Beautifully Preserved 1857 Charleston Slave Hire Badge
An Historic Relic of Urban Slavery
1857 Charleston (South Carolina) slave hire badge. Servant. #2084. Choice Extremely Fine. 51.2 x 49.6 mm. 102.4 grains. An evocative relic of antebellum Charleston in as-found condition, at once tragic and triumphant. The surfaces are deep olive with light earthen highlights in the recessed areas of the design. The punches are bold and fully-impressed, sharper than often seen on tags of this era. The obverse retains good natural gloss despite fine granularity, as free of corrosion as any dug slave badge I've examined. The eye appeal of this specimen is finer than 99% of surviving examples, making this a fine "type" example for the collector who seeks to own but one slave tag. The Servant occupation is the most common of those known, more common than Porter and Mechanic(k), far more common than rarities like Fisher, Huckster, Fruiterer, and House Servant (known from 1800 only). In badge year 1857, 3,680 slave badges were issued, the fewest of the entire decade of the 1850s. Of these, about half were for Servants or domestics. Though numbers of slave tags known has increased in recent years, survivorship is still probably under 1% of those issued. I catalogued my first slave hire badge more than a decade ago and first viewed them, like many in the numismatic world, at the 1993 sale of John Ford's collection of these haunting relics. While most slaves in the antebellum South had little or no freedom of movement, those covered by Charleston's slave hire badge laws were allowed limited freedom to move about the city (so long as they wore their badge). Further, their owners were permitted to hire them out; many owners allowed badged slaves to work on their own behalf on "their time," allowing the enslaved residents of Charleston to draw an income and work towards purchasing their own freedom. While other Southern towns had slave hire badge ordinances, only badges from Charleston and Charleston Neck are known today. Modern fakes comprise an alarming proportion of those in the marketplace; I personally guarantee the authenticity of this piece for as many lifetimes as the purchaser wishes. Slave hire badges ought not be collected because they're charming, or rare, or attractive, but as especially personal reminders of the nature of urban slavery in the American South. It is instructive to ponder that the same man who made this tag also made similar tags for the dogs of Charleston. This badge, issued the year that the Supreme Court decided Dred Scott was not an American citizen, was an emblem of both freedom and bondage to the South Carolinian who wore it...Hold
(1859) William Idler / Getz half dollar obverse storecard. White metal, 34 mm. Baker-544C, Whitman Encyclopedia-15940. Choice About Uncirculated. Flashy and deeply reflective tin-silver surfaces are barely mellowed, nearly as bright as the day Lincoln was elected. Some light marks and hairlines are noted, wire rim a bit flattened atop reverse, tiny bruise on rim at base of reverse. Excellent overall eye appeal; due to the soft nature of the composition, this variety is rarely perfect. Idler was one of the best known Philadelphia coin dealers in the era of the Civil War, serving as a middleman as the US Mint profiteered off restrikes and patterns served up as rarities to unknowing collectors. Robert Lovett, Jr. engraved these dies; within two years of this production, he finished his most famous engraving work, accomplished for the Confederacy. With the original 1792 Getz half dollars standing as great rarities, this historic storecard makes a fine stand-in. Of course, it bears collecting on its own merits as a scarce and interesting token from the earliest days of American coin dealing. This example once resided in the legendary Ted Craige collection...Sold
Roller skate / F.W.N. love token. on 1882 dime. Extremely Fine. Holed. A well-rendered engraving of a single old-fashioned roller skate on the reverse of a deeply toned Seated dime. Roller skating became a Victorian American fad around the 1880s, and this piece was probably given to a particular devotee of the new sport about that time. The depiction of the skate is both accurate and detailed. Needless to say, this is a very unusual subject for a love token!...Sold
Scarce (1834) Low-3 Hard Times Token
(1834) Andrew Jackson Hard Times token. Brass. Low-3, HT-5, Dewitt CE 1834-29. Rarity-3. Extremely Fine. Brassy yellow highlights on devices and legends contrast with dark gray-black fields. The obverse is even and choice in appearance, with only some minor hairlines and some old peripheral buildup noted under a glass. The reverse is naturally mottled in appearance, with a small area of typical softness at OR of GLORIOUS, opposite the highest relief of Jackson's portrait. This piece offers superb originality and finer sharpness than usually seen on this scarce Hard Timer...Sold
