Cool counter stamped Brit coin

ajaan · October 12, 2005 11:21AM

Texas 6 bits

Aethelred · October 12, 2005 11:32AM

To me that is sad!

wybrit · October 12, 2005 11:39AM

Bailathacl · October 12, 2005 12:04PM

Unspeakable numismatic evil.... um, unless you're into that kind of thing....

MrEureka · October 12, 2005 1:09PM

Are any of these Texas counterstamps real?

MacCrimmon · October 12, 2005 1:28PM

Somehow that lettering style doesn't really appear contemporary to the 1820-50s.

AuldFartte · October 12, 2005 1:32PM

Why can't those ****** Texans stick to wrecking Morgans

lordmarcovan · October 13, 2005 6:13AM

I have a hunch that that counterstamp is a fantasy, mostly for the reason Mac mentioned.

If it were real and could be conclusively linked to the Republic of Texas era, it would be worth some bucks.

Sylvestius · October 13, 2005 6:23AM

Nothing much lost there, these LIMA George II coins are pretty run of the mill, it's a fairly naff grade too.

Although one good thing about it being counterstamped is it'd be hard to ruin it much further, i would use that one as a pocket piece!

I've got a counterstamped William III 1697 halfcrown, in a pretty low grade (lower than the George II one) and i've used that as a pocket piece now for a few years along with a Charles II half guinea.

MacCrimmon · October 13, 2005 6:29AM

Now if it were a much higher grade and had the EB punch.....it might just draw some flies, eh Aki.

lordmarcovan · October 13, 2005 6:31AM

I have a 1728 French Ecu on the Holey Coin vest that is also counterstamped with non-contemporary-looking lettering.

It says "YMCA" on it.

3Mark · October 13, 2005 7:28AM

<< I have a hunch that that counterstamp is a fantasy, mostly for the reason Mac mentioned.

If it were real and could be conclusively linked to the Republic of Texas era, it would be worth some bucks. >>

I think at least two people thought if was real if you look at the price. 3Mark

Preussen · October 13, 2005 11:48PM

Not particularly interesting to me personally, but since four individuals each placed bids of $100 or more, I have to believe there must be something to it. - Preussen

shirohniichan · October 14, 2005 12:03AM

I'd only bid on it if I knew about the counterstamp. It doesn't look good to me, but maybe the experts have a different opinion.

sumnom · October 14, 2005 12:04AM

Why six bits? It seems like an odd denomination.

Ricke · October 14, 2005 1:53AM

<< Why six bits? It seems like an odd denomination. >>

not so much... these were bigger than 4 reales. 6 bits might have been a little high for silver content, but it would have been more than 4 bits in value.

I agree that the stamp looks a little suspicious.

sumnom · October 14, 2005 3:05AM

How much was a bit in this period?

Ricke · October 14, 2005 5:03AM

to my knowledge a bit had always been 12 1/2 cents, 2 reales equal to a quarter dollar. So this, would it be authentic, would be valued at 75 cents to the american dollar at the time. it is an odd denomination, but the reasoning would be that it probably has more silver weight than an 8 reale clipped in half.

sumnom · October 14, 2005 4:19PM

Well yes, a bit was one eighth of a dubloon, as far as I know. Or one-eighth or anything. So at that time, how much was one bit in silver? Assuming the counter-stamp is real, was it defining six bits of silver? Was the bit a monetary unit or a unit of weight? Or both?

Sylvestius · October 14, 2005 4:52PM

<< to my knowledge a bit had always been 12 1/2 cents, 2 reales equal to a quarter dollar. So this, would it be authentic, would be valued at 75 cents to the american dollar at the time. it is an odd denomination, but the reasoning would be that it probably has more silver weight than an 8 reale clipped in half. >>

One dollar was about equal to 5 shillings, a crown being the same kind of weight and size as a 1 dollar coin.

I'm presuming this is a halfcrown? So technically it should be about 50c. True the halfcrown would be a little bigger than the half dollar but it'd be more like 60 cents, not 75. So face value would be a good 15 cents over silver value, take into account the fact that the halfcrown is worn too.

Dabigkahuna · October 14, 2005 4:58PM

No matter.

It's still way cool!

Larry
Dabigkahuna

sumnom · October 14, 2005 5:16PM

It is cool, assuming it's real. I just want to understand what it is.

Does anyone know about the Republic of Texas monetary system? Was there one? What currencies were in circulation?

Ricke · October 15, 2005 12:32AM

<< Well yes, a bit was one eighth of a dubloon, as far as I know. Or one-eighth or anything. So at that time, how much was one bit in silver? Assuming the counter-stamp is real, was it defining six bits of silver? Was the bit a monetary unit or a unit of weight? Or both? >>

I think a doubloon was 2 escudos, and so a bit would be 1/16th of a doubloon.

The last question is both, I guess. Because the monetary system of the time was largely based on specie value. defining it six bits of silver would be attempting to claim that it has x amount of silver so would be worth x amount in trade.

but I do not know how much weight in silver was equal to one bit... that's a darn fine question.

2 bits would be 1/4 of 8 reales... this contains .7860 oz. of silver content, 1/4 equal to .1965. An actual 2 reales, in full equal to 2 bits also contains .1965, so 6 bits is .5895 oz. of pure silver. A half crown appears to contain .4476 oz. of silver - which puts it marginally under 5 bits in silver content, if I did my numbers right.

Ricke · October 15, 2005 12:36AM

<< 
One dollar was about equal to 5 shillings, a crown being the same kind of weight and size as a 1 dollar coin.

I'm presuming this is a halfcrown? So technically it should be about 50c. True the halfcrown would be a little bigger than the half dollar but it'd be more like 60 cents, not 75. So face value would be a good 15 cents over silver value, take into account the fact that the halfcrown is worn too. >>

that's what I figured too... more than 50, but less than 75. This is what makes me question the authenticity of the piece the most. This would have been weighed prior to stamping - and valuing the piece in 6 bits would have created quite an outcry when people found out they ended up with 5 bits worth of silver.

Sylvestius · October 15, 2005 3:20AM

<< that's what I figured too... more than 50, but less than 75. This is what makes me question the authenticity of the piece the most. This would have been weighed prior to stamping - and valuing the piece in 6 bits would have created quite an outcry when people found out they ended up with 5 bits worth of silver. >>

Which is what i was thinking.

MrEureka · October 15, 2005 11:09AM

Is there any evidence to indicate when these pieces were counterstamped? Are there any contemporary references to these pieces?

Cool counter stamped Brit coin

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