172 SPARKS FROM A GEOLOGIST'S HAMMER. 



it is reputed to have been found. One person thought 

 he could detect a rude representation of the signs of the 

 zodiac around the border. Another fancied he could dis- 

 cover numerals, and even dates. No one could even offer 

 any explanation of the object, or the circumstances of its 

 discovery. The figures bear a close resemblance to rude 

 drawings executed on birch bark and rock surfaces by the 

 American Indian. But by what means were they etched? 

 And by what means was the uniform thickness of the 

 copper produced? 



This object was sent by the owner to the Smithsonian 

 Institution for examination, and Secretary Henry referred 

 it to Mr. William E. Dubois, who presented the result of 

 his investigation to the American Philosophical Society.* 

 Mr. Dubois felt sure that the object had passed through 

 a rolling-mill, and he thought the cut edges gave further 

 evidence of the machine-shop. " All things considered," 

 he said, "I cannot regard this Illinois piece as ancient, 

 nor old (observing the usual distinction), nor yet recent-, 

 because the tooth of time is plainly visible." He could 

 suggest nothing to clear up the mystery. Prof. J. P. Les- 

 ley thought it might be an astrological amulet. He de- 

 tected upon it the signs of Pisces and Leo. He read the 

 date 1572. He said "the piece was placed there as a 

 practical joke." He thought it might be Hispano- Ameri- 

 can or French-American in origin. The suggestion of " a 

 practical joke " is itself something which must be taken 

 as a joke. No person in possession of this interesting 

 object would willingly part with it ; least of all would 



*W. E. Dubois. Proceedings Amer. Phil. Soc., xii, 224, December !. 1871. 

 Mr. Jacob W. Moffat, who sent the coin, accompanied it with a statement of for- 

 mations passed through, which differs slightly from that supplied to me by Mr. 

 W. H. Wilmot. He also makes the depth 125 feet. 



