Anybody know what I have here? (strange engravings on Large Cent)

savoyspecial · January 10, 2012 1:41PM

Upon closer inspection the obverse engraved 'ring' has the world 'DOLLARS' in retrograde over and over. The reverse has a design surrounding what appears to be either a '2' '3' or a '5'

Broadstruck · January 10, 2012 2:01PM

No idea but it's neat-o!

comma · January 10, 2012 3:11PM

Really cool

CaptHenway · January 10, 2012 3:24PM

More likely a test piece of two punches using a piece of relatively soft copper, easily available from the person's pocket. The fascinating question is, what were the punches intended for? This merits much further study.

atarian · January 10, 2012 3:45PM

the dolly style back almost looks like some sort of Love token. while the text on the other side looks like something that would be found on a rim of a coin ( if they wanted to add text to the rims). Interesting piece.

zap1111 · January 10, 2012 4:03PM

That's a pretty cool find. Incredible spiral work within a small area...thanks for posting it.
zap

GoldenEyeNumismatics · January 10, 2012 4:45PM

A gambling house used it as a gaming chip. They took a worn down large cent, counterstamped it, and used it as a $1 chip.

savoyspecial · January 10, 2012 9:15PM

>>A gambling house used it as a gaming chip. They took a worn down large cent, counterstamped it, and used it as a $1 chip.>>

But then why wouldnt the lettering just be orientated normally, rather than in reverse? Also, notice that on the obverse there is a lip at the top and bottom (more prominent at the top).....Could this have been used to hold the coin in place while it was transferring the image (to paper??)?

ricko · January 10, 2012 9:57PM

Certainly unique... appears to have been stamped for a purpose (gaming chip, promotion etc). Have not seen one before... seems there should be more out there if such were the purpose. Cheers, RickO

notwilight · January 10, 2012 10:09PM

I'd say it is a practice piece, possibly for an engraver in training. The fact that dollar is engraved backwards means it is intended to be a die. But copper is too soft for a die. So it is just practice or demonstration. Perhaps a guy shows up at the mint and hands them this asking for a job. Perhaps a salesman for some new engraving tooling did this to demonstrate his new tools for the chief engraver. You've seen stacks of Lincolns stapled together as a demonstration of the industrial strength staplers. --Jerry

savoyspecial · January 11, 2012 12:09AM

Good point about copper being too soft to serve as a die. Didnt Wyllys Betts do some fantasy copper dies? (please dont think i'm making the leap that this piece is Betts' work)

Billet7 · January 11, 2012 12:38AM

I spent a good half hour responding to this thread last night. I guess it was late and I forgot to hit "Reply." Probably for the best, it was late, and I can't be held accountable for the things I might have said.

LotsoLuck · January 11, 2012 10:31AM

Very cool piece. My guess is it is a early piece used by ambulance drivers, that would explain the retrograde dollars.

CaptHenway · January 13, 2012 6:04AM

ttt

Timbuk3 · January 13, 2012 6:07AM

Interesting, but what is it ???

PerryHall · January 13, 2012 6:13AM

The first pic shows a raised area at 12:00 that is straight on the bottom and cirved at the top. This looks like the hinge area of a pocket watch or a locket similar to one of those so called opium dollars. The manufacturer may have used a large cent to stamp out a prototype of one of the sides of his product. Also, that geometric pattern looks like something that you would find on a pocket watch or picture locket. This is only conjecture and your guess is as good as mine.

guitarwes · January 13, 2012 6:28AM

did this walk into the shop?

I have no idea what it is other than a stamped Lg. Cent.

Very helpful eh?

garrynot · January 13, 2012 6:45AM

I like it, whatever it is.

drwstr123 · January 13, 2012 6:46AM

To me, the reverse center looks to be: ♂

NumisOxide · January 13, 2012 8:25AM

Cool whatever it is!

JupitarCoins · January 13, 2012 8:37AM

<< <i>A gambling house used it as a gaming chip. They took a worn down large cent, counterstamped it, and used it as a $1 chip. >>

If that were true wouldnt you think that their would be more of them out there!
I have never seen this but its really cool.

Pistareen · January 13, 2012 12:40PM

This is a plate engraver's test piece.

The circular piece is the frame for a "counter" stamp. A "counter" on a banknote is the big number. Around a big number 1, or 5, on some obsolete bank notes, you will find this exact DOLLARS stamp. Since it's backwards on the cent, it would be backwards on the printing plate -- thus right side up on the banknote.

The other side is a decorative motif from a banknote as well.

The ultimate consumer: someone who collects large cents and obsolete notes.

Cool item!

savoyspecial · January 21, 2012 1:46AM

Thanks John!

Anyone know which obsolete note(s)?

AnkurJ · January 21, 2012 2:14AM

Very cool!

pcgs69 · January 21, 2012 2:23AM

maybe it was just used as a button. The back center area could have housed the shank.

Anybody know what I have here? (strange engravings on Large Cent)

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