Question about a possible counter-strike

JRocco

I posted this on the US forum and it was suggested that I might want to ask this here also. I
found this 1813 bust half with what looks like a possible counter-strike of some sort on the obverse.
Has anyone ever seen a counter-strike like this before? If appears to be an old imprint. Might this ring a bell to anyone?

TwoKopeiki

Very interesting counter-mark. I've never seen this one before, myself.

CIVITAS

Meat tenderizer countermark?

DorkGirl

I'm in with the "meat tenderizer" theory. It was made by some kind of tool, but I don't know exactly what.

newsman

It looks like a counterstamp used on one of the Caribbean islands, but I don't remember which one and don't have a Krause with me.

Writersblock

Looks like a light hit with a framing hammer.

JRocco

<< <i>Looks like a light hit with a framing hammer. >>



But could a hit with something like a framing hammer possibly leave such neat, clean, deep impressions without causing any other damage to the coin? Look at the second pic- could something hitting the coin like a hammer do this?

This is what makes me believe that some type of stamp was used. It does not look like a casual attempt at damaging the coin, like a hammer hit for example. Now if some type of stamp were used, what else could the stamp be used for if not an identifying stamp for some reason---hence, a counter-stamp? It also looks to be a very old alteration to this coin and I don't know of any older framing hammers or such made with such precision as to be able to impart such a nice clean imprint.
I guess I am just babbling out loud now.....
Thanks for all the opinions guys.