(fl. 1835)

Sprinkle was a resident of Lewis County, Kentucky. In the 1830's he passed coins in Washington, Kentucky, that resembled silver dollars with an owl on one side and a six pointed star on the other. He claimed that he got the silver from his mine out west. He was accused of passing counterfeit money and brought to trial. The coins were found to contain a dollars worth of pure silver. He was acquitted of all charges. The local merchants accepted the coins at full value. Sprinkle died without revealing the source of the silver. The coins have come to be known as "Sprinkle" dollars.

Most references to Sprinkle can be traced to a story in the Wheeling (WV) Register about 1895. The story was picked up by many other papers. In some versions his first name is Jacob.

The Numismatist reported that there was not a single example of Sprinkle dollar known in collector's hands. Extensive research by numismatists including Farran Zerbe have been unable to confirm the story.

bio: NUM/NIN 2/95

see: ANAHist 319