Privately countermarked coins
Most of these coins featured in Stack's Bowers auction, and the information about them is drawn from Gregory Brunk's Merchant and Privately Countermarked Coins: Advertising on the World's Smallest BillboardsGregory Brunk, Merchant and Privately Countermarked Coins: Advertising on the World's Smallest Billboards, World Exonumia Press, 2003{/footnote},
J. L. Barnes' Saloon, Bryan. Texas
J. L. Barnes on 1870 8 reales(Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013, lot 21660)
J. L. BARNES / SALOON / BRYAN TEX. on both sides.
J. L. Barnes must have operated his saloon in Bryan in the mid-1870s because the latest known date of coin with his countermark is 1874, he acquired the Capital Hotel in Houston in the late 1870s, and the 1880 Census listed him as an hotel keeper in Houston. The Census also noted that he was then forty-five years old, and had been born in Alabama.
Bender's Star Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bender’s Star Hotel on a Carlos III 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5248)
BENDER'S STAR HOTEL PHILAd around, CHAs W. BENDER at center on both sides.
Charles W. Bender's Eating Saloon was located in the Star Hotel at 71 Dock Street, which premises he owned from 1842 to 1848.
Orra Bennnett and A. Henshaw, Lyons, New York
O. Bennett on 1789 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 14 September 2011, lot 669)
O. BENNETT / A. HENSHAW / LYONS on both sides.
A. HENSHAW bar punch plus the punch of O. Bennett from Lyons, NY., above and below the central mark.
Orra Bennett made percussion halflock guns in Lyons, New York. A. Henshaw, who was a gunsmith in the nearby community of Newark. This unique piece is listed as a Hard Times token by RulauRulau, 2001.
Casper M. Berry's Saloon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
C. M. Berry (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 13 August 2019, lot 201)
C.M. BERRY / N.W.C. 5TH & / PHILA / CHESNUT / SALOON on an 1807 Mexico 2 reales.
The Philadelphia directories from 1848 onward noted that Casper (Caspar) M. Berry was an agent, innkeeper or tavern keeper, but his restaurant only was located at 5th and Chestnut Streets from 1859 to 1861. In June of the latter year Berry enlisted in the 26th Pennsylvania Infantry at the age of thirtyeight. He was mustered out in 1862, re-enlisted in the 60th Pennsylvania Infantry in 1863, and had risen to the rank of major by the time of the Battle of Williamsburg in 1862. He was mustered out again in late 1863 after serving with distinction, and the 1864 Philadelphia Directory noted that he was running a hotel at 106 South Sixth Street.
L. L. Bevan's Eating Saloon, Pottsville, Pennsylvania
L. L. Bevan (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013, lot 21671)
L.L. BEVAN. / EATING SALOON / POTTSVILLE, PA. on an 1781 Mexico City 2 reales.
The right upright of "N" in SALOON is broken, and the "A" of PA is actually an inverted "V." There is also a neat hole at 1 o'clock and a name "? Scott" lightly carved in script into the obverse.
Lewis L. Bevan was also the postmaster of Pottsville in 1857Herbert Bell, History of Northumberland County, 1891.
James Bradley, New York
Bradley (Stack’s Bowers Baltimore Auction, 21 March 2018, lot 768)
FINE PICTURES / CHEAPEST IN THE CITY / JAS. S. BRADLEY / GILDER & FRAME / MAKER / 154 WM ST N.Y. / & MIRRORS on a 1780 Mexico City 2 reales. This is the most extensive of the Jas. Bradley countermarks.
Bradley on a 1789 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013, lot 21679)
JAS. S. BRADLEY / GILDER & FRAME / MAKER / 154 WM ST N.Y. .
Bradley on a 1786 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 14 September 2011, lot 672)
FINE PICTURES / JAS S BRADLEY / GILDER & FRAME / MAKER / 154 WM ST N.Y. / FINE PICTURES.
In 1855 James S. Bradley's business was listed at 154 William Street, with his residence at 55th and Broadway.
