1860 1C Brunk O-59, Oil of Ice (Regular Strike) - What's the deal?

DMWJR · February 13, 2018 11:23PM

So, I'm thumbing through CoinFacts and ran across this coin with a pop of 1 that has it's own coin number. What's the story?

mvs7 · February 13, 2018 11:52PM

This is an example of a counterstamped coin, in this case by a patent medicine company.

The 'Oil of Ice' mark, according to the Brunk reference book,

"is the issue of Charles H. Goodwin -- better known as the maker and purveyor of Goodwin's Grand Grease Juice ( USE G. G. G. & G. G. G. G.) and other patent medicines from Exeter, NH. G. G. G. was Goodwin's Grand Grease Juice (a tonic for the hair) and G. G. G. G. was Goodwin's Grand Glittering Gobules (a breath perfume). It's likely his OIL OF ICE was a camphor in glycerin concoction. This information came from a 1928 Saturday Evening Post that mentioned "old Charles Goodwin invented Goodwins Grand Grease Juice and Goodwins oil of ice..." (H/T WorthPoint Entry)

DMWJR · February 14, 2018 1:11AM

I didn’t knowbcounterstamps were getting their own PCGS number. But this is not my area either. Interesting it showed up as a variety under Indian Cents on CoinFacts. Thanks for the info

Zoins · February 14, 2018 1:13AM

Nice that it has a PCGS coin number and is straight graded.

Here's the cert verification page. F15 with a pop of 1/0. Pretty low grade top pop!

https://www.pcgs.com/cert/34248644

Here are some more found online:

ricko · February 14, 2018 8:05AM

That is a new one for me..... though, if I had found one, I would have kept it.... Thanks for the history, learned something new today... Keeps me young.... Cheers, RickO

sellitstore · February 14, 2018 8:21AM

Not a great name for a product.

If my ice had oil in it, I'd find a cleaner water source.

OldIndianNutKase · February 14, 2018 11:20PM

What is PCGS thinking straight grading an altered coin. Who would collect this stuff anyway? Or is exonumia now gradable?

OINK

Timbuk3 · February 15, 2018 12:30AM

Thanks for sharing !!!

Treashunt · February 15, 2018 5:08AM

@OldIndianNutKase said:
What is PCGS thinking straight grading an altered coin. Who would collect this stuff anyway? Or is exonumia now gradable?

OINK

seriously?
They are highly collectible

Treashunt · February 15, 2018 5:11AM

I'll take all you have and pay you as culls.

DMWJR · February 15, 2018 10:03AM

Straight grading aside, is this one coin number used for all of one type of counterstamp? one denomination? I can't imagine how they can quantify it. It's one coin number and one coin, and it is because of post mint "damage." Doesn't make sense for it to have its own number and then show up as a variety in the Indian Head Cent section of CoinFacts.

JBK · February 15, 2018 11:25AM

@DMWJR said:
...and it is because of post mint "damage."

I can't comment on whether or not it should have straight graded or if it deserves it's own number, but I will say that attributed counterstamps are documented and don't qualify (in my opinion) as mere PMD. (Technically they are PMD, of course, but once recognized and documented they join their own class of exonumia).

DMWJR · February 15, 2018 12:30PM

@JBK said:

@DMWJR said:
...and it is because of post mint "damage."

I can't comment on whether or not it should have straight graded or if it deserves it's own number, but I will say that attributed counterstamps are documented and don't qualify (in my opinion) as mere PMD. (Technically they are PMD, of course, but once recognized and documented they join their own class of exonumia).

I don't disagree at all. That's why I put it in quotes. I also have a chopmarked dollar too ...

DMWJR · February 15, 2018 3:09PM

I find it bizarre that it would be listed as a variety for the 1860 Indian Head Cent. It's not.

Ok, here's what I can tell from briefly looking through the website. PCGS will certify and attribute "tokens" listed in the Brunk book. If I type it in the search field, about 25 different ones come up. I don't see that anyone is trying to build a set of these, so there is nothing listed for such a set.

1860 1C Brunk O-59, Oil of Ice (Regular Strike) - What's the deal?

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