in 2014, I posted here about a gold coin I was given by my metal detecting mentor right before he died. I've since read Eric Schena's excellent article about the "Everman" mystery in the Numismatist in 2015. (He interviewed me for it.) I'm just wondering if anyone here has new information about coins with this counterstamp. Thanks.
The latest information I have is about speculation that a California Gold Rush miner named William Everman may have issued it, but it was later debunked by researcher John Sculley. I did research the issue a number of years ago but never discovered the maker. I've always thought whoever it was was likely a jeweler or a silver or goldsmith. The stamp is neat and precise and small...something someone in these trades would be capable of producing. There were only four examples identified then. Yours is a fifth which I wasn't aware of until now. Bruce
A couple things I found on these, I'm sure you're already aware but maybe they provide good summaries for others. I'll have to look up the Numismatist article in their archives. Since William Everman (gold rush guy) was hanged in 1853 it kinda ruled him out. https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/periodical/512138 https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/periodical/635150
Thanks for the information on Everman. It's been some time since I did my research so some of this is new to me. It's certainly an interesting counterstamp. Bruce
Thanks for your reply! Since posting, I've been in contact with Eric Schena (who wrote about Everman) and he now is confident that the maker was Lewis B. Everman, a silversmith who set up shop in Jackson, TN in the mid-1800s. (My coin was found outside of Nashville.) Eric has also since seen for sale a set of Everman coin silver spoons with the same counterstamp. Very little is known about this Everman, but it does seem to solve the mystery. Thank you for your reply!
