Counterstamps on Dollar sized coins - IS a stamp authentic?
      

The premiums placed on counter-stamps motivates the creation of spurious counterstamps.          This temptation is magnified with the advent of eBay, where the value of a common coin can be multiplied by the application of a counterstamp.       When considering whether a given mark is authentic, there is no hard and fast rule.      In the early 1960s, I assisted as my father picked though over a million circulating Morgan dollars he had obtained from banks. (In most cases, these bags had been sealed decades earlier. We found many rarities including multiple1893-S, 1894 P, 1903-O, 1898-O (then QUITE rare!),  even an 1895-P!. Yet we did not encounter a single counterstamped piece.       Based on this survey, very few counterstamped Morgan dollars could have been created  and returned to banks before the early 20th century. Pieces may have been stamped somewhat later (e.g. N.S. & Co.) and/or maintained as pocket pieces and/or rejected as "mutilated".

                          

                

Exampes of Better Documented Stamps
Maurice M. Gould is recocgnized as a pioneer in the field. He collected and catalogued these pieces when there was little motive to "fake" a piece, which likely would have been considered mutilated.      He identified some of the "classic" pieces, such as Polhemus, Sage Candy Coin, Houck's Panacea, etc, in a number of articles, 1947, 1957, 1962 & 1967.    An issuer identified by Gould (1)  would be considered original by the   toughest of judges. (Of course, the recognized stamps can be faked !     See Featuring Fakes - Do you have the original ? Virgil Hancock              The Numismatist Feb 1971
Gregory Brunk expanded on  Maurice M. Gould's work. Dr. Brunk, in addition to buying a number of  Gould's pieces  was collecting at a time when many of these pieces might be found in a dealer's "junk" box.      Again, a piece illustrated by Brunk was probably created for a "legitimate" purpose, i.e. other than to fool collectors. Rulau, whose work was broader, encompassing al Merhant's tokens, also included counterstamps, which are generally considered genuine.      Some of the more  "common" pieces, are more likely to be  genuine. For example, "EC Beardsely", though a "maverick" is documented on 2  seated quarters ,  4 seated halves and one foreign coin, a Prussia Vereinsthaler, 1865-A, Y-170a. The 1879 Morgan Dollar illustrated as by  Brunk  B29390 is now  in my colletion as well as two other pieces, an  1884 and 1886-O.  Close comparison indicates that these are from an identical stamp.     Another example of a "common" piece, which ws collected by Brunk and illlustrated in the 2006 sale of his collection is "N.S. & Co." which the cataloge attributed to Nate Snellenberg  & Co. a Philadelphia store which was in business until the 1960's.  The Brunk collection piece is dated 1880. You can see subtle diferences that result from the stamp application by overalying the Brunk piece with the examples I have on 1878 and 1890-O dollars.

QUESTIONABLE COUNTERSTAMPS
THE classic example of a counterstamp made to fool the numismatic community is the “8 BITS” / “TEXAS” stamps which appeared in the 1950's, supposedly originating a century earlier in the Republic of Texas. (Bruce X 18).   The perpetrator of this mark “sacrificed” a 1795 flowing hair dollar to bolster the story.
This illustration from my collection:      The "undertype' piece was manufactured by soldering together an 1898 obverse with a New Orleans mint reverse. Obviously this was done at a time when the 1898-O was considered a rarirty.  (See June 1962 ad.)   The fake 1898-O dollar was apparently counterstamped to detract from the fraud.
In March 2007 a major auction house, unable to verify the authenticity of a good number of counterstamps, withdrew them from auction after publishing the catalog.    The sale included "classic" stamps, (presumed genuine) such as Sage Candy Coin, Phillip's Cheap Store, Polhemus, Parisian Varieties and countermarked Stone Mounatin commemorative halves.      Forty out of sixty lots were withdrawn when the catalogers could not satsify themselves as to the authenticity of the pieces, including also:   1872 Seated Dollar stamped T.P. BARBER    Morgan Dollar  stamped L.C. CALDWELL    Morgan Dollar  stamped W.E. CHAPMAN    Maximilian peso stamped NEWELL    France 5 Francs, l'An 9 stamped C.H. CHESLEY      Also withdrawn was this piece, ascribed to a 19th-century San Francisco saloon. The lot was accompanied by a contemporary advertisement.
The example on the right was listed by a major auction house as:  Scotland.  Countermarked Dollar, ND (1811) "Questionable Counterstamp, Sold As is", enclosed in a PCGS Holder, graded AU 55. (Hopefully authenticating the coin and not the stamp)    The style just looks wrong to me - compare "Lanarck Mills" and other stamps. The lettering style looks wrong and conflicts with the apparent care that was taken in forming the stamp and prserving it for 200 years. I would agree with  the seller who labeled "questionable"! Goldberg Coins & Collectibles May 29, 2007 Lot 3576 est $1,500 - $2,000              - WITHDRAWN !!  after spirited mail bidding.