J. K. Bresnin
Bresnin on an 1862 8 reales (Heritage Auction 63162, 3 January 2021, lot 44066)
J.K. BRESNIN
Broadway Varieties
Broadway Varieties on a 1786 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 14 September 2011, lot 674)
ADMIT TO / BROADWAY / VARIETIES. An advertisement for Parisian Varieties indicated that it was a burlesque house, and so the Broadway Varieties also may have been a "strip joint."
J. T. Brown, Portland
J. T. Brown on an 1866 Maximilian 1 peso (Heritage Auction 63162, 3 January 2021, lot 44072)
J.T. BROWN / PORTLAND CO. / 1867
The Portland Company was a part of the heavy industries in New England, building steam locomotives, railcars, and naval vessels
Bryan
Bryan on a 1896-Mo 8 reales (Stack’s Bowers auction, 11 December 2024, lot 70379)
BRYAN
C. Cannon, Dubuque, Iowa
C. Cannon on a 1829 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers auction, 19 September 2024, lot 95645)
C. CANNON. / GROCER / NO. 41 / DUBUQUE IOWA. on the reverse of a 1829 Mexico City 2 reales.
The only information that could be located about Cannon from city directory advertisements noted that Charles and Henry Cannon sold groceries at 41 Main Street from 1857 to 1860.
Milo Chatfield, Bloomington, Illinois
Chatfield on an 1828 Mo JM 2 Reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5249)
Deeply impressed M. CHATFIELD / BLOOMINGTON / ILL. on three lines diagonally across.
Milo Chatfield, a Bloomington, Illinois, grocer advertised in the 1855 directories as "Importer in Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Foreign & Domestic Cigars, all kinds of Smoking and Chewing Tobacco. Also, Dealer in Confectioneries, Candies, Nuts, Raisins, &c."
Christy and Woods Minstrels, New York
Christy and Woods Minstrels on an 1862 2 reales (Heritage Auction 63162, 3 January 2021, lot 44097)
GEO. / CHRISTY / AND / WOODS/ MINSTRELS / 444 B. WAY / N. YORK / Man dancing left and woman dancing right
Edwin Christy formed Christy's Minstrels in 1842, and was its star comedian. In 1846 it was located at 472 Broadway. Christy and Wood's Minstrels was organized in 1853 as its successor. Eventually it was just called Wood's Minstrels.
This large countermark almost always is weakly struck so that only the male or the female dancer is clear. The stamp also is awkwardly cut. GEO. / CHRISTY / AND / WOODS and the two dancers are symmetrically placed, but the rest of the legend is curved and angled to get all the words on a badly designed stamp.
James G. Cooper
Cooper’s on an 1806(?) Mexico 1 real (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana sale, 1 September 2011, lot 688)
COOPER'S / COFFEE ROOM / 103 NASSAU ST.
According to RulauRussell Rulau, , James G. Cooper sold coffee and soda in 1856.
Dr. Darby, Boston, Massachusetts
Dr. Darby on an 1848 Zs OM 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers, auction, 24 March 2021, lot 1368)
CONSULT / DR. DARBY / BOSTON
Ralph H. Darby appeared as an apothecary in 1850 at 91 Broad Street in his first Boston directory listing. By 1853 he was listed as a physician at 104 Norfolk Street. The 27 July 1853 Boston Herald noted that "Doctor R.H. Darby has removed his Office and Medical Hall to corner of Fleet and Moon Streets." Beginning in July 1854 he frequently advertised in The Boston Herald that "Dr. Darby can be consulted confidentially on all Complaints at his Office, torner of Fleet and Moon streets, Boston. His mode of treatment (adopted from the London and Paris Hospitals,) is universally successful." He ceased advertising in late 1855, and by 1858 was not listed in any directories.
Many of Darby's countermarks are oddly double struck. Thus, in the coin illustrated, the counterstamp is neatly executed upside down on the upper third of the obverse, with faint traces of an earlier counterstamp discernible as the letters STO below the primary ON in BOSTON
Henry Diston, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Henry Disston on a 1781 Mo FF 2 Reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5237)
HENRY DISSTON PHILADa around a federal-style eagle with branch and arrows at center of obverse.
The firm of Henry Disston & Associates of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was listed in the city directory as a saw and toolmaker in 1842. The firm made swords and bayonets during the Civil War. Joab Morss became his partner in 1867, a partnership that lasted until 1886 when Morss passed away.
