Thoughts on counterstamped coins

You're right Ripley, technically they're damaged coins but I see beauty in the beast. I can forgive their ugly side in exchange for the story they tell.

Bruce

 

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Thanks, Bruce, really appreciate it

And do you by chance have a picture of your Houck's Panacea c/s? Is it on a Bust half, or some other denomination?
Either way, I would love to see it! :yes:A few months back, I was bidding on a 1827 half dollar w/ Houck's counterstamp, but ended up losing. It sold for around $700, if my memory serves me right.

 

Mine is on an 1836 Bust Half Brian. About 80% of all these stamps are. The $700 bid sounds about right, but I've seen them go for even more than that. I'll try to post a picture if I have one in my files. I do photograph all of my coins but usually just print off a copy or two for my inventory and then delete the image.

Bruce

 

Here's what I think is an example of one the best modern counterstamps (1948 to the present) that illustrates both beauty and value. An example surfaces once in a great while on eBay or somewhere else and routinely sells in the $200 range. I consider this a "Holy Grail" coin in that it always draws a lot of interest and strong bids from collectors. I've wanted one of these for sometime and was finally successful in winning this one.
These MariaThresea thaler counterstamped coins were issued by the Missouri Numismatic Society to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 1963. The Society actually purchased 500 of them directly from the Austrian Mine in late 1963. The stamps were designed by Christian Schlather and struck by Strange Manufacturing in St. Louis later that year. For whatever reason only 457 pieces were actually produced. Of those 457 only about 125 to 150 were actually distributed to Society members or other numismatic organizations.The remaining 300 were sold to Miami, FL coin dealer Sid Smith. Smith had great difficulty moving then and four years after purchasing them from the Society reported that he had only sold about 30. It's believed that the remaining 300 or so went to the melting pot. I would estimate that there are less than 100 of these still in existence.

Bruce

 

Were those authentic Maria Theresa thalers, or copies?

 

Yes.

 

They're authentic (not counterfeits or copies) but of course modern restrikes purchased from the Austrian Mint in 1963.

Bruce

 

I had to chuckle at this post, as I do whenever I see one of these MT Talers on eBay.

Eight or twelve years ago I would bid on just about any counterstamped coin on eBay - I frequently got outbid but sometimes I did win. One of my early successes was one of these. I forget how much I paid but it would not have been more than $50.

I also got a 1970 "G.A.N." Canadian dollar (counterstamped to mark the passing of Egypt's General Nasser) the same way - patience and a lot of bids, with some occassionally being successful.

 

Patience is the key Jeff. This particular stamp was a BIN or make offer. I made an offer $30 less than his BIN and it was accepted. I wish I had gotten mine for $50...ah, the good old days.

Bruce

 

Here's one I just got that's giving me fits. Any help is appreciated.

It's an 1825 5 Lira Sardinia counter stamped with what the seller says is
the mark of Francis I of Austria (previously, Francis II of the Holy Roman Empire)

Austrians would have been in Sardinia at the behest of Sardinian King, Charles Felix.
I haven't been able to confirm the counter mark or the value. Can you help? Many thanks.

Many Thanks
Dale View attachment 290380 View attachment 290381 View attachment 290382

 

Welcome to CT Dale. For some reason I can't view your attachments so can't comment. Personally, I research and collect mostly only U.S. and Irish counterstamps so probably can't help you with yours. If you can get a good clear picture though I could pass it on to someone who might be able to identify it for you.

Bruce

 

I forgot to mention that you might want to post this on the World Coins & Ancients forum and see if anyone recognizes it there. We have a lot of knowledgeable people there who might be able to help you. Good luck.

Bruce

 

It's an 1825 5 Lira Sardinia counter stamped with what the seller says is
the mark of Francis I of Austria (previously, Francis II of the Holy Roman Empire)

Austrians would have been in Sardinia at the behest of Sardinian King, Charles Felix.
I haven't been able to confirm the counter mark or the value. Can you help? Many thanks.

Many Thanks
Dale

 

Bust $1/2:



1833:



1832:



1824



1833


I think that is it.

 

The "propeller" design on the 1826 is fairly common but I've never been able to figure out what it means Frank. I've seen it on other U.S. coins and on foreign as well. The "EK" has to be a pocket piece and the "Ward" counterstamp is one of my favorites as you know Frank. Thanks for showing them.

Bruce

 

I have a couple. Perhaps I will scan them for a post to this discussion. One is a large copper from Trinadad, the other is an 8-Reales with chopmarks.

Q. David Bowers is pretty well known for pursuing counterstamps. He wrote a book about one series: The Strange Career of Dr Wilkins (1987).

The mysterious ones attract us, but many were stamped to give (or change) their value in trade and commerce.

 

Bowers was one of the earliest collectors to make an attempt at cataloguing counterstamps when he was a young man. He also had a huge collection of them at one time. I don't know if he still actively collects or not but I know that he's sold off at least some of them. I have a dozen pieces or so in my collection that he used to own. When Greg Brunk was doing research for his reference back in the 80's he spent a week or so in New Hampshire with Dave studying his collection and consulting with him about the series.

Bruce