1816 Sir Isaac Brock token. Copper, 26.5 mm. Breton-724, Charlton UC-6A2. About Uncirculated. Diagonally reeded edge. While there are a few Canadian pre-Confederation tokens with American relevance, perhaps none bears as direct a reference as the scarce Isaac Brock token, memorializing the British Army officer who took Detroit in 1812 and was killed by American forces at Queenston Heights, Upper Canada (Ontario) on October 13 of that year. This token is notoriously tough to find in top grade, but this example is frosty light brown with some remaining lustre and excellent visual appeal. Only the most minor marks are seen, along with a couple of trivial raised specks in the southwest quadrant of the reverse. Though there is an entire series of American medals marking the War of 1812 (both military and naval), there is relatively little to collect from the opposition. The Brock token deserves to be better known, and more widely collected, among American numismatists...Sold
1813/1818 (i.e. 1840) William Henry Harrison / Battle of the Thames political medalet. German silver, 30.6 mm. Dewitt 1836 WHH-1. Very Fine. Holed, as typical. Attractive light nickel gray with a hint of golden toning. An attractive specimen of this scarce Harrison medalet, avidly collected by War of 1812 enthusiasts as well as political collectors. A little speck is noted at the truncation of Harrison's bust, another at OCT in the reverse exergue, only minor hairlines noted under scrutiny. Some light wear is noted, less than other examples seen. A die crack through G of GEN is seen on some specimens but not all. Copied from Harrison's War of 1812 Congressional medal, this piece is unique among the American political series as a direct copy of a US Mint product. With very few War of 1812 medals in private hands before 1840 -- presumably just those handful struck for officers who served in the campaign or given to the recipient directly by the Congressional awardee -- it stands to reason that whomever had this medalet struck was very close to Harrison. Dewitt dates this to the 1836 election, but the existence of specimens overstruck on later-dated large cents (1837 and 1838) makes this a more likely candidate for the Election of 1840. I've handled one of these in silver, but most are either copper or German silver, as here. They're scarce in any format, and make for nice additions to a collector full of Congressional medals...$425
Rare Civil War-Era Photographer's Counterstamp
HA BALCH / ARTIST / JOLIET, ILL counterstamped on 1853 Arrows and Rays half dollar. Brunk Very Fine. Nice deep antique gray patina contrasts with lighter silver devices. H. A. BALCH / ARTIST is neatly marked in the right obverse field from prepared punches; JOLIET, ILL is in the left on a single line. Some light old scratches are seen in the obverse fields, minor rim bruise at 9:00 on obverse. Very attractive overall. A scarce and historic advertising countermark from a photographer active in the Midwest from the mid-1850s through the late 1870s. Balch did most of his Civil War era work in Memphis, billing himself as H.A. Balch's Star Photograph Gallery or as a partner in Peplow and Balch's Star Gallery. He appears to have been in Joliet earlier, winning a prize for his daguerrotypes from the Illinois State Agricultural Society in 1857, but he also went back later in life, as an 1877 Joliet directory lists "H. Balch" as a "daguerreian" in town. Most of his marks are on coins from the mid 1850s, which makes me think these are from his first hitch in Joliet as a photographer. His Civil War-related CDVs included both the famous (Sherman, Grant) and the rank and file soldiers. One can imagine his work in Joliet is both rarer and more pedestrian. Among photography-related token issues, this one is rightly prized...$575
Great Boston Fire of 1872 countermark on 1865 two cent piece. Very Fine. An unusual historical memento, with GREAT BOSTON FIRE stamped in single letter punches around the reverse periphery of the coin and NOV 9 1872 at center. Despite the fact that this piece was prepared from single letter punches, I have no doubt of the age of the countermarking, as the patina is consistent and light old encrustation persists within the recesses of the stamps. The coin is attractive dark chocolate brown with glossy surfaces and light verdigris on both sides. Could this coin have survived the Great Boston Fire of 1872? Though less well known than its Chicago counterpart a year earlier, the Great Fire seriously altered the landscape of Boston and helped produce the city that persists to this day. This is the first time I've ever seen this event commemorated numismatically...Sold
