These quarters are a true numismatic enigma. Many have postulated theories about the E and L counterstamps on 1815 and 1825 quarters, but each theory has conspicuously lacked documentary evidence exactly why these pieces were counterstamped. An excellent summary of the various theories can be found on pages 354 to 357 of Steve Tompkins' new quarter reference. What is known is the first coin, an 1815 'L' counterstamp, appeared in a George Massamore sale, August 31, 1881. That is one of the few facts we know, and after that the questions begin.
Extremely neat. I remember the theory about them being given as school prizes: E= English L= Latin But, no one knows for sure
Matt: If submitted, do they slab as is or mark it damaged? I recently saw a Bust coin with a countermark and PCGS marked it 'damaged'.
That's a nice one, the L counterstamps are rarer of the two. I had a pretty rough E some years ago and traded it to a friend before I knew what it was. The theory of them being a school prize is largely doubted as the actual origin of the marks, but no one really knows the answer. Another theory is that they were used somehow in a vote of the harmonic society in Philadelphia. There was a hoard that some also claim was the origin, but I forget the name of the hoard. These coins all seem to have made it to the market in the 1880s. Cool coin with a story to tell for sure, but we may never know the answer. Love it.
I also haven't seen any documentation to support the current theories regarding the meaning of the counterstamps. Initials-only stamps are difficult enough to attribute let alone assigning a single letter stamp to anyone. The mystery in itself makes the coins appealing...and of course the beauty of the coins themselves. Bruce
