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A VARIED GOLLEGTION.Burlington Man Has Quite a Number of Curios in His Home.John Renner Gathers Relics. Curios and Natural Objects From Far and Near With Aid of His Sons.A most interesting collection, comprising coins and relics of various kinds and different wonderful oojects of nature, has been gathered by John Renner of this city, at his home at No. 612 Jefferson street. Some of these coins, which his friends have enjoyed yiewring at his Burlington home, Mr. Renner brought with him to New York from Germany in 1881. Mr. Renner moved to Burlington from Gotham on July 3, 1882. Mr. Renner has always had a liking for collecting objects of especial interest. In this he has been seconded by his two sons, John Renner, Jr., now studying at a Quincy business college, and Frank Renner, who helps at his store in this cty.Around the rooms are some very neat oil paintings, done by these two boys, who show considerable aptitude along that line of work. The two boys have added a great deal to the collection as they grow up.In a big case are coins of an interest to everyone who takes a glance at them; comprising silver and copper coins of both ancient and modern times. This is one of the most interesting portons of the whole collection, in fact. There is to be seen a Roman coin, which was in circulation when traditon says that Nero was fiddling while the imperial city burned. Besides this small coin, is a great lump of metal marked 16 to 1, which wras an anti-free silver “dollar” in the political campaign of 1896. Confederate notes there are, galore; while next to them is a peculiar coin reminding one | of a common ‘‘beer check,” marked “Good for 1 Dollar in Our Indian Trade j in Merchandise.” There are no end of variety of coins on the shelf which contains besides these coins from Italy, Sweden, China, Africa, Persia, Finland, Spain, Portugal, French Colonies, France, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Hanover, Luxemburg, Wuertemberg, Nassau, Baden, Bavaria, Hamburg, England. Then, too, there are Argentine bills, Mexican dollars and coins from Brazil, Argentine, British Honduras, Dominican republic, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Peru.The collection comprising natural curios is none the less interesting. Buffalo and Elk horns arch over the doorways, while the smaller antlers of goat and ibex—the latter from Tarsus, the city of St. Paul—add to the artistic effect. The beauty of trumpet shells, mushroom coral, star fish and agotized wood, as w’ell as mineral specimens such as agats. The skull of a shark wdth six rows of teeth is a deadly looking “weapon,” on exhibit. Fossils and shells of varying size, shape and color add not a little to the collection.A branch of the collection is d evoted to Indian relics of various sorts; such as amulets, pipes, arrowheads from six inches down to half an inch in length. Among these is the stone head of an Indian ax found near Burlington; as well as war clubs from the Dakota and Missouri. Aztec pottery and Indian dolls and idols from Yucatan, as well as an idol found on the Augusta road near Burlington, are among them. A beautiful large specimen of coral from the Philippines is one of the striking pieces of this handsome private collection.
Newspaper Details
Burlington Hawk Eye
Burlington, Iowa, US
Sun, Jan 31, 1904
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Bethany L.
NA, NA 10 Feb 2025
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