Counter Marked Cents

Two counter stamped coins. The first is a 1835 Large Cent. It’s the Small 8 and Stars variety. That makes it the last year the Matron Head Cent before it was modified was produced. The other is a 1857 Flying Eagle Cent.
Both coins are marked Dr. G. G. Wilkins. Nice to have two different types of coins that are the same value, one cent, with the same counter marked.
Bowers describes him as a “rascal” as he was accused of burning down a barn that was owned by someone that crossed him. Watkins was a dentist in Pittsfield, N.H. who advertised his trade by counter-stamping coins in circulation. Most notably the one cent coins.
The counter marks are of unusual clarity and quality. There were carefully struck. There are also Indian Head and foreign coins with this semi-circular mark. The letters are of a stylized block style on an arc shape. He was also thought to be a counterfeiter.
His name is George Granville Wilkins. He was born on 1-11-1818 in Antrim, N.H. and he died on 11-8-1879 in Pittsfield, N.H. In 1860 he started stamping coins with his name to advertise his profession.
He also opened a barbershop and traded in animal skins, wool and furs. In the 1870’s the census listed him as a saloon keeper. He was also know to sell patent medicines, firearms and ammunition from a two story building on Msin Street in Pittsfield, N.H. The nickname “Fort Wilkins” was used by the residents of Pittsfield. He is buried in Brighton, Mass. where he lived in his later years.

 

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Bowers was being kind by only describing Wilkins as a rascal. Others weren't so forgiving, especially his neighbors and "friends". Apparently, not a likeable fellow but he did issue a well executed counterstamp for us to enjoy today.

You have a couple of nice examples there.

Bruce

 

Here's mine stamped on a nice old Seated Quarter. Don't remember when I got this but I've had it for a long while.

Bruce

 

Quarters are rarely stamped by him. Very nice example.

 

Would you happen to know if he ever used his stamp to mark anything but coins? Counterstamps on coins are generally an afterthought as most are used to mark products the maker manufactured or sold. I've never seen his mark on anything else.

Bruce

 

Since the counterstamping is a low spot on the coin they tend to accumulate a lot of grease, dirt, and other materials which make them stand out. The color in the Large Cent stamp is more unusual but gives the coin a nice look.

Bruce

 

I’ve only seen it on US and foreign coins. He used his mark on circulating coins for free advertising.

 

I have a really rare one and then I have a Billiken token, the Corey's Ointment quarter I've had for years and I haven't seen another one like it on the bay for quite awhile!

 

Very nice!

 

That's a nice Corey's Ointment stamp. Like the Wilkins stamps, the Corey issues are generally well struck too. I do see them once in awhile but they're a lot scarcer than the Wilkins.

Bruce

 

Yours as well, you have an amazing collection, quite a sack of variety!