These countermarks were placed on imported Spanish dollars by the Bank of England to validate them for circulation in England. The countermarked pieces circulated at slightly higher face value (4 shillings 9 pence) than the bullion content warranted (4 shillings 6 pence), so the countermarks were widely counterfeited. A second series of countermarks, this time with a larger, harder-to-counterfeit octagonal counterstamp, followed, then when that didn't work either they created the overstruck Bank of England dollars which completely obliterated the Spanish designs and symbols.
The countermarked coins were unpopular and saw the rise of a few popular sayings deriding them: "two kings, not worth a crown" (the face value of the countermarked coin was less than 5 shillings or one crown), and "the head of a fool on the neck of an ass".
Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one. Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"
There are afew countermarks used in the UK for so-called Crown size coins.Seems a UK Crown set could include at least one example of a countermark. Finding nice original examples is not that easy. I have managed to find 2 that I like Mexico and Bolivia in the AU spectrum. I would like to find a French Ecu but such a countermark on one is quite rare
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Here's one of the later overstrikes. It has a test cut, because these were faked a lot.
George III Bank of England Dollar, 1804 Soho Mint, Birmingham. Silver, 41mm, 27g. Head 1, C.H.K. on truncation; GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA REX. Britannia seated with shield, in oval garter; FIVE SHILLINGS DOLLAR; BANK OF ENGLAND 1804; K in relief below shield (S 3823).
Made by Matthew Boulton, overstriking Spanish 8 reales because of a shortage of silver. Produced from 1804 to 1811 but all dated 1804. The first silver coin to feature Britannia.
Here's a George III Bank of England Dollar struck over an 8 reales. Based on my measurements it's got a specific gravity of 9.5 so very likely a contemporary counterfeit.
@Clio said:
That's awesome @1984worldcoins Just out of curiosity how is your 1984 collection coming along?
It is going strong, in the thousands now, the only downside is I cant get the gold and platinum because of the metal prices. The next phase will be grading, but I did not start that yet. I have lots of low mintage, varieties, mint errors and a few patterns.
@SimonW said:
That’s awesome! You made an 84 out of the pics!
Yes, thank you, I like to take pictures of the coins and use them in different ways, here is my setup:
Comments
Cool. Are the inset images on the necks a common thing from that era?
These countermarks were placed on imported Spanish dollars by the Bank of England to validate them for circulation in England. The countermarked pieces circulated at slightly higher face value (4 shillings 9 pence) than the bullion content warranted (4 shillings 6 pence), so the countermarks were widely counterfeited. A second series of countermarks, this time with a larger, harder-to-counterfeit octagonal counterstamp, followed, then when that didn't work either they created the overstruck Bank of England dollars which completely obliterated the Spanish designs and symbols.
The countermarked coins were unpopular and saw the rise of a few popular sayings deriding them: "two kings, not worth a crown" (the face value of the countermarked coin was less than 5 shillings or one crown), and "the head of a fool on the neck of an ass".
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"
Apparently I have been awarded the DPOTD twice.
There are afew countermarks used in the UK for so-called Crown size coins.Seems a UK Crown set could include at least one example of a countermark. Finding nice original examples is not that easy. I have managed to find 2 that I like Mexico and Bolivia in the AU spectrum. I would like to find a French Ecu but such a countermark on one is quite rare
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
AU 50

From the Cope Collection
Latin American Collection
That was funny.😆
Interestingly, as of this post, there’s only one thread in the top ten threads that deals with Latin American coins.
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
Thanks for the history!
I've been gaslit by the promise of nice British
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
1698 Half Crown
1701 Half Crown- much tougher in MS than the 1698
1734 Crown- I have used the obverse image for this coin as my icon for years
1751 Crown
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
@coinkat All great pieces!
I recently picked up this one:
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
Some of my British/Commonwealth/Queen 1984 coins (my pictures also)
That's awesome @1984worldcoins Just out of curiosity how is your 1984 collection coming along?
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
That’s awesome! You made an 84 out of the pics!
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
Here's one of the later overstrikes. It has a test cut, because these were faked a lot.
George III Bank of England Dollar, 1804

Soho Mint, Birmingham. Silver, 41mm, 27g. Head 1, C.H.K. on truncation; GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA REX. Britannia seated with shield, in oval garter; FIVE SHILLINGS DOLLAR; BANK OF ENGLAND 1804; K in relief below shield (S 3823).
Made by Matthew Boulton, overstriking Spanish 8 reales because of a shortage of silver. Produced from 1804 to 1811 but all dated 1804. The first silver coin to feature Britannia.
Here's a George III Bank of England Dollar struck over an 8 reales. Based on my measurements it's got a specific gravity of 9.5 so very likely a contemporary counterfeit.
It is going strong, in the thousands now, the only downside is I cant get the gold and platinum because of the metal prices. The next phase will be grading, but I did not start that yet. I have lots of low mintage, varieties, mint errors and a few patterns.
Yes, thank you, I like to take pictures of the coins and use them in different ways, here is my setup:
OK, here are a few, just picked a couple out......
Well, just Love coins, period.
@7Jaguars What exactly is the EVIII issue?
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
Obverse pattern for the halfcrown.
Well, just Love coins, period.
Wow great coin 🍒
I just picked up a 1674 6pence, XF45 though
BST📋✅️: mainejoe