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A few neat Bust Quarter Newps ... E and L Counterstamps

speetyspeety Posts: 5,424 ✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
First of all, yes I know the pictures are awful. I had about 10 minutes to take some pictures before I had to come back down to school - I'll get better pictures next time I'm home.

So, my dad and I headed to a local auction and these three pieces really jumped out at me. Anyone see why? (If not look at the last pic...). The first coin is a little dark in hand but not as dark as shown and the second coin is very nice in hand and still has some luster. The last coin is definately a little too bright to be original (not as bad as the pics make it look) - but we picked it up anyway. image The coins grade as follows:

1815 "E" - ANACS XF-40
1825/4/2 "E" - ANACS XF-45
1815 "L" - Raw - Would definately be bagged but AU/MS details

So, watcha think and please tell me all you know about these countermarks! image


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Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

Comments

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    QuarterCollectorQuarterCollector Posts: 1,384 ✭
    Very cool pick-ups. Now if we only knew what the L or E stood for. Are you planning to start a set? Thanks you for posting the bust quarters and allowing me to get my 1000 post.

    Tom
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    QuarterCollectorQuarterCollector Posts: 1,384 ✭
    BTW your 1825 B-2 looks awesome even with your crappy photos image

    Tom
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    STONESTONE Posts: 15,275 ✭
    From what a little birdie mentioned to me, I must give you a "YOU SUCK" award.

    You just never find these in the quantity you were able to acquire them.

    image
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    MoldnutMoldnut Posts: 3,116 ✭✭✭✭
    Very cool and I must agree with Stone here. You do Suck!
    Derek

    EAC 6024
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    speetyspeety Posts: 5,424 ✭
    Thanks guys - and after the auction we've definately been hit by the bust quarter bug. The seated dollar set is starting to slow down and upgrades are expensive, so who knows - maybe it'll be a fun side set! image


    As for a You Suck, I don't think so - maybe a You Suck Lite or a Nice Score image
    Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

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    MoldnutMoldnut Posts: 3,116 ✭✭✭✭
    I didnt give you a "YOU SUCK" only a" you do Suck"image BTW do you have Tompkins book? He has a lot of info about these in there.
    Derek

    EAC 6024
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    Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 12,099 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bowers' book, American Coin Treasures, has 5 pages devoted to these countermarked bust quarters, and estimates several hundred exist, most of them in high grade.
    Successful BST transactions with 177 members. breakdown, scotty1419, mattniss, bigjpst, onlyroosies, Manorcourtman, guitarwes, Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
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    EVillageProwlerEVillageProwler Posts: 5,856 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A few years ago there were a series of articles in the JRJ concerning the E and L counterstamps. Makes for a good read. I highly recommend.

    EVP

    How does one get a hater to stop hating?

    I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com

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    speetyspeety Posts: 5,424 ✭


    << <i>A few years ago there were a series of articles in the JRJ concerning the E and L counterstamps. Makes for a good read. I highly recommend.

    EVP >>



    EVP, good to see you back! I'll be sure to check them out.

    I'll also be sure to dust off my copy of Bowers book to see what he has to say.

    The Tompkins book will be on it's way shortly. I meant to buy it when it first came out in Baltimore but the guy in front of me bought the last copy they had at the show. image
    Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

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    MoldnutMoldnut Posts: 3,116 ✭✭✭✭
    >>




    The Tompkins book will be on it's way shortly. I meant to buy it when it first came out in Baltimore but the guy in front of me bought the last copy they had at the show. image >>





    This book will not disappoint!
    Derek

    EAC 6024
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    BaseballAbsBaseballAbs Posts: 2,621 ✭
    I wonder which is more common the L or the E stamp? I really like the first 1815 posted it's got a cool looking skin on it.
    Winner of the "You Suck!" award March 17, 2010 by LanLord, doh, 123cents and Bear.
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    BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Now if we only knew what the L or E stood for. >>



    QuarterCollector, The L on top is easy as it stands for imageimageimage
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
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    MoldnutMoldnut Posts: 3,116 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Now if we only knew what the L or E stood for. >>



    QuarterCollector, The L on top is easy as it stands for imageimageimage >>





    image
    Derek

    EAC 6024
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    speetyspeety Posts: 5,424 ✭


    << <i>I wonder which is more common the L or the E stamp? I really like the first 1815 posted it's got a cool looking skin on it. >>



    From what I can tell (and I may very possibly be wrong...) the 1815 "L" is the toughest followed by the 1825 "E". The 1815 "E" is supposedly the most common from what I can tell. The 1825 "L" (which is the one we are missing) is more common than the 1815 "L" but I'm not sure how it ranks compared to the "E" countermarks.
    Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

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    Billet7Billet7 Posts: 4,923 ✭✭✭
    No one knows exactly what the counterstamps were intended for. The prevailing theory, if memory serves, is that they were stamped directly after they left the mint. Back in the day quarters were only minted when there was a shipment of silver sent in from an entity, and that entity requested the mintage done in quarter dollars. I think this is one of the reasons that early quarters were so erratic in mintage numbers. Anyway, my thoughts were that an entire order for 1815 quarters were requested, and upon delivery were marked with the counterstamp subsequently. This was repeated years later in 1825. What enterprise undertook this strange task? There are theories, but no one knows for sure.

    At least that's what I have gathered from multiple sources.
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    RichieURichRichieURich Posts: 8,621 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I wonder which is more common the L or the E stamp? I really like the first 1815 posted it's got a cool looking skin on it. >>



    From what I can tell (and I may very possibly be wrong...) the 1815 "L" is the toughest followed by the 1825 "E". The 1815 "E" is supposedly the most common from what I can tell. The 1825 "L" (which is the one we are missing) is more common than the 1815 "L" but I'm not sure how it ranks compared to the "E" countermarks. >>



    Nice coins, Speety!

    Actually, the 1825 "E" is the rarest, followed by the 1815 "L", then the 1825 "L", and the most common is the 1815 "E".

    An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.

  • UnknownUnknown
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    coindeucecoindeuce Posts: 13,510 ✭✭✭✭✭
    One of the best theories I have seen put forth on the purpose of the countermarked quarters relates to the possibility of them having been used as voting ballots among opposing factions of the Economite community in Pennsylvania.

    "Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
    http://www.american-legacy-coins.com

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    BaleyBaley Posts: 22,663 ✭✭✭✭✭
    very cool group image

    one theory has it that the coins represented "Excess" payment to "Louisiana" in the respective years, drawn from the mint's output from those years, counterstamped, but for some reason not sent.

    retained in some vault somewhere, then rather quietly released later

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

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    LotsoLuckLotsoLuck Posts: 3,786 ✭✭✭
    That 1815 "E" is sweet image Man I love that look! Maybe Greg (Savoyspecial) will chime in on the counterstamp image
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    speetyspeety Posts: 5,424 ✭
    The coins which are in ANACS slabs are both in the newer Orange label "clearview" holders.
    Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

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