Ebling's Columbian Garden, New York
Ebling’s on an 1849 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013, lot 21714)
EBLING'S / COLUMBIAN / GARDEN / 200 / BOWERY / N.Y
Along with being a confectioner, Joseph E. Ebling served as commissioner of streets and lamps in the mid 1850s in New York City. He, along with several other municipal officers, was indicted for "downright villainy, corruption, peculation, robbery and swindling," with the trials occurring in 1856. In Ebling's case, the charges stemmed from the purchase of certain street sweeping machines. After two trials, Ebling was acquitted.
Thomas L. Ennis, Philadelphia, Pennslyvania
Ennis on an 1804/3 Mo TH 2 Reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5242)
ENNIS / 106 / CHESTNUT ST on three lines
Thomas L. Ennis was a daguerreotype photographer who did business from 106 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia from 1851 to 1853. By 1854 he was a partner in Ennis and Preston.
J. D. Field, New Brunswick, New Jersey
J. D. Field on 1851 Go 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013, lot 21717)
J. D. FIELD / 21 PEACE ST. / N.B.N.J..
Flanagan's Punch, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Flanagan’s on an 1809 Mo TH 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers auction, 20 March 2007, lot 2256)
FLANAGAN'S PUNCH / 112 N. 6th STREET around a glass with a stirrer, one of relatively few motifs or icons on coins in this category.
Robert Flanagan ran the Lyon's Hotel from 1835 to 1860. Its original address was 112 North Sixth Street, which was changed to 159 sometime in the 1850s.The bar was known as the Vulcan Hall and Flanagan's Punch seems to have been the drink of the day.
J. Forker
J. Forker on a 1778 Mo FF 2 Reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5235)
J. FORKER twice vertically
Houck's Panacea, Baltimore, Maryland
Houck’s Panacea on an 1804 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013, lot 21748)
HOUCK'S / PANACEA / BALTIMORE
Jacob Houck was born in Frederick, Maryland. He moved to Baltimore in 1828, and had a dry goods store at 121 West Baltimore Street "opposite the Museum." In 1834 he started selling panacea, and advertised in the 1835 to 1842 business directories that it was prepared solely from vegetable matter.
A bottle cost $1.50, and Houck stated that a liberal discount would be given to those buying for resale. Eventually his shop was located at No 16, the corner of German and Hanover Streets. In 1851 Henry T. Houck became the proprietor of the firmRussell (Rulau, The Standard Catalog of United States Tokens, 1700-1900, 1994.
Apparently Henry T. Houck sold the rights to his panacea since the 1855 Nashville, Tennessee Directory printed an advertisement by A. G. Goodlet, who now sold Houck's Panacea,"popular in both the South and the North." An old bottle indicates that the panacea was then made in Goddletsville, Tennessee, a town largely destroyed by a tornado in 2005.
James & Co, Boston, Massachusetts
J
James & Co. on a 1784 Mexico 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers Baltimore auction, 27 February 2019, lot 270)
[GO]OD FOR A / DAGUERREO / TYPE AT / JAMES & CO. / BOSTON (The JAMES and BOSTON counterstamps are double punched).
David E. James advertised daguerreotypes in Boston from 1856 to 1858. He was listed in the 1857 city directory at 4 Summer Street as D. E. James & Co. His advertising card noted that he published a weekly magazine called The Daguerreotype.
Jones' Exchange Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Jones on an 1815 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction 14 August 2013, lot 21756)
JONES' / EXCHANGE / HOTEL / 77 DOCK ST. / PHILADA . (This is the slightly different variety of Jones' Exchange Hotel counterstamp with a smaller imprint and longer abbreviation of Philadelphia).
This Philadelphia hotel was owned by Richard B. Jones, Jr. It was listed in the 1851 city directory at 77/79 Dock Street, but by 1860 the Jones Exchange Hotel had moved to 235 Dock Street. Jones apparently sold his original establishment to John Ottenkirk since the latter was listed as the proprietor of the Exchange Hotel at 77 Dock Street in the 1863 directory.
