Counterstamp info needed-----

mojorizn

I recently found a 1820 Upper Canada halfpenny token in a dealer's junk box & picked it up for a dollar. One side has the name "T.F. Haywood" counterstamped on it. Anybody have info on this merchant?

Mojo

MrEureka

All I can tell you is that the counterstamp is listed in Brunk as H-420, on an 1853 Half Dollar. Maybe someone else can tell us something about Haywood himself.

kamehameha00

I just looked all over Google and couldn't find a single scrap of information on it. Could you give a basic description of what is portrayed on the token and what it says on it?

mojorizn

What I assume to be the obverse has a single masted sailing ship as the central device. Above the ship is the legend "HALFPENNY TOKEN". Below the ship is the legend "UPPER CANADA". This is also the side with the counterstamp.

The supposed reverse has two crossed shovels or spades with what could be an anvil below. Hard to tell because the counterstamp pressure obliterated it. Above the shovels is the legend "COMMERCIAL CHANGE" and the date 1820 below the "anvil".

The coin appears to be copper or bronze.

Mojo

1960NYGiants

Mojo - the host token is a copper Upper Canada "sloop" token that functioned as a half penny. It is cataloged as Charlton # UC9. The obverse is the ship. The date of 1820 is antedated to avoid the 1825 law prohibiting private tokens. This is a relatively common token worth about $10 Canadian.

Can't help you on the merchant.

Nice find! I collect those things, if you want to make a quick profit pm me.

Gene

mojorizn

Thanks Gene! I believe I'll hang on to it. I'd like to start a collection of counterstamped coins & am currently looking for reference works. If anyone has any suggestions it would be much appreciated.

Mojo

FoundingFather

Try a google search for "haywood 1820" for some more exploring options (but see my post below for something more concrete).

I love counterstamped, or countermarked coins. They hit the heart of what I love about collecting colonial coins: that opportunity to discovery interesting and unique stories revolving around specific coins. It's more personal, and it makes them more like artifacts compared to, let's say, caring about minute differences in condition of mass produced coins.

It's the difference between discovering you may be holding a coin that was minted from silver contributed by George Washington or worn by a simple farmer as a good luck charm ... and being happy that your mass produced coin was touched slightly less in the mass produced bag during mass production and mass distribution.

FoundingFather

T.F. Haywood is listed as a recognized countermark on this site, so perhaps you can contact them for more info:

Exonumia's list of countermarked coins (d-i)

MrEureka

Merchant and Privately Countermarked Coins Gregory G. Brunk Full title: Merchant and Privately Countermarked Coins: Advertising on the World's Smallest Billboards. This definitive reference covers all known counterstamped coins issued by merchants of the United States, Canada, Mexico and the world. It does not cover governmental marks. Over 13,500 listings and 2000 photographs. 480 pages, hardcover.

mojorizn

I appreciate the help guys. Thanks!

Mojo