1868 General U.S. Grant Election medalet. Bronze, 21 mm. Dewitt USG 1868-37. Choice Mint State. A beautiful gem-like little medalet for Grant's first campaign, struck by Peter Jacobus of Philadelphia and signed "J" under the relief of the bust truncation by him. Some light dusky buildup and a few specks are noted under a glass, but the bronzed mahogany surfaces gleam with their natural reflectivity. A very well-made and charming piece with a detailed portrait of Grant on the obverse and a bold eagle on the reverse. Most political medalets from this election are nowhere near so well done...Sold
"Andrew Johnson / Madison, Wisconsin" engraved on the reverse of an 1858-O Seated half dollar. Engraving Very Fine or so, coin About Good. A fascinating personal love token: does this refer to President Andrew Johnson, who rose to the White House upon the death of Lincoln in April 1865, or another fellow with this presumably common name? The engraving is finely executed, with a heavy circular border around the central reverse device setting the lettering off from the undercoin. There is no evidence that this piece was ever worn or mounted. The eye appeal is very pleasing, particularly so for the worn state of the coin. The tops of the date digits and the full New Orleans mintmark are visible; it is interesting to ponder the trip this piece may have made up the Mississippi. I can't say I've ever encountered any engraved piece referencing Madison, Wisconsin before...Sold
1896 Bryan dollar. Silver, 52 mm. As HK-785, As Shornstein-18. Extremely Fine. A unique engraved pocket piece from the Election of 1896, apparently carried by a man named Theodore Butz. The reverse has been carefully engraved "ELECTION OF 1896 / Presidential Candidates / 272 - Wm McKINLEY Wm J. BRYAN - 175 / McKINLEY'S PLURALITY 572349 with THEODORE BUTZ at the base of the cartwheel. Light silver gray with many fine marks, small rim nicks, a rim bruise, and other evidence of handling. Theodore Butz is a surprisingly common name, but our guy might be the one who is listed as a Notary Public in Winnetka, IL in 1908 - Winnetka was strong McKinley territory. Shornstein-18 is described as "extremely rare" and is identical but for two little decorations besides the names of the candidates. This would be a nice addition to any collection of Bryan money or political numismatic Americana....$795
1848 Zachary Taylor Presidential medalet. Pewter, 41 mm. Dewitt ZT 1848-4. Choice Extremely Fine or better. Holed as issued. An original 1848 striking, distinctive in surface and strike from the ca. 1860 restrikes as described by Dewitt. One of the most distinctive pieces from this historic election, one whose numismatic mementos are nearly are rare in original form. This one showcases Taylor in a charming portrait to left with the inscription "Major Gen. Z. Taylor Never Surrenders" on the obverse with a pair of quotes from Taylor on the reverse: "A little more grape, Captain Bragg" at center and "I ask no favors & I shrink from no responsibility" around the periphery. The first, a misquote of a line uttered by Taylor at Buena Vista, became the most recognizable motto of his unlikely candidacy. The second line was part of Taylor's acceptance speech at the Whig convention in Philadelphia (at the Philadelphia Museum, best known to numismatists for its 1821-dated token depicting founded Charles Willson Peale). Taylor wasn't much of a politician; before the election that took him to the White House, he had never even bothered to vote. He turned out to not be much of a President either, lasting in office just 16 months and not making many friends along the way. Still, his medallic portraits are avidly sought. This one is missing from most collections, particularly in its 1848 form....$750
(1908) Thomas Elder portrait storecard. Aluminum, 51 mm. Delorey-1. Mint State. A handsome example of this classic early 20th century numismatist's token, with a fine profile portrait of Elder on the obverse and his advertisement on the reverse, listing an address near Madison Square Park that now houses a Subway and a Chinese restaurant. Some light marks and hairlines are present, a few flecks above Elder's head, no severe corrosion or pesting as so often seen on this issue. This piece bears an august provenance via John W. Adams to Leonard V. Holland, the famed large cent collector and longtime friend of Elder. Perhaps the most desirable of the long line of emissions from Elder...$425