Dauphin C. Kendall, Boston. Massachusetts
D. C. Kendall on1776 2 reales (Heritage Auction 462, February 2008, lot 81287)
This host coin has three different counterstamps. The first and most important is the name D. C. Kendall within a toothed border, and it has been counterstamped twice. This jeweler appears on a list of silversmiths and related craftsmen in the 1855 Boston, Massachusetts, directory. His full name is Dauphin C. Kendall, who operated out of 1 India Wharf. The second counterstamp appears to be T. Lewis and is under the Kendall counterstamp. We believe this was the first stamp on the coin. The third stamp is on the reverse, TMC in block letters with a toothed border.
T. Knight, New South Wales, Australia
T. Knight on a 1818 Mo JJ 8 reales (Heritage Auction 61560, 14 February 2008, lot 21107)
This coin is stamped with the elusive and sought-after "T. Knight" countermark, traditionally found on the "Holey Dollars",
According to Gregory G. Brunk's Merchant and Privately Countermarked Coins and a number of other sources, this counterstamp is believed to have represented a gentleman that was a prominent bullion dealer based in the penal colony of New South Wales. While very little is known about the mysterious T. Knight, their importance to the colony should not be understated based on the counterstamp showing up on other issues of the era.
Knight's Mineral Water Saloon, Baltimore, Maryland
Knight’s on a 1742 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers Baltimore auction, 26 June 2017, lot 12151)
A. KNIGHT'S / MINERAL / WATER SALOON / 99 / BALTO STREET.
Albert Knight came to Baltimore in 1854. He first sold mineral water on the corner of Eagle and Hamilton Streets, and then at 99 Baltimore Street until 1860, when he went to Cuba. He returned to the US during the Civil War and sold mineral water for the Army Quartermasters Department. Knight died in New Bern, North Carolina in 1863.
F. D. Kohler & Co., San Francisco, California
Kohler (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5250)
F.D. KOHLER & Co / 1849 flanked by stars / SAN FRANCISCO in rectangular lozenge vertically across the King's portrait.
F. D. Kohler was a private assayer during the early stages of the Gold Rush. In 1850 he was appointed California's state assayer, and sold his business to Baldwin & Company.
However, Brunk notes: "While these countermarked coins may have been made from a genuine stamp intended for marking ingots, they appear to have been struck during the 1950s and 1960s. It even is possible that they are still being made."
Kunkel's Opera Troupe, Baltimore, Maryland
Kunkel’s Opera Troupe on an 1821 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers Baltimore Auction, 27 February 2019, lot 269)
KUNKEL'S / OPERA TROUPE
George Kunkel was born in Greencastle, Pennsylvania in 1821. He managed theaters in Washington and Richmond during the 1850s. At one time John Wilkes Booth was part of his company at the Jenny Lind Theater in Richmond. In 1855 Kunkel moved to Baltimore, where he managed the Holliday Street and Old Front Street Theaters. His company there was known as Kunkel's Opera Troupe and specialized in minstrel shows. He died in 1855 Russell Rulau, op. cit..
G. A. Lawrence, Ithaca. Michigan
G. A. Lawrence on an 1846 GC MP 8 Reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5253)
G.A. LAWRENCE arches above ITHACA. / MICH. / 1877 counterstamped on three horizontal lines.
W. Levis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
W. Levis on an 1807 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013, lot 21778)
W. LEVIS
William Levis spelled his name as both "Levis" and "Lewis." He seems to have been born in 1785 and died in 1842 or 1849. Unfortunately, the accounts provided in reference works differ, and it has proven difficult to trace the details of his life. While it is clear from his stamps that Levis wassil
silversmith, a person of this name is mentioned only infrequently in Philadelphia directories and usually with a different job, such as currier or an oil and leather merchant. That suggests William Levis worked near Philadelphia, rather than in the city itself. RulauRussell Rulau, op. cit. suggests he may have lived west of Philadelphia in Chester County, and that Levis also had a son of the same name. That, in turn, might explain why some countermarks are "LEVIS" and others are "LEWIS".
W. W. Long's Change Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
W. W. Long on an 1820 Mo 8 reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana sale, 14 September 2011, lot 749)
W.W. LONG / CHANGE / HOTEL / PHILA..
