1825 Half Cent - Derogatory word or something else???

Let me begin by saying that if this word carved into this coin is what I think it is, I'm not trying to be rude or post nasty things. I just can't imagine why someone would do this (if it's the "c" word)...it looks like the word has been on the coin for a while now. I don't know, what do y'all think?

 

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I wonder where that coin has been.

 

That happened to both Half Cents and Large Cents way back when. I have no idea why except that some guys thought they were being funny I guess.

 

love old coins, posted: "Let me begin by saying that if this word carved into this coin is what I think it is, I'm not trying to be rude or post nasty things. I just can't imagine why someone would do this (if it's the "c" word)...it looks like the word has been on the coin for a while now. I don't know, what do y'all think?"

I'm not calling out the OP but I wonder IF he was thinking at all. What OTHER WORD is spelled like that?

 

Back then, men didn't have much to discuss with each other. No professional sports, men's magazines, movies, TV, internet porn sites, etc. Just their crops, farm animals and what was carved on the coin they would use to shock other unwashed people.

Jim

 

I think the letters are being misread, but maybe that's just me.

 

According to the Oxford English Dictionary the first recorded English usage of the word dates back to 1230 (Zoladz). At the time there was a street in London that would today be considered a red-light district and it was called “Gropec**t Lane” (Greer). I guess this settles the when of the word but not the why and when of the use on American Half & Cent coins. Unless it's what Jim said.

 

Seriously??? Jeez...they've ruined a fair to midlin looking coin. I can read the date holding it in my hand but don't know if you can see it very well in the pics. I'm just speechless...I feel like someone just smacked me around or something...doing that to an old coin...WTH!

 

Agreed but the thing is, when you're looking at in person, under a magnifying glass, it looks questionable...like the u and the n look more like three letters instead of two.

 

That's what I'm trying to point out with my response to Insider.

 

I guess with my young eyes and your good images I had no difficulty making out each letter. The interesting thing to me is the "30" under the anatomical representation.

 

I couldn't figure them out either...just all very strange markings...downright weird.

 

How very informative...thank you...wow, I had no idea it went that far back. It's a despicable word, one that one of my ex-husbands use to call me constantly. It was as though I had no name...just that word. He was very abusive in every way. I wasted eleven years of my life hoping he would change if I showed him love...boy was I wrong. Anyway, I digress. Thank you for the history!

 

And I'm so sorry to hear this. It's one word that I have never used in my life and never would. Only cowards use these words IMHO.

 

It is a word that seemingly now has less usage in American English than British English.

 

I've seen a few. Something people did with coins....perhaps in the same vein as the "potty dollars"?

 

Pretty commonly used in Australia too. Not considered all that offensive

 

There's a "30"??? Thanks for your impeccable eyesight! I had no idea what was there...now I know who to ask when I can't see something clearly enough - LOL. Thanks Insider, I appreciate you!

 

Try this, put all those nasty word thoughts out of your mind. The coin is obviously corroded and I believe some of the lettering has also been effected. It looks like the date is 1825. Somewhere I have a Large Cent that has a counter stamp on it and I believe you have a counter stamped Half Cent.

I have a small collection of counter stamps but the one I’m thinking of is CURTIS and he counter stamp a large number of coins from that time frame.

You have the coin in hand so you are the best person to make a correct determination. Try looking at it with a magnifying glass, different angles or even wet it with water. Take it to your LCS and see if they can make a determination. But from what I can see in your photos I believe it to be a counter stamped CURTIS Half Cent that has some corrosion that is making it difficult to read.

There is a symbol under the CU above what appears to be a 30. If it is a Curtis counter stamp he was known for other symbols as well as his name. Counter stamps were fairly common in that time frame as it was free advertising to the business. Best wishes on your research into this and I don’t believe this is the “C” word at all.

 

I own several contemporary cent coins that had been so modified, but that said I will not post them here.