USE NELIGAN'S WORM CANDY counterstamp on 1843 large cent. Brunk N-67. Countermark Fine, large cent worse. A rare and interesting merchant mark advertising a rather unlikely sounding vittle: worm candy. The mark is clear and well-outlined at the center of the worn large cent, looking about as sharp as it does on the 1856 dime that serves as the Brunk plate coin. Brunk recorded just one other specimen, struck on a 1772 half real. Though there isn't any information on Neligan or his untasty-sounding candy in Brunk, there is some information to be found online. Apparently, the "worm candy" were lozenges meant as a "remedy for the extermination of worms," i.e Ascaris and other sorts of wormy varmints. Neligan's Worm Candy, also known as Neligan's English Worm Candy or just Neligan's Candy, was distributed from Woodstock in modern-day Ontario by a Scottish doctor named Robert Stark, who advertised this product and others via his "Robert Stark's Canadian Almanac and Receipt Book" in the early 1860s. Neligan's Worm Candy, it appears, can join the small numbers of Canadian counters tampers, notably led by the prolific Devins and Bolton. Patent medicine marks are always popular, and this is a particularly elusive one...$475
1859 John Brown SLAVERY THE SUM OF ALL VILLANIES medalet. Silvered (tinned) white metal, 31 mm. Dewitt SL 1859-1. Extremely Fine. A rare format for this popular medalet, not listed in Dewitt in silvered white metal, though a prooflike finish white metal format is the one most often seen. Lustrous silver gray with light surface marks and hairlines, some light rim nicks, vertical parallel scratches in reverse field apparently part of the silvered (i.e. tinned) finish. The obverse inscription comes from a quote from John Wesley that the slave trade is "the sum of all villanies," giving this medalet an unusual connection to Methodism. A very desirable piece, issued at one of the great crossroads in American history...$575
Engraved Civil War ID Badge / Dogtag on New Orleans Mint half dollar. Very Fine. Obverse planed down and carefully engraved "Wm. Dunn / War of 1861 / 11th Ill. Inf." Reverse shows mounting marks at 12:00 and 6:00 from a pin mount, no longer present. A floral wreath decorates the bottom of the engraved obverse, vertical decoration between "of" and "1861." Light hairlines are seen from old polishing, arc of old toning near base of engraved side, nice eye appeal overall. As evocative a Civil War dogtag as any around, issued to a regiment that saw action at some of the most notable engagements in the Western Theatre of the Civil War: Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and more. There were two William Dunns in the regiment. One is identified as an 18 year old private, a farmer from Anna, Illinois, not the sort of person you'd expect to have a large silver dogtag (a half dollar was a lot of money to tie up!). The other served as a corporal in Company D, a 26 year old from Rockford in northern Illinois whose occupation was identified as "showman," seemingly a far more likely case for a big, showy, silver ID badge. That William Dunn was killed in action at Fort Donelson on February 16, 1862, one of roughly 60% of the unit to be injured, killed, or missing in action at the battle where U.S. Grant first made a name for himself. It is interesting to ponder the path of this New Orleans Mint half dollar from deep in what would become the Confederacy, up the Mississippi River into Illinois, onto the chest of a showman-soldier who fell on the banks of the Cumberland in Tennessee. A truly unique relic...Hold
1875 Lingg and Brother Jewelers storecard / 99th Anniversary of Independence medalet. White metal, 23 mm. Miller-317, Slabaugh-1 Choice Mint State. Plain edge. Holed as issued, original bright blue ribbon still present. One of seemingly hundreds of Centennial-era muling by the Lingg firm in Philadelphia, this one pairs the most popular obverse -- that of the Libertas Americana medal -- with a reverse that actually marks the 1875 celebration of the 99th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This medalet was actually given away to the schoolchildren present who sang the Star-Spangled Banner, tied to a flower bouquet. Whichever kid received this one was clearly a burgeoning young numismatist, as it has been nicely preserved with full lustre, prooflike surfaces, no tinpest, and just one little cut on the obverse rim near 8:00. A beautiful example from this practice run for the Centennial...Hold