One consideration in judging the authenticity of a counterstamp or countermark is the motivation of the person who altered the coin. One question one should always consider when buying an otherwise unauthenticatable stamped piece is, "At the earliest time you can confirm the existence of the stamp, was the coin worth more or less by virtue of having been altered?"      In the case of the following piece, I would conclude that the altered piece, which I purchased on eBay in 2008 for $23, had its value diminished by virtue of the stamp, thus making it less likely that the stamp was applied to artificially inflate its value.

(1) Marks identified by Gould (** Illustrated in Merchant Counterstamps on American Silver Coins.)

Silver dollars
4. 1795, PATENT/H. JONES, 1854     **
5. 1843, J. L. POLHEMUS, DRUGGIST, 190 J ST. COR. 7th
6. 1860, CHARLES H. RICHARDSON, BATON ROUGE, LA.
7. 1867, obv. ROBERT TURNER & SON; rev. BALTIMORE

TRADE DOLLARS
21. 1873, Lotus in large oblong counterstamp
22. 1874, SAGE'S CANDY COIN **

U.S. HALF DOLLARS
30. 1825, E.E. CHILD'S JR., 16 CHAPMAN PLACE
31. 1857, FRENCH & SON, obv. and rev.
32. 1853 and 1858; CHINA TEA CO. (Bangor, Maine)
33. HOUCK'S PANACEA, on various dates of bust half-dollars

34. 1865, JOHN H. JENKINS, SILVER GROVE   **
35. 1810 and 1833; McKENNEY-GUNSMITH, BIDDEFORD (Maine)
36. 1817, DR. KIRSTEAD, DENTIST, BOSTON
37. 1833, obv. PHILADELPHIA; rev. WARRANTED
38. 1874, SAGE'S CANDY COIN
39. 1865, PARISIAN VARIETIES, 16th ST. and BROADWAY, NEW YORK
40. Lib. seated half-dollar, W. PACKARD, ELYRIA, OHIO
41. 1876, SAGADA HOCKHOUSE
42. 1853, DR. SHATTUCK'S WATER CURE, WATERFORD, MAINE
43. 1859, WE RECOMMEND WALTIN'S BITTERS
44. 1833, DR. G. G. WILKINS
45. 1842, YOUNG THE MAGICIAN

46.   ** Obv. R. R. 1879; Rev. T. H. H. 121/2¢; on 1872 half-dollar. This
47. 1901, VIVA EL COCO.

