Benjamin Franklin Fuld-153 counterstamps on large cents

Zoins

I recently ran across this Brunk F-431 Fuld-153 counterstamp on a 1841 Large Cent which I thought was pretty neat.

The Fuld-153 die was made by F.C. Key & Sons in Philadelphia.

Any thoughts on who could have made this? Are there any known owners of the Fuld-153 die that could have made this?

Zoins

Found some more information from a Stacks auction for another specimen that sold for $1,200 at 2015 Baltimore.

Was Nagy or any of his associates known to have used old dies?

The November 2015 Baltimore Auction - U.S. Sessions | 9 - 10 November 2015
Counterstamps
Unknown Location. Bust with BENJAMIN FRANKLIN on obverse of an 1847 Braided Hair cent. Brunk F-431. Rulau-Unlisted.
Host coin VF. Repunched date on host, traces of the first date to left of existing date. The round circular counterstamp features Franklin’s bust left dividing his name. It was made by impressing a die, Fuld-153, from the Civil War token era. Brunk notes the earliest reference he can find for this counterstamp is 1942, suggesting a 20th century origin for the pieces. Stephen K. Nagy, active in the early 20th century, possessed the die at one time.

Zoins

I just found the following E-Sylum articles on Stephen Kenneth Nagy, Jr.

Given Nagy and John W. Haseltine were close associates, and that Haseltine is known to have made restrikes, it seems quite possible that he could have been prompted to use a die that he came into possession of.

• STEPHEN KENNETH NAGY, JR., (1884-1958)
• MORE ON WHO SAID STEPHEN NAGY WAS JOHN HASELTINE'S SON-IN-LAW?

jonathanb

Steve Hayden sold the example in the OP for $1400 in 2011

Zoins

Great find Jonathan. I like how the Liberty band is more evident in the Hayden photos. Looks like someone may have gotten quite a deal on this.

Still looking for a photo of the following:

A slightly nicer example on a nicer 1850 Cent brought $1,925 in my June 2011 sale with very active bidding. (1,500-2,000)

Zoins

Steve also offered Fuld-153 struck over a 1838 Mexican 4 Real, ex. John Ford, in Mail Bid Sale #39 Closing February 9, 2014.

Zoins

Found 3 more specimens so now we have:

• Brunk F-431 Large Cent 1841 Host MS63 - 2016 Ebay, 2011 Steve Hayden
• Brunk F-431 Large Cent 1841 Host MS - Hannigan's Rare Coins ??? see below
• Brunk F-431 Large Cent 1847 Host VF - 2015 Baltimore
• Brunk F-431 Large Cent 1849 Host VF - Hannigan's Rare Coins
• Brunk F-431 Large Cent 1850 Host MS - Steve Hayden June 2011 $1,925
• Brunk F-431 Large Cent 1856 Host G - 2015 Baltmore

1849 Large Cent

1856 Large Cent

Stack's July 2015 Baltimore Lot Description: 30247
Benjamin Franklin (Fuld-153 Restrike) on an 1856 Braided Hair Cent. Brunk F-431. Host coin: Good-4.
Boldly stamped and well centered, the reverse is also lightly countermarked with incomplete concentric circles, as has been seen on other examples of this interesting piece.Brunk states in his 2003 book Merchant and Privately Countermarked Coins that the earliest example he traced appeared in 1942. The host coin is toned an even medium brown, and traces of mint red are visible inside the countermark. The punch was once in the hands of Stephen K. Nagy.

Here's what Google turns up for the Hannigan 1841 specimen:

It's hard to be sure this is an 1841 piece because it's hard to make out a 4 in the date.

ricko

Interesting.... there must be a story behind these... Interesting project for research. Cheers, RickO

Zoins

Old Thread Update

Here's an 1840 that sold on April 22, 2019 for $737.44 by Steve Hayden.

I find the reverses fascinating as they seem to come in different conditions with the overstrike.

• https://www.ebay.com/itm/Benjamin-Franklin-Civil-War-Token-Struck-Over-1840-Cent-R7-/223480324603

Zoins

George and Melvin Fuld indicate in "Patriotic Civil War Tokens" that these were struck as late as 1940.

Anyone know who did these restrikes and the ownership history of the die?

Stack's mentioned Philadelphia dealer Stephen Kenneth Nagy, Jr. (1884-1958) owned the die. Given the timing, can these be attributed to him?

The extensive striking and restriking of "new varieties" for and by collectors and speculators took place during and shortly after the Civil War. Furthermore, some of the CWT dies fell into the hands of collectors who struck specimens as late as 1940; an example is Fuld 153 over a U.S. large cent.