1815 quarter counterstamped E or L
breakdown
Posts: 2,130 ✭✭✭✭✭
Does anyone know of any articles about these coins? I remember coming across a listing in an old auction catalog for one. Breen speculates that E stands for Excess and L for Light but weight of such coins does not bear this out. I would be interested in any information about them. I also do not know if PCGS grades them with a straight grade or not (couldn't find any in CoinFacts). NGC does - here is one graded AU55:
Any information is appreciated.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
2
Comments
There are numerous threads on the topic. This one by PCGS...
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1030337/e-l-counterstamps-on-capped-bust-quarters
Do a search
I did do a search and somehow missed this article. In any event, thanks for this.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Just a few follow up points now that I have read some of the referenced articles (thanks wozymodo).
PCGS started grading these with numerical grades in 2019 and noting the counterstamp on the label.
There have been a number of theories. Most of the recent ones are based on the assumption that the counterstamps were not made at the mint.
An 1894 entry in the Numismatist asks the readership if anyone can explain these R and L counterstamps. The assumption then was that they were mint-made.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
In my copy of Taxay's book Counterfeit mistruck and unofficial US coins book there is a hand written note.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
There are several threads about these and much speculation about the origin and meaning of the c'stamp. Unless something new and groundbreaking comes to light I suspect no one will ever know the answer to this enduring mystery.
Numerous articles have been written in The John Reich Journal. You can access them through the Newman Portal.
I agree that we will likely never find the true meaning of these interesting counterstamps.
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
I first became aware of these counterstamped coins here on the forum soon after joining. Although I have never owned one, I have found the researched history intriguing - especially the various theories of origin. The mystery endures.... Cheers, RickO