U.S. QUARTER DOLLARS
70. 1876, USE DR. W. H. ALLEN'S SWEET WORM WAFERS, YOUNGSTOWN,
OHIO. PRICE $1.00. SOLD BY ALL DRUGGISTS.
71. 1857, H. A. BALCH, ARTIST, JOLIET, ILL.   **
72. Lib. seated quarter, J. L. BARNES SALOON, BRYAN, TEX   **
73. 1877, BRINKS
74. 1806, JAS. S. BRADLEY, GILDER and FRAMEMAKER, 154 WILLIAMS
ST., NEW YORK - very rare
75. 1853, China Tea Co., Bangor, Me.   **
76. 1858, TRY COREY'S OINTMENT   **
77. Lib seated quarter, JAMES B. DARLING, CHICAGO, ILL
78. 1819, HOWARD & DAVIS, BOSTON on obv., L.Y. on rev.
79. 1878, G.N. DEMOND, GORHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE
80. 1853, R.L. FRAZER, JEWELER, LAWRENCE, KT. very rare
81. 1854, Use G.G.G. and G.G.G.G.
82. 1875, G.S. GATES, RUTLAND, MASS.
83. 1804, CHAS. W. GEEKIE, NO.   **
84. 1853, AMBROTYPE BY MOSES HALE   **
85. 1854, J. E. HUDSON, PROV., R.I. on obv and rev.
86. 1853, STR. JEWEL (The Steamer Jewel was a coastwise craft running
from Portland, Maine to Gardner and also to Nova Scotia about 1900).
87. KNIGHTS MINERAL SALOON
88. Lib. seated, LOVETT'S PRIVATE STOCK WHISKEY
89. Lib. seated, E. SMET. MONT.
90. 1807, MODEL ARTISTS EXHIBITION (admit to the Model Artists,127 Grand St., near B'wy.)
91. Lib. seated, J. J. OUTLEY, ARTIST   **
92. 1847 (1874?) , SAGE'S CANDY COIN
93. 1853, J.M. TAYLOR, BROKER, CHATHAM ST., COR. JAMES, N.Y.   **
94. 1857, WILDER HOUSE
95. 1856, DR. SHATTUCK'S WATER CURE, WATERFORD, MAINE
96. 1853, YANKEE BLADE
97. 1876, MILLER HOUSE

U.S. DIMES
150. 1821, AYER
160. Lib. seated, COLUMBIA AND SHAMROCK rev., 10 SENSE
170. 1887, GEORGE WILDER with eagle in center
180. 1841, Use G.G.G.
190. 1838, SMITH & GEMRIG

U.S. HALF DIMES
220. 1837 and other dates; Use G.G.G.    **

3¢ SILVER
240. DR. G. G. WILKINS

Miscellaneous names stamped into silver coins: Gould collection (“mavericks”)
    1798 silver dollar, N.S. in square
    1797 silver dollar, M.E. COFFIN
    1822 half—dollar, RUEGER
    1805 quarter, 0. H. MUNSON in curved small counterstamp
    1834 dime, B. S.
    1845 half—dime, S. LOOMIS
    1868 half—dollar, LUCY LAW

Engrave pieces listedd by gould;
Trade dollar, 1873, beautifully engraved, "G. P. Mitchell" with old steam engine.
1810 half dollar
    "Presented to Miss Lydia Conyers by A. Nettleton for her kind attention to him during sickness in the M. G. Hospital,1824."
1854 half dollar, rev. "Quinebaug Cornet Band."

1853 silver dollar "Honorable Daniel Wells, Jr. to J.L.Davis,
1862     "         “    J. L. Davis died Aug. 10, 1867.
1878 half dollar  "Sunday School of Christ Church, Medford."
1887 quarter; "Our Whist Club, First Prize, 1887."

 Lib seated quarter, rev. "Running High Kick, 3rd Class, F. Burgess, 6' 8", 1894."

Silver Dollar, 1799, engraved Rev.
"Seymour Harris, Park Theatre, No. ( ), New York, Aug. 9, 1834;"

Baden, 2 marks, silver. 
 BUFFALO NUMISMATIC ORGANIZATION, ORGANIZED MAY 13, 1927.

Prussia silver, JONES EXCHANGE HOTEL, 77 DOCK ST. (Pennsylvania).

New Granda Dollar, 1839
 J.L. POLHEMUS, DRUGGIST, 190 J ST., COR. 7TH, SACRAMENTO, CALIF.

Chinese Silver Dollar,
  PRESIDENT, R.H. LLOYD; TREASURER, N.H. HOPKINS; SECRETARY, S. MOSHER, 1931. Originally in the Mosher collection.
            Same stamp known on Early French Crown and 1727 English Crown

French Crown, 1732. ADAMS, 1833. R. METCALF, WARRANTED,with small eagle.

Badly double struck silver counterfeit of a gold dollar stamped J.B. SHAW, BOOKSELLER.     American Numismatic Society collection


R. F. counterstamp for Guadeloupe.
Both bust halves and quarters with the R. F. counterstamp are known.
1815 quarter and  1815 half—dollar.

"The King of Counterstamps."St. Thomas Museum, Manila.
a 1794 U.S. silver dollar with the Manila countermark "Y.11.".

