The American Numismatic Zoo

Coinosaurus

We have at least three cages in the American Numismatic Zoo:

#1: Peter, the Mint Eagle, is said to have died upon getting too close to mint machinery. This is described in AJN Vol. 27 No. 4.

#2: Prince, the last horse in the BEP stable, was sold in 1920 for $75. This is discussed in the BEP History (1862-1962).

#3: Nero was the watchdog of the first United States Mint in 1793 (Stewart, p. 125).

Who, or what, should be in our remaining cages in the American Numismatic Zoo?

Bear

They never had a bear? What a shame.

RYK

There are lots of dogs and pigs that I got jammed with when I first start collecting again.

RichieURich

Certainly the Buffalo used for the Buffalo nickel, Black Diamond.

Coinosaurus

The whole story of Black Diamond is in Burdette's Renaissance of American Coinage, Vol. 2, p. 222, along with a cool picture.

Cam40

a ferret

Longacre

I think a Numismatic Skunk would be appropriate in lots of ways.

GritsMan

What on earth are you talking about Coinosaurus? Is this a real place?

firstmint

Not to be contrary, but Peter, the "Mint eagle" story is not confirmable in any way, shape or form. It is however, an enjoyable tale.

That cage should be empty, at least not have any nameplate on it, since the eagle is on display at the Philly Mint.

There was no such suggestion by Mint Director Robert M Patterson in the 1830's when he wrote about receiving a stuffed eagle, which had recently been killed.

The story "confirming" Peter being connected to the U S Mint first appeared in 1876. Eliabeth Johnson's "A Visit to the Cabinet of the United States Mint, at Philadelphia" was the venue, and as seen, the confirmation comes from an unvalidated newspaper story.