Also known as MUSEUM HOTEL / W. W. LONG / 376 SO 3D ST. PHILA. on a 2 reales. W. W. Long's Museum Hotel was listed in Philadelphia directories at this address from 1854 to 1857, when 3rd Street was renumbered. Long struck some of the most elaborate merchant tokens of the nineteenth century. On them he advertised "Pistol & Rifle Galleries, Bagatelle & Shuffle Boards, Liquors, Oysters, Segars, &c Refectory & Museum Hotel, Billiards & Bowling."
R. Lundy
R. Lundy on 1790 Mo FM 2 Reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5239)
R. LUNDY / IRON. AWNING / FRAME MAKER / 172 CHAMBERS ST on four lines
Robert Lundy was listed in the 1850 Census as a blacksmith in Ossining, New York). By 1859 he was located New York City, and the 1859 New York State Directory and Commercial Almanac placed him at 177 Chambers Street.
Meschutt's Metropolitan Coffee Room, New York
Meschutt’s on an 1777 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013. Lot 21791)
MESCHUTT'S / METROPOLITAN / COFFEE ROOM / 433. BDWAY.
Frederick Meschutt ran a restaurant or "eating house" at 559 Broadway in New York City in the 1860s.
L. Millers, New York
L. Millers on an 1816 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana sale, 14 September 2011, lot 758)
USE / L. MILLERS / HAIR / INVIGORATOR / N.Y. on an 1816 Mexico City 2 reales.
L. Miller began work as a hairdresser at 295 Bowery Street. By 1867 he was selling hair dye and hair invigoration at 25 cents and 50 cents a bottle.
The Model Artist's, New York
Model Artist’s on an 1790 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5234)
ADMIT / TO THE / MODEL ARTIST'S / 127 GRAND ST. / NEAR B.WAY
George Lea emigrated to the United States in 1819 at the age of 19 and eventually became the owner of several drug stores. In 1856 he entered into show business and though the show initially was non-successful he took the nation's first full spread newspaper advertisement and demand for his Model Artists's show increased.
According to Rulau the Model Artist's at 127 Grand Street was actually a "Nude review."
Neligans Worm Candy
Neligans on an 1772 ½ real (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013, lot 21960)
USE / NELIGANS / WORM CANDY.
Vermifuge products were popular products in the mid 1800s.
Dr. William Pierce, Boston, Massachusetts
Pierce’s on a 1797 Mo FM 2 Reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5240)
GOOD FOR / A BOTTLE / PIERCE'S / ROSETTA / HAIR TONIC on five lines horizontally .
Dr. William Pierce of Boston manufactured Pierce's Hair Tonic. The 13 July 1854 edition of the Boston Herald featured an ad that read: "Still another. . . Such certificates as this will show that PIERCE'S ROSETTA HAIR TONIC is just the thing for the head and hair. Boston, June 24, 1854. Mr. Pierce. . . Sir: I have used one bottle of your ROSETTA HAIR TONIC, and I must say it is far superior to the numerous articles advertised for preventing hair from falling off and turning gray. Yours, &c. J.H. Willey, Pearl Street." The price of a bottle was 25¢ and Pierce advertised "For sale wholesale and retail, by READING & CO. No. 8 State Street, G.C. GOODWIN, 99 Union Street, and by the proprietor, corner of Pearl and Purchase streets, Boston, Massachusetts. At retail by all druggists and apothecaries throughout the New England states."
W. S. Ridley
W. S. Ridley on a 186- 8 Reales (Stack’s Bowers auction, 11 December 2024, lot 70386)
MAY 1871 W.S. RIDLEY .
Apparently, this souvenir countermarked coin commemorate some important event in the lives of a Ridley family member.
John H. Rochestens, Rochester, New York
Rochestens on an 1813 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers Baltimore Auction, 21 March 2018, lot 792)
JNO. H. ROCHESTENS / BANKING OFFICE / ROCHESTER N.Y.
Sachem Oyster Saloon, New York
Sachem Oyster Saloon on an 1818 Zacatecas 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013, lot 21866)
SACHEM / OYSTER SALOON / 273 BOWERY.