(ca. 1898?) Spanish-American War military ID disk / box dollar. Nickel-plated brass and photograph, 37 mm. Extremely Fine. Reeded edge. A charming piece, depicting an enameled US flag on the obverse. The reverse has spaces for "Reg. - No.," "Comp'y No.," and "Regist. No," but the regiment, company, and registration numbers are not filled in. Below, W.S. BARNES / McKINNEY / TEX has been nicely engraved. When triggered at 6:00 below the flag with a thumbnail, the lid pops open to reveal a photograph of a somewhat dour couple, presumably Barnes' parents. Some light scratches are noted below the photo from clumsy attempts to open the box. The latch and hinge are in perfect working order, the flag show only minor defects, and the eye appeal is very nice overall. Most box dollars come from the decade of the Columbian Exposition or thereabouts, so it's possible this piece actually predates the Spanish-American War. Not a typical, common box dollar type, the first I've seen...$375
1868 Ulysses S. Grant ferrotype campaign pin. Gilt brass with ferrotype, 29 mm. Dewitt USG 1868-63 (?). Extremely Fine. An exceptionally well preserved half-length photograph of Grant in his military dress, standing slight to left, as Dewitt's "portrait number 3," but a waist-up view instead of just shoulders-up. This variety does not appear to be listed among Dewitt's exhaustive catalogue of Grant political ferrotypes and shellcards. Though similar to USG 1868-63, the somewhat vague description of that variety refers to a previous variety that depicts a more truncated photograph. The pinback of this piece is no longer present, and though that is certainly a defect, it makes the piece easier to store among coins and medals without the fear of scratching other specimens. The frame is a bit toned, but the photograph is just about flawless...$425
1862 Young America / U.S. Armory Springfield muling by John Adams Bolen. Musante JAB M/E-6. Mint State. A rare muling of Bolen dies, including the popular Young America obverse. Flashy brassy gold, a bit mellowed with darker toning in the fields, still lustrous and attractive. Free of marks or serious spotting, a handsome piece. There was not a specimen of this variety in the exhaustive Q. David Bowers Collection of Bolen tokens sold, which speaks to its rarity. According to Musante, just six specimens of this muling were struck in brass by Ebenezer Locke Mason before 1862, but he suggests "it is very likely that [Dr. Francis] Edwards also issued restrikes." If so, undoubtedly the Edwards mintage was similarly small...$475
A.J. WILLIAMS on 1774 JR Potosi four reales. Brunk-unlisted. Choice Fine. While one reales and two reales are often seen with merchant countermarks from the United States, four reales are almost never encountered, making this a rather unusual piece. A.J. Williams is unlisted by Brunk and is fairly tough to pin down. The previous owner of this piece suggested Abijah Jewel Williams, an upstate New York manufacturer whose businesses thrived in the 1840s. The name and mark has every indication of being American, making this coin a rare four reales that can actually be placed in American circulation. The typical wisdom is that large numbers of early half dollars were struck because four reales were not common (or the converse). The piece shows beautiful light opalescent gray toning on silvery surfaces, just a few marks under Carlos' chin, and excellent overall eye appeal...$295
Evocative "Traitor" Ferrotype of John Bell
1860 John Bell and Edward Everett ferrotype inscribed "Traitor." Dewitt JBELL 1860-29. Very Fine. In the Dewitt catalogue under JBELL 1860-22, he noted "I have a copy of this piece in my collection with the word "TRAITOR" scratched across the face of Bell. Well, here is another example of this impassioned historical graffiti from the era of the dawn of the Civil War. The frame itself is perhaps EF, nice but for a little spot at the date on the Everett side. The Bell picture is a bit wrinkled at upper right but perfectly clear, and the word "Traitor" at left is more clear than on the Dewitt specimen. The portrait of Everett is perfectly clear though badly bubbled at right. The Bell-Everett ticket carried only Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and Bell's support of the Southern secessionists had him quickly branded a traitor across the Union. The graffiti on this piece moves it from the realm of 1860 campaign material to Civil War relic, making it more interesting (and rare) than an uninscribed piece...$675
1852 Winfield Scott Presidential campaign token. Brass, 28 mm. Dewitt WS 1852-12. Choice Mint State. Plain edge. Bright cartwheel lustre survives intact on rich golden brassy surfaces. Just about a gem, a few little lines, a couple meaningless specks here or there, superbly preserved since its time of manufacture. Signed under the bust "H.W. Hayden, Sc.," for Hiram Washington Hayden, a fascinating inventor and artist in Waterbury, Connecticut, then in the employ of Scovill & Co. The reverse depicts Winfield Scott's injury at Lundy's Lane in 1814 during the War of 1812. The presentation of the scene merited this political token a mention in Dr. Horatio Storer's "The Medals, Jetons, and Tokens Illustrative of Sanitation." (It's Storer 1441 if you're keeping score at home.) Scott's candidacy fizzled, as the Whigs split over slavery, and his famous ego must have been crushed when he carried just Kentucky, Tennessee, Vermont, and Massachusetts against the obscure New Hampshirite Franklin Pierce. This token should be of interest to both political collectors and those who collect around the War of 1812...$295
