I was at breakfast this morning at my local diner when one of the fellows produced the following countermarked 1866 half dollar that he said had been given to him a long time ago. I was able to get a decent photo of it on my cell phone by resting the phone on top of a iced tea glass (It is the South, after all). Before I go further, let me just say that I do not subscribe to any of the sentiments expressed by the organization inscribed on the token. I only show it as a piece of history as represented on our coinage. The piece is a 1866 US half dollar that has been holed for use on a key chain, fob, or necklace. The reverse was ground off and inscribed with the following: In the center in large block letters: "K. K. K." Around the edge in cursive script: "Nathan B. Forrest Grand Wizard" Nathan Bedford Forrest was a Confederate general (1821-1877) who post-Civil War founded the Ku Klux Klan in 1867 and resigned from and dissolved the organization in 1869, although we know that action did not actually consign the organization to the ash heap. More on NBF at Wikipedia. Nathan Bedford Forrest - Wikipedia There's no telling for sure when this coin was engraved but given the coin's date and the history of NBF with the organization, it's possible this engraving dates all the way back to the KKK's founding. It seems unlikely that the KKK or its adherents would celebrate the founder after he had repudiated the organization in 1869. A reminder, however dark, of the past.
If you're going to engrave a coin at least do a good job of it. Regardless of the organization or its principles. This was done really nicely.