S. Scoonmaker, New York
S. Schoonmaker on a 1783 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013. Lot 21870)
S. SCHOONMAKER.
William H. Schoonmaker operated a military cutlery and fancy hardware store at 181 Broadway in New York City.
S. Schmidt's Liquid Hair Dye, Baltimore, Maryland
Schmidt’s on a Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013, lot 21670)
S. SCHMIDT'S / LIQUID / HAIR DYE / BALTO MD.
Sterling
Sterling on 1812 Mo HJ. 4 reales (Stack’s Bowers auction, 14 November 2022, lot 71730)
STERLING.
It is unknown where, when, or by whom this countermark was struck, and even the obvious presumption that its purpose was to mark objects of sterling silver purity (0.925) is complicated by the fact that this 4 Reales piece is composed of 0.903 silver.
Stickler, New York
Stickler on an 1823 Mexico City ½ real (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013, lot 21885)
STICKLER.
During the 1820s John Stickler was a New York City silversmith at 104 Broadway.
Stiles
Stiles on the reverse of a 1848 Do 8 reales (Stack’s Bowers auction, 6 December 2023, lot 76401)
STILES.
Stoddard's, Philadelphia, Pennslyvania
Stoddard’s on 1782 Mo FF 2 Reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5238)
STODDARD'S / FAMILY DRY GOODS / STORES / 278-280 & 282 / Nth 2nd St / PHILA on six lines horizontally
The 1844 Philadelphia Business Directory listed Curwin Stoddard at the address listed on the counterstamp. By the time the 1865 directory arrived, the firm had become Stoddard and Brother.
Stoltz's Segar Store, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stoltz’s on an 1843 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction 14 August 2013, lot 21889)
A. K. STOLTZ'S / SEGAR STORE / PHILADA .
Adam Stoltz was listed at Noble above New Market in 1849. From 1854 to 1860 he was located at 307 North Third Street.
Andrew J. Sweet, Dryen, New York
Sweet on an 18-- 8 reales (Heritage Auction 63162, 3 January 2021, lot 44372)
A.J. SWEET
The 1860 Census listed Andrew J. Sweet as a thirty year old blacksmith in Dryden, New York.
G. W. Taylor
G. W. Taylor on 1837 Go PJ 8 reales (Stack’s Bowers auction, 16 May 2023, lot 40481)
G. W. TAYLOR
Texas 4 Bits
Texas 4 Bits on 1842 Zs OM 4 Reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5251)
TEXAS in rectangle above cap design of host coin, 4 BITS in rectangle below cap.
Brunk lists this and similar style pieces as Fantasies. He notes: "These are of a radically different style than countermarks of the 1840s. Such fantasy punches are very sharp, having been made from hardened steel stamps that produce razor-like thin letters."
Caleb C. Tracy, New York
C. C. Tracy on an 1805 Mo TH 2 Reales (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5244)
C.C. TRACY / SAW FILER / 458 HUDSON ST / NEW-YORK vertically across obverse portrait.
A saw filer by trade, Caleb C. Tracy was located on Hammersley Street in New York City in 1847. By 1848 he had relocated to 458 Hudson Street, the address on the coin illustrated.
Walcott Brothers, Boston, Massachusetts
Walcott’s Patent on a 1837 8 reales (Heritage Auction 1551, 15 December 2011, lot 4068)
WALCOTT'S PATENT JULY 27, 1852 in tiny letters and numbers.
Walcott Brothers Manufacturers Boston patented and made a scissors-like Graduated Button-Hole Cutter with the identical patent information seen on this coin. Examples of the rare tool are still in use today, after more than 150 years from manufacture.
Alphonso B. Walker, Iowa City, Iowa
A. B. Walker on a 1774 Mo 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013, lot 21904)
Iowa--Iowa City. A. B. WALKER. / ARTIST. / IOWA CITY.
Alphonso B. Walker was a photographer in Iowa City from 1858 to 1862. He subsequently moved in 1871 and became the steward of the Iowa Deaf and Dumb Institute in Council BluffsSteven Schooley, Steven. 1989. “A. B. Walker and His Counterstamped Coins,” in Gobrecht Journal 15 (March 1989), pp. 31-32..
