I found an 1858 Flying Eagle Cent with two small stampings on the face. They appear to have some sort of emblem and the number '18' This is the best photo I could get. What do you think these markings are from?
Is that a crown or a leaf over the top of that 18. Must be some sort of metalworkers hallmark or some such. It really makes for an interesting piece though.
I've never seen anything like that before. Interesting to see what other people say. Does anyone else see anything weird with the rim at the 9:30 position?
Contact Rick Snow at IndianCent.com and ask him if he has ever seen these counterstamped FE's before.....he would know
A lot of peeps don't know that there are collectors of counterstamped coins and even books on the subject. It's the same with Chinese Chopmarks. Ribbit
thanks for the replies folks. I am going to do some research in 'counterstamping' thanks for the info. The coin was in a collection of old pennies (1857-1909) I inherited from my grandmother-so I didn't pay anything for it. This is the only one with these marks. The stamping above the eagles's wings is quite worn but I looked at it under a small microscope today and it seems to be the identical '18' number with the crown or leaf mark.
This is where I would start doing that research!!! The guy wrote the book - why start anywhere else Sorry for your loss! Looks like she left you some interesting coins to remember her by...
I think they are goldsmiths halmark stamps for 18Kt gold. Probably a goldsmith testing his new hallmark punch.
Because Snow wrote the book on flying eagles and indian head cents. Brunk wrote the book on counterstamps. Two totally different fields.
