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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;BRandM, post: 1991261, member: 22729&quot;][ATTACH=full]356499[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]356498[/ATTACH] This 1786 Spanish 1-Real is stamped with the mark of silversmith John Staniford who practiced in Windham, CT from 1760 until about 1793. The last two or three years he was in a partnership with Alfred Elderkin trading as Staniford &amp; Elderkin.</p><p>For unknown reasons he decided to open a tavern and inn about 1794 and abandon the silversmith trade. He operated his new business on Windham Green in Windham until his death in 1811.</p><p><br /></p><p>Staniford was born in Ipswich, MA sometime in May, 1737 to Thomas Staniford and Sarah Burnham. He married Jerusha Stoughton on July 5, 1760 and would later (1765) have a daughter with her named Mary. There is some evidence that he also had a son (John Jr.?) who later continued operation of the inn after his death. Staniford passed away on August 12, 1811 and was buried in Windham Center Cemetery.</p><p><br /></p><p>I think this is an important early American silversmith&#039;s counterstamp. Pre-19th century examples are rare, this one even more so because it&#039;s struck on a Spanish 1-Real. The denomination circulated very little in America unlike the 2-Reales and higher value Spanish coins. The stamp is easy to date as well. The wear pattern of the coin, counterstamp and even the hole are consistent, so it would have been stamped and holed between 1786 (date of the coin) and 1790/91 when Staniford abandoned his independent practice and partnered with Alfred Elderkin. It&#039;s at least interesting to speculate that John Staniford himself may have carried or wore it as a personal &quot;pocket piece&quot;. Presently, this mark is unlisted by Brunk.</p><p><br /></p><p>Bruce[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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