Waltons Bitters, Cincinnati, Ohio
Waltons Bitters on an undated Cap and Rays 4 reales (Stack’s Bowers auction, 19 September 2024, lot 95750)
WE RECOMMEND / WALTONS BITTERS .
This Cincinnati patent medicine was made by Samuel W. WaltonCarlyn Ring, For Bitters Only, 1980.
Hermann Wettstein, Harvard, Illinois
Wettstein on an 1877 Ca JM 8 reales (Stack’s Bowers auction, 1 September 2021, lot 70696)
H. WETTSTEIN
The 1880 Illinois State Gazetteer noted "H. Wettstein, watches, clocks, and jewelry, Harvard, Ill."
Whitbeck's Circus
Whitbeck’s Circus (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 14 August 2013, lot 21908)
Henry Mortimer Whitbeck and his partners Charles H. Castle and Washington Kidwell started their "Original One-Horse Show" circus in 1854. The circus briefly traveled the Ohio River and its tributaries on a steamboat that summer, but was bankrupt by the time it reached Pittsburgh in October. That fact dates these pieces to the middle of 1854. Seemingly unphased he continued in the circus business and died in September 1871 as a passenger on a circus train when another train collided with his. A nice bold counterstamp with TBECK'S all struck twice.
C. Whitcom
C. Whitcom on a 1785 Mo FF 1 Real (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5233)
C.WHITCOM 1827 in fancy Spencerian script within crenulated cartouche diagonally across coin .
Wood's Minstels, New York
Wood’s Minstrels on a 1790 Mexico City 2 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction 14 August 2013, lot 21922)
ADMIT / TO / WOOD'S / MINSTRELS / 444 BDWAY / NY.
Wood's Minstrels was the successor of Christy and Woods Minstrels - which also countermarked coins. Wood's original Minstrel Hall was located at 446 and 448 Broadway, and is known from a contemporary notice to have performed Poor Uncle Tom in 1852. The troupe advertised in both the August 1853 New York Times and New York Herald.
The Minstrel Hall burned down in 1854. The show reopened in 1857 on the site of the old Lyceum of Natural History. In 1866 Wood's Minstrels remodeled the Jewish Synagogue at 514 Broadway and turned it into a theaterWerner G. Mayer, "Woods Minstrels and Other Tokens of New York City," in TAMS Journal 1975, p 155.
GW
GW on 1762 M 1 Real (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5232)
GW in small rectangular cartouche.
Wyoming Armory, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Wyoming Armory c. 1872
Wyoming (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5236)
WYOMING on 1780 Mo FF 2 Reales.
This counterstamp for the Wyoming Armory in Cheyenne, Wyoming, originated with Frank W. Freund, a gunsmith who held a number of patents. From 1865 to 1867 he worked in Nebraska City, Nebraska, then briefly in Julesburg and Denver, Colorado. From 1867 to 1885 he was in Cheyenne, Wyoming, ending his career in New Jersey. From 1867 to 1880 he partnered with his brother, George, and their trademark was "Wyoming Armory." Both that trademark or simply WYOMING appears on the lock plates of the firearms they produced.
Dr. William Young, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Wm. Young (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5241)
Dr. Wm. YOUNG arches above No 152 SPRUCE St / PHILA. on two lines below, all inverted on 2 reales
Dr. William Young of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania operated an "Infirmary for Diseases of the Skin" at 33 South Fourth Street in 1838. From 1841 to 1857 he was located at 152 North Spruce, moving to 416 on the same street soon thereafter. During his merchant days he advertised variously as a physician, chemist, and oculist. His son, William Young, Jr. joined his practice in 1859.
Federal eagle
Federal eagle on 1774 Mo FM 1 real (Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Americana Sale, 30 September 2010, lot 5264)
Boldly impressed and intricately designed federal-style eagle at center, perhaps the mark of a gunsmith though no information is found in the Brunk reference.
Three busts
Three busts on a 1759 Mexico City 8 reales (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction 14 August 2013, lot 21938).
The counterstamps have a more "modern" look to them, and might be of early-to-mid 20th century manufacture.