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Who is "VARNER"?

Gordon lists this unique regulated gold piece but does not attribute to any known issuer or location. According to Gordon, it is also unclear if the mark reads "VARNER" or "WARNER".

The piece weighs 10.91 grams.

Can anyone here figure it out?


image
Andy Lustig

Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.

Comments

  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 23,892 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The asymmetric shape of the punch makes me wonder if the V (or W) was initially preceded by one or two more letters, and then a portion of the punch broke off.
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 23,892 ✭✭✭✭✭
    For example, here's a hallmark for T. Warner, of Baltimore.

    image

    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • pruebaspruebas Posts: 4,302 ✭✭✭✭✭
    US Coin Forum?
  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 23,892 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hard to know which forum to use when you don't know where the piece was regulated. But I'll try posting in the US Forum anyway, linking it here.
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 23,892 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I may be way off base with Thomas Warner, but I now see that he was "appointed from 1814 to 1823 as Assayer of City in Baltimore MD credited with developing the system of purity marks used by the Baltimore Assay Office."

    Baltimore Assay Office? Hmmm….
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • bronco2078bronco2078 Posts: 9,964 ✭✭✭✭✭


    Maybe he is Danish? He could be both Varner and Warner that wayimage
  • LochNESSLochNESS Posts: 4,829 ✭✭✭
    Definitely looks like a W to me. The bottom left corner of the first V in that doublè V seems strong. The upper left corner is probably what we're missing. I don't think the dimensions of the right portion of the mark (which is intact) leaves enough room for a first initial. I believe the original mark was WARNER. But regardless. Such a popular name both first and surname. Impossible even if there was a first initial. You are better off examining the design. What region(s) of the world have produced similar design?
    ANA LM • WBCC 429

    Amat Colligendo Focum

    Top 10FOR SALE

    image
  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 23,892 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The piece would have been regulated in the USA or the Caribbean. Given the distinctive shape of the mark, it should make it easier to find a match somewhere. And again, I'm reasonably convinced the mark was at first symmetrical, and then a piece broke off.
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
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