(ca. last quarter of the 19th century) Cuba Libre engraved token on Spain 1870 five centimos. Very Fine. Choice chocolate brown with a well executed rendition of the Cuban flag flying to left with CUBA LIBRE engraved beneath in a steady hand. The reverse, though undated, confirms the piece was struck from the one-year 1870 type. The Cuba Libre cry reached fever pitch during the Spanish-American War, finally achieving independence in 1902. This could have been engraved any time between 1870 and 1902, though the era of the Spanish-American War is perhaps most likely. It is simple, attractive, and would be a highlight in a collection of rarities from the West Indies...$325
C.C.LINSLEY and C.I. TOMLIN counterstamps on an 1853 Arrows and Rays half dollar. Brunk-unlisted (both). Fine or so. Pleasing and lightly toned medium gray. No bad marks, a few little scratches in the upper right obverse. The mark C.C. LINSLEY is from a prepared sans serif punch and doesn't quite fit on the coin, with the final Y only half present. C.I. TOMLIN is from a bold prepared punch. Two tiny Q punches appear at the top left of the second C and the top of the L in C.C. LINSLEY, who knows why. C.C. Linsley was a busy man in Michigan, serving as a church elder in 1858, a Superintendent of schools in the late 1870s, and a Mason in 1880. More importantly, he was a producer of patent medicines, as noted in the account of a fire in Nashville, Michigan in 1874. Interestingly, the sole "C.I. Tomlin" I turned up was a pharmacist in the early 20th century in Landsdowne, Pennsylvania. Maybe they knew each other? Maybe this coin came into Tomlin's pharmacy and he recognized Linsley's name? The Linsley mark could easily be older than the Tomlin mark, but who really knows. Neither mark is listed in the latest Brunk. The connection to a patent medicine bottler makes it pretty interesting as counterstamps go...$425
1849 California half-eagle sized jeton or counter. Brass. Kagin-1var. Choice Mint State. Reeded edge. A beautiful example of this popular mid-19th century jeton or counter, probably intended for use as a gaming piece and likely struck in England in the early 1850s. The obverse presents a close copy of an 1849 half eagle, while the reverse shows a gentleman admiring a gold nugget the size of a loaf of bread, while his tools lay at his feet and two palm trees line the horizon. Several different die varieties are known of this type, and the vast majority of surviving specimens show substantial wear. This one is richly lustrous, with golden brassy surfaces and some richer golden toning at reverse periphery. The left obverse field is a bit mellowed, and dark area is present within the central obverse details, but the eye appeal is as nice as any I've seen. Commonly collected as an associated item in a territorial gold collection, California counters of various varieties and types were also gathered by John Ford. This example was one of two examples of this type he owned, representing different die varieties, and this one was the more attractive of the two by a significant margin. It brought $863 in the October 2007 Ford XXI sale as Lot 3256...$950
1852 Winfield Scott election medalet. Dewitt WS 1852-12. Gilt brass, 26 mm. About Uncirculated. Holed for suspension. A high grade example of this token from the election of 1852, depicting General Winfield Scott and listing his major victories from the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War. The surfaces are golden and lustrous, barely worn, with just a few minor spots that make little impact on its exceptional visual appeal. Election medalets from this era are rarely found in high grade, unlike those from 1856 and later, struck when the numismatic craze had begun to take hold. This one shows full sideburn details, important for anything depicting Scott...$165