"Y.11.". 20 cent to silver dollars.
Fleur de lis Lis counterstamp of Puerto Rico. 20 cent to silver dollars.

8 REALES
300. 1818 counterfeit, NEW ENGLAND HOUSE, struck twice on obverse
301. J.L. POLHEMUS, DRUGGIST, 190 J ST. COR. 7TH (Sacramento, Calif.)

4 REALES
310. CONSULT DR. DARBY, BOSTON
314. 1813 WOOD'S MINSTRELS, 144 BROADWAY

2 REALES
320. C.M. BERRY SALOON, N.W.C. 5th &CHESNUT PHILA.   **
321. 1786 BLANCHARD HOUSE, MONMOUTH, ILL   **
322. O. & P. BOUTWELL, 7 GRAND DIVISION ST., TROY, NEW YORK, 1835.. Low 174.
323. 1780, FINE PICTURES, CHEAPEST IN THE CITY. A. S. S. BRADLEY. GILDER AND FRAMEMAKER AND MIRRORS, 154 WM. ST., NEW YORK.

324. CONSULT DR. DARBY, BOSTON    **
325. Obv. CONSULT DR. DARBY, BOSTON; and GOOD FOR A BOTTLE
OF PIERCE'S ROSETTA HAIR TONIC; Rev. CONSULT DR. DARBY
326. HENRY DISSTON (Philadelphia Eagle)
327. EBLING'S COLUMBIAN, GARDEN, 200, BOWERY, N.Y.
328. FITCH'S; Counterstamped three times.


329. Pillar type; R. FLANAGAN'S PUNCH, 112 NO. 6TH ST. (punchbowl in center)   **
330. 1722. Guarantee Development Co. No. Beachhaven, New Jersey
331. HOUCK'S PANACEA, BALTIMORE

332. 1807, HUTCHINGS, 385 WWAY, N.Y.   **
333. JONES EXCHANGE HOTEL, 77 DOCK ST. incused
334. 1761, J. T. JONES, SAN FRANCO, CORNER MONTG. AND COMMERCIAL
ST. in circle **
335. KNIGHT'S MINERAL WATER SALOON, 99 BALTIMORE ST.
336. 1744 KUNKEL'S OPERA TROUPE -
337. MERCHUTT'S METROPOLITAN COFFEE ROOM. RM. 433, BD.
338. USE MILLER'S HAIR INVIGORATOR, 295 BOWERY, NEW YORK.
    “found on many coins.”
339. MODEL ARTIST EXHIBITION. ADMIT TO THE MODEL ARTISTS,
            127 GRAND, NEAR BROADWAY
340. 1821, GOOD FOR A BOTTLE OF PIERCE'S ROSETTA HAIR TONIC
341. SACHEM OYSTER SALOON, 273 BOWERY, extra rare
342. STOLTZ'S SEGAR STORE, PHILA. PA.
343. THOMAS H. KOSSUTH'S EX. PHILA. PA.
344. 1822, J.M. TAYLOR, BROKER, CHATHAM ST., COR. JAMES
345. WYMAN, WIZARD AND VENTRILOQUIST
346. 1774, YOUNG, THE MAGICIAN
1794, 2 reale, counterstamped "O.T. PETERSON, CH, TOWN, P.E.I." (Canada)

ONE REALE
400. USE DR. KIDDER'S FAMILY PILLS (in circle)
401. USE MILLER'S HAIR INVIGORATOR, 295 BOWERY, NEW YORK
402. 1807, DR. KIMBALL, DENTIST, BOSTON
403. 1804, R. PAINE, SPRINGFIELD

404. 1821, STONE & BALL  **

ONE HALF REALE
410. E.F. SISE & CO. The above dies used on a Spanish I/2 reale showing
only a portion of the lettering. Low #132

CUT SECTION
415. P.B. (Puech, Bein & Co.) Script in circle of rings. Counterstamped
on quarter section of Spanish 8 reales.
Rev. Nouvelle, Orleans, and eagle counterstamped.

Gould collection:
W.S. on 2 reale
R.D. on both 1 reale and 4 reale
M.C. in square on 2 reale
B.P. in square on 2 reale
C.S. on 1 reale