A Most Unusual 1883 Hawaiian Dollar
coinkat
Posts: 24,316 ✭✭✭✭✭
We all have our own numismatic points of reference. And that is often shaped by the coins we seek and how we go about purchasing them. Some coins in certain states of preservation can just be significantly more elusive than others even though the coins in question may not be rare. Most collectors have budgets and collecting priorities- that's just how it is.
There are those moments when one has to just pull the trigger based on all these competing factors and buy a coin with the belief that this just might be as good as it gets. While this intro fits the other 1883 Dollar I have yet to post, the question still remains haunting to a coin that exhibits something you have never seen or may never see again. This Dollar has a large P G engraving which was likely done relatively early. This is not a recognized countermark- It could be a countermark that was contemplated by the Provisional Government after the Monarchy was basically overthrown. There is no solid evidence to support that this was some type of pattern or plan to countermark Hawaiian coinage. The best evidence is merely circumstantial in that Hawaiian Postage stamps did have a Provisional Government overprint on them. This coin was graded EF details by our host which seems reasonable; however, I would have preferred a notation of unknown countermark instead of damage. And while a countermark can obviously be considered damage, it is not always damage that should have a negative inference.
In any event, I think this coin has a sharp original look... even with a P G that creates a truly haunting question for which there will likely never be a satisfying answer.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Comments
Pineapple Good
I have a set of letter punches from that era so if there's any premium on this coin just let me know.
Can we see the reverse, please? I am curious to see how much circulation wear, if any, there is on the two pushed out areas opposite the counterstamp.
And I agree that "Damage" is a totally inappropriate description for a "countermarked" piece.
Congrats, I agree, should habe been labeled countermark instead of damage.
I truly like it, congrats.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
The reverse image is above. I would appreciate any comments that you may have.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Its a pleasingly nice looking piece, I like 👍
Not an engraving. The idea that this is a Provisional Government counterstamp is compelling.
If it was a Gov process it would have been applied at some scale with broader acknowledgement/documentation. They didn't really have issues attached to currency where as stamps needed to be honored. so maybe a compelling what if but not a compelling hypothesis that has circumstantial support.
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
Thank you.
There is no doubt in my mind that the counterstamp was contemporary. What it means I cannot say.
How do the various TPG’s certify attributable counterstamps such as, say, Stone Mountain halves?
@CaptHenway
Thanks for your comments. Agreed that it is contemporary. Offhand I don’t have an answer to the TPG certification process for attributable counterstamps.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
.
Beautiful coin!
Here's another with an "R" counterstamp labeled as "damaged." It's one of my favorite Barber halves.
I like it!
Nice micro, @Barbarian !
It's not a micro-O. At least from what I can tell.
Truly intriguing. The monarchy was overthrown on January 17, 1893 -- that's ten years later. I wonder how recent is that mark is?
Formerly known as deadmunny
Positive transactions with: dcarr, JWP, Cent1225, slantycouch, dontippet, Gerard, Scrapman1077, USMC_6115, rah1959
Oops! Looked micro compared to the o in dollar.