Poll - Counterstamped twenty-cent piece

astrorat · June 21, 2011 12:07PM

Thanks to John Kraljevich for this wonderful counterstamped double dime!

But to what does the patent refer? I picked out a few of the likely choices. Vote for what you think or add another option! Hint - I don't know, but I have a guess!

1. Parker Bros., Twist double barrel side-by-side double trigger shotgun, Meriden, CT
2. Thomas Winans and Thomas D. Whistler, for the first spinning reel (casting from a fixed spool reel), Baltimore, Md
3. Alban H. Reid Butter Worker, Philadelphia, PA
4. Howe's Improved Spring Arc Pad Belt Truss, Council Bluffs, IA

STONE · June 21, 2011 12:18PM

Seeing how the counterstamp is the same year as the coin "1875", and that the coin has an "S" mintmark,
I would think the patent would have something to deal with on the west coast, although maybe not!

Overdate · June 21, 2011 12:23PM

Considering where it appears, obviously it's the patent for a twenty cent piece!

llafoe · June 21, 2011 12:26PM

Parker made the most sense to me...

TexasNationals · June 21, 2011 12:47PM

Parker- side by side, you could load dimes into 12 ga shells back in the day and they used to call some shotguns dime droppers, so two dimes= 20 cents.

TennesseeDave · June 21, 2011 1:15PM

Are all the answers in your poll patented on March 23,1875?

astrorat · June 21, 2011 1:30PM

<< Are all the answers in your poll patented on March 23,1875? >>

Yes. I found about 10 more, but these seem the most likely candidates for counterstamping a coin (based on my assumption that the counterstamp was used for advertising).

illini420 · June 21, 2011 1:33PM

double barrel, double trigger, double dime

astrorat · June 21, 2011 1:35PM

<< double barrel, double trigger, double dime >>

Very clever ... funny it never came to mind! I must be getting older.

jesbroken · June 21, 2011 1:39PM

Thomas A. Edison's Quadruplex-Telegraph Repeaters.
Just a guess.
Jim

edited to add: ANDERSON, CHARLES, of Corio house, Western Beach, Geelong, colony of Victoria, coach proprietor, for "Improvements in double harness for horses."

seanq · June 21, 2011 4:18PM

<< Parker- side by side, you could load dimes into 12 ga shells back in the day and they used to call some shotguns dime droppers, so two dimes= 20 cents. >>

I agree with this explanation, it was my first choice as well though Tex did a much better job justifying it.

If I were you I'd look for some photos of a Parker double-barrel online, I'd be willing to bet that the stamp used on the 20cent piece was also used on the stock of the gun.

Sean Reynolds

astrorat · June 21, 2011 10:50PM

<< 

<< Parker- side by side, you could load dimes into 12 ga shells back in the day and they used to call some shotguns dime droppers, so two dimes= 20 cents. >>

I agree with this explanation, it was my first choice as well though Tex did a much better job justifying it.

If I were you I'd look for some photos of a Parker double-barrel online, I'd be willing to bet that the stamp used on the 20cent piece was also used on the stock of the gun.

Sean Reynolds >>

Thanks, Sean. I had not thought about comparing stamps. I searched a lot of photos, but could not find many clear patent stamps. The ones I could find were either linear (for a gun from 1875) or two-line, but a different style (on pre-1875 guns). I will keep looking.

astrorat · June 23, 2011 9:22PM

I posted an inquiry on the Parker Gun Collectors Association forum a couple of days ago, but have not yet received a response.

Edited for spelling ...

relicsncoins · June 24, 2011 7:16AM

Look for something that was pattened from the Western half of U.S. The coin is an S mint and odds are better that it was counterstamped out west.

PerryHall · June 24, 2011 8:55AM

<< Look for something that was pattened from the Western half of U.S. The coin is an S mint and odds are better that it was counterstamped out west. >>

Agree and this denomination was mostly used out west.

NumisOxide · June 24, 2011 11:01AM

Fantastic pickup! Don't see too many counterstamped double dimes.

astrorat · July 23, 2011 7:55AM

Well ... a month after posing the question to the Parker Bros gun collectors forum, I still don't have a response. A lot of people opened the thread, but no luck on an answer. So, I don't know, but I doubt that the counterstamp was used to promote a Parker shotgun.

My guess was actually the Truss based on some of the advertising that I read, but that is just a guess.

Now I picked up another counterstamped double dime ... anybody heard of "G.H. Tansley" ?

It's not listed in Brunk.

claychaser · July 23, 2011 9:30AM

THAT is one heckuva nice counterstamp!

Poll - Counterstamped twenty-cent piece

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