After the contents of each batch were
examined, the coins would be exchanged for a new batch at the next bank or
supermarket they would pass in towns along their trip.
     More than 20 years have passed. The children are grown with families
of their own, and such trips are pleasant memories, but Stark's fascination
with coins has remained.
     Instead of concentrating on collecting these ancient vehicles of
exchange, Stark, who has been at the University since 1962, focuses on the
scholarship associated with them. His study of early federal coinage has
led to articles on the subject, and some have appeared in The Numismatist
and the John Reich Journal, two leading scholarly publications.
     Speaking to Stark, one discovers that some terms currently used to
describe our currency can be traced to the countries that first settled in
the Americas. Although origins of the term "dollar," are obscure, our
dollar unit was based upon the coinage the Spanish used in America, rather
than upon the English coinage as one might expect. In fact, until 1857,
Spanish American coinage was legal tender in the United States.
     Areas of particular interest to Stark include the manufacture of early
coins, their history, die markings, varying values of their precious metals
and how coinage has reflected national decisions and events.
     Before steam machinery, coin presses were operated by strong men- or
powerful animals-turning a screw. The pressure made an impression on the
metal which was used as money. However, as the hand-engraved dies became
worn and broken, imperfections or fractures would occur and be transferred
to the face of the coins.
     These coins, still acceptable by standards of that time, would be
placed into circulation, and today these imperfect products are sought
after by collectors and scholars seeking to reconstruct events and
circumstances otherwise lost in history.
     In an article Stark wrote on die deterioration of the 1798 dollar, a
series of photographs shows examples of such die damage.
     "The economic history of the United States is reflected in its
coinage," Stark said. According to the numismatic expert, in earlier days
individual states and even private banks produced their own coins or
currency-to be used as legal tender and, at times, as a sort of
advertising-in an area or a community. Because of a shortage of coins
during the Civil War, the "Commissioners of the Town of Newark, Delaware,"
issued a 10-cent currency bill for use in the area. (See accompanying
photograph of an 1862 bill.)
     Until the 1850s, Stark said, the United States had a 1/2-cent piece in
circulation. In the 1860s, the 1-cent piece took over and has been used
ever since. The 1-cent piece continues to be produced today even though
many experts believe it would be practical to discontinue its use.
According to one estimate, three out of every four coins made by U.S. mints
are pennies.
     In an article on "The Dollars of 1794-1803," Stark notes that the
symbolic American eagle appearing on the reverse of the coins was changed
from a weak looking bird in the earlier years of the nation's coinage to a
stronger one by the early 1800s. Similarly, the representation of liberty
changed from a younger to a mature woman.
     Apparently, the intent was to portray the new country, the United
States of America, as a strong and secure one.
     Countermarks, Stark said, are another area of interest to researchers.
     The term refers to impressions pressed onto the faces of coins. These
added marks were used as inexpensive advertisements by merchants, or as
personal pocket pieces. Various impressions from silversmiths, gunsmiths,
ship chandlers, rope makers, theatre operators and governmental agencies
have been found on coins minted or manufactured in the 1700s and 1800s.
Stark currently is writing a paper on countermarks.
     "Coins are the footprints of history," explained Stark, who has found
coin research both fascinating and satisfying.
     Each old coin, he said, offers a clue to the past and might provide
additional insight about some area of early American history.
                                        -Ed Okonowicz