O.B. SILVER counterstamp on 1849 large cent. Brunk-unlisted. Very Good. A well worn medium brown cent with some dark olive encrustation, more on reverse than obverse. A rare counterstamp, unlisted in Brunk and the only one I've encountered on any denomination, marked by an ambrotypist based in Dutch Flat, California, a mining outpost in Placer County. Silver was taking pictures of miners and travelers who came through Dutch Flat on the stagecoach at its height, ca. 1861-66, at the same time that Mark Twain and Bret Harte walked the town's streets. Today, there isn't much left of Dutch Flat, though Silver's cased ambrotypes can be found in the collections at Yale and Cal-Berkeley. This small prepared mark was likely used on the cases for his photographs. Small change was scarce in California during the Gold Rush, but here is a large cent that was provably there...Hold
1863 Indian cent engraved "July 11, 1861." Very Fine or better. A pleasing mid-grade 1863 Indian cent with light dirt clinging to some parts of the design. Crudely and deeply engraved on the left side of the obverse. Given that the event was two years in the past by the time this coin hit circulation, it's tough to speculate what it could have marked. The date was that of the Battle of Rich Mountain in modern-day West Virginia, a battle that included W.S. Rosencrans and George McClellan eleven days before Bull Run. The engraving could represent that battle, a date of enlistment, or many other things. A fascinating item that starts more conversations than it ends...$125
J.J. SCHADT counterstamp on 1884 Morgan dollar. Brunk-unlisted. Choice About Uncirculated. A previously undocumented mark from Allentown, Pennsylvania, produced by John J. Schadt, a blacksmith and local politician. We could imagine this was stamped for advertising of the latter position, rather than the former. He was elected as the Treasurer of Lehigh County, most notably, serving from 1892 until at least 1894; his date of death is uncertain but likely soon thereafter. Schadt is traceable through U.S. patent records, including for a new design for a fire escape and an axle nut, patented in 1890, which one could imagine might require a small prepared stamp like seen here. The coin itself is lightly toned but chiefly brilliant, with minor lines and light wear. Strong cartwheel lustre and some light obvese reflectivity remain. Counterstamps on Morgan dollars are fairly scarce, and this previously undescribed mark should intrigue specialists...$350
EVERMAN counterstamp on 1853 Arrows dime. Brunk E-247. Very Good.A boldly impressed specimen of this scarce Gold Rush counterstamp. This mark is known on an 1852 gold U.S. Assay Office $50 octagonal slug, which soundly places it in the Gold Rush-era West, as $50 slugs did not circulate in the East. However, the long-held attribution of this mark to William Everman, a Kentuckian who mined on the Cosumnes River near Sacramento, has been called into question. Apparently he died in early 1852, which makes him an unlikely candidate to be the EVERMAN in question. While the exact identity of the counterstamper is not yet confirmed, this dime nicely recalls the earliest era of California, where the need for change was so severe that pinches of gold dust and tiny fractional gold coins were used for change for a dollar. Rulau lists the mark as a California token, Rulau Calif-129. The coin itself is well worn, dusky gray, with a short old scratch at the base of the reverse but no other significant marks. If you collect private and territorial gold coins and were looking for a small change companion to the more majestic gold issues, this is an ideal candidate...$275
1860 Stephen Douglas political medal. Dewitt SD 1860-1. Choice Extremely Fine. Holed for suspension. Nice even gray color, free of streaks or black spots, mixes melodiously with the remaining silvery lustre in protected areas. The tip of Douglas's nose (the obverse high point) is a bit worn, otherwise this piece shows limited use. The single most medallic entry into the Douglas token field, Dewitt recounts that it was struck by Henning and Eymann of New York at a price of 25 cents for this white metal composition. Douglas, of course, was Lincoln's opponent, both in the famed 1858 Senatorial debates and for the Presidency in 1860. This piece, struck at the height of his fame, remains a very popular collectible...$265
(ca. 1860-1900?) Baseball Player die trial. Copper, 22 mm. Choice Mint State. Uniface. An unusual little piece, perhaps just a trial of a punch that someday made its way onto some token or medal, perhaps a trial strike from a button die. Full cartwheel lustre remains on frosty light brown surfaces, some traces of mint red around device. The reverse is blank, just a bit incuse opposite the die from the metal flow. The die is well-executed, showing a batsman ready for a pitch in a high-collared uniform with knee-length pants. It resembles Bolen's Pioneer Baseball Club piece a bit, but is obviously different. I wish I knew more about this charming little cent-sized piece...$175
