The world of counter stamped coins is fascinating, I'm always surprised at the prices they bring-- I only have one, that I paid $22 for, an EF 1901 Morgan-S with an S stamped on the obverse (neck) and reverse (eagle breast)--It's an attractive coin but I have no idea what the counter stamp means, if anything.
I just bought one...a 1984-P Kennedy 50c 24K Gold counterstamped 1960 - 1980 on the obv. for $3.99...I thought it was junk when I got it...what does anyone else think?
It is a very interesting coin and counterstamps are fun to research and collect. They can be difficult to authenticate though. One should be wary of paying large premiums for these unless he has the expertise to know that it is original and from that era. There are lots of collectors of these and some specialize in official government CS and others in CS for advertising or other reasons.
What does a counterstamp signify? Is it similar to chop marks on a trade dollar?
The Body of Benjamin Franklin Printer (Like the cover of an old book Its contents torn out and stript of its lettering and gilding) lies here, food for worms. But the work shall not be lost for it will (as he believed) appear once more in a new and more elegant edition revised and corrected by The Author.
What does a counterstamp signify? Is it similar to chop marks on a trade dollar? >>
Coins have been counterstamped for myriad reasons. Some coins like many Costa Rican coins are recalled and remonetized at a new denomination. Other governments have stamped their own symbols into foreign coins to monetize them for use locally. Some of my favorites are the Porto Rico counterstamps. Some are restruck to commemorate an event or anniversary and such coins have been made in the US and places like Tonga by official issuers. They are also sometimes counterstamped by private enterprise or individuals for advertising or other reasons. Some have been cancelled by the issuer. Many of the recently retired European coins were destroyed prior to being melted.
Wow! $388 for an AG3 coin that would be worth $20 without the counterstamps. In 1999 B&M sold a VF20 bust half counterstamped "DERINGER/PHILA" for $2875.
Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver
JNADAD
Posts: 69
Comments
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
~*Ms.Bugs*~
Thanks for the link
W.C. Fields
Hmm. Maybe later. Too lazy to go get the book down off the shelf.
can be difficult to authenticate though. One should be wary of paying large premiums
for these unless he has the expertise to know that it is original and from that era.
There are lots of collectors of these and some specialize in official government CS and
others in CS for advertising or other reasons.
What does a counterstamp signify? Is it similar to chop marks on a trade dollar?
But the work shall not be lost for it will (as he believed) appear once more in a new and more elegant edition revised and corrected
by The Author.
(Ben's epitaph)
al h.
<< <i>
What does a counterstamp signify? Is it similar to chop marks on a trade dollar? >>
Coins have been counterstamped for myriad reasons. Some coins like many Costa Rican
coins are recalled and remonetized at a new denomination. Other governments have stamped
their own symbols into foreign coins to monetize them for use locally. Some of my favorites are
the Porto Rico counterstamps. Some are restruck to commemorate an event or anniversary and
such coins have been made in the US and places like Tonga by official issuers. They are also
sometimes counterstamped by private enterprise or individuals for advertising or other reasons.
Some have been cancelled by the issuer. Many of the recently retired European coins were
destroyed prior to being melted.