Hello, this is my first time here. I'm new to coin collecting/value of coins in general, but I'm usually able to find exactly what I am looking for without having to ask for help first. That changes now. I'm doing work at a very old house and I stumbled upon a huge penny collection (the box weights roughly 50lbs) behind a wall panel. Thankfully, the pennies were all organized into either coin rolls or tiny ziplock bags with the years of the penny inside written on it. There were also several larger bags labeled "special". Steel pennies, foreign pennies, and late 1800's Indian pennies are but a few of the coins from these bags. However, one coin stood out from the rest. An 1847 US large penny. I looked it up and got an idea of the value, but what's strange about this coin is that it has a V and two I's stamped into it. They aren't even next to each other or centered properly. I've attached a photo of the front and back. Any information would be very appreciated. Thank you, ~Zuty
Welcome Zuty to Cointalk! Nice find on the cents in a wall. What you have on the large cent is a counter stamp. Many coins were counter stamped in the mid 1800's for advertising and initials of the owner.
Hi Zuty, what you have is countermark is defined as; Any combination of letters, digits, symbols, or designs cut or punched into ("Both" Counterstamp) ("Single" Countermark) side(s) of a normally struck coin after the strike. The coin did not come from the mint with these marks and were punch into the coin at a later date by some unknown person. "SchwaVB57" you type faster the me..........
Thank you so much for the quick response. I'm sure I'll come back with more from the collection if I have any further questions. That is, if the homeowner want me to do it for him. ~Zuty
Hi and welcome to CoinTalk Counterstamp is correct. Ot is also known as a counterpunch mark. Anything as your letters that is incused into the field of the coin was done outside of the Mint and is considered damage Edit.. i see the other members answered the same also.
The coin actually has a V and 3 I's stamped into it. Sometimes counterstamps can be attributed to a merchant or other source, but this one is probably going to remain a mystery
I noticed the third I when I was looking at the picture again. The I's start at her head and go down past her chin. It's a shame that it's considered damaged. I thought I had some kind of mint marked, ultra rare coin. But a man can dream. So I assume that counterpunched/marked coins are worth nothing (or at least way less than the normal value of the coin)? ~Zuty
Yes and no. Some collectors specialize in Counter Stamp coins, but the counter stamp does affect the coin to other collectors. The coin still has some value to someone.
Welcome to the neighborhood! You just answered the only question I had. I'm glad to know that you reported your discovery to the homeowner. Some people don't. You have my admiration. Chris
Oh, I'd never be able to sleep at night if I didn't let them know. I offered to help sell it for him. ~Zuty
Thank you, @Zuty, for bringing to our attention a genuinely interesting piece. I once had the experience of judging an entire display of counterstamped large cents. Yours would have made a wonderful addition to that exhibit. The trick is to try to understand what, if anything, those letters signified.
The quote here is quite true. At the same time, those counterstamp letters destroy the value for some collectors, while vastly increasing it for others. It's a classic case of the right audience.
Some merchants and companies counterstamped large numbers of coins and there are "collectible" counterstamped coins that are worth big bucks, and there are many that aren't cataloged that aren't worth much.
Thanks Kurt and Kentucky, that's good to know that someone might be interested in it. I'll have to poke around and see if I can figure out what VIII, IIIV, ΛIII, or IIIΛ could possibly mean. ~Zuty
For all you know, it could be Henry the VIII, or some guy who had nothing better to do and only had two steel punches - the "I" and the "V". I wouldn't give it anymore thought. Chris
{Maestro, cue the music.} "I'm 'Enery the Eighth, I am, 'Enery the Eighth I am, I am. I got married to the widow next door..."
@Chris - Easier said than done to let it go. I may never figure it out, but man will I try my hardest. XD @Kirt - Married, beheaded and died. Married, beheaded, survived. ~Zuty