(1791) French Royalist jeton by Reich. Brass, 29 mm. Choice Very Fine or better. Lovely smooth glossy surfaces retain a bit of lustre, though the softly struck central reverse makes this look more worn than it is. A few little toning spots, but nice in hand. The reverse inscription DIGNISSIMO is Latin for "most worthy," appropriate to the image below of an angel crowing King Louis XVI. The obverse portrait bears the bold signature REICH, most likely for Johann Christian Reich, the father of Johann Matthaus Reich, the famed US Mint engraver. Forrer suggests that jetons like these were the product of father and son working together, but Stew Witham's Reich biography suggests that the evidence points to Reich the Elder working alone. An interesting and attractive item from the Continent...$150
England. 1687 halfcrown of William III. Engraved " S L / 17 79" on the reverse. Very Fine. A very nice looking piece, showing pleasant old original gray toning with rich pale blue and gold highlights on both sides. Handsomely engraved during the Revolutionary War, with cross-hatching on the SL and a light engraving scratch near the 9. This piece looks great for having circulated for a century, then engraved and carried a while longer. Clearly this was well taken care of...$265
1838 Hard Times token. NOT ONE CENT FOR TRIBUTE. Low-32, HT-47. Rarity-1. Choice Mint State. This would probably grade MS-63 RB, with a rich dark chocolate obverse with shows hints of mint color and good lustre. The reverse is mostly red, with the center toned down to light brown and bold frosty lustre throughout. There are a couple little marks in the obverse field, but the eye appeal is really superb. Not rare, but awfully pretty...$295
1840 (i.e. ca 1860) William Henry Harrison medalet. Dewitt WHH-H, reverse of Baker-272. White metal, 33 mm. About Uncirculated. Stuck by Joseph Davis in Birmingham, England, this well executed reverse is also used on a Washington piece (Baker-272) and a rarely seen "reward of merit" academic medalet. Bright and lustrous tin with no corrosion, minor marks in the fields, and some softness on the highest points of the design. For artistry, this is far and away the most professional of the Harrison medalets, likely struck during the token craze ca. 1860 specially for collectors. Also struck in silver and bronze, those metals are almost never seen. A bisecting crack on the reverse ensured the rarity of these pieces. A nice item, even as a stand in for the very rare Washington medal that shares this reverse...$275
1856 John Fremont election token. DeWitt JF 1856-4. White metal, 35 mm. Choice About Uncirculated. Plain edge. Holed as issued. A contemporary production for the Election of 1856, listed in both Satterlee (1862) and Bushnell (1858). This one shows some light handling, a minor planchet streak across the central reverse, and some horizontal hairlines in the same vicinity. The fields are bright, flashy, and untoned. Fremont, who gained his fame as a trailblazer into California at the beginning of the Mexican-American War, lost the election to Democrat James Buchanan of Pennsylvania. Fremont was the very first Republican Presidential candidate, running on a anti-slavery "free soil" platform. The reverse inscription reads "Free Soil, Free Speech, FREE LABOR, and Eternal Progression." Fremont lost his state of residence, California, and carried just New England, New York, and four Midwestern states...$275
England. (ca. 1826) Doncaster New Betting Rooms pass. Silver, 36 mm. Davis and Walters (Tickets and Passes of Great Britain and Ireland) 332/3. Extremely Fine. A beautiful pass to this Yorkshire betting parlor, sporting dusky gold and deep gray-blue toning. Attractive and original, some hints of lustre at peripheries, many scattered tiny marks that blend into the patina. Accomplished by Thomas Halliday, this early British ticket or pass is quite scarce today and is usually found worn. An example in a 2009 Dix, Noonan, and Webb sale brought 172 pounds, about $275 at the time. This one certainly looks sharper and prettier to me...$295
1837 Feutchwanger cent token. Low-120. Dies 5-G. Choice About Uncirculated. A nice dark gray specimen with golden lustre around devices and across the reverse. A bit woodgrained and very attractive, very sharp with just a hint of weakness at central reverse but fairly good detail at eagle's shoulder. Technically quite close to Uncirculated, a handsome specimen of this popular small cent-sized token from the Hard Times era...$325
South Carolina's Famous W.W. Wilbur Token
1846 W.W. Wilbur, Auction and Commission Merchant, Charleston, South Carolina storecard token. Miller SC-10. Brass, 27 mm. EF-40 (NGC). Nice deep golden brown, a bit darker at reverse periphery. Excellent eye appeal, bolder detail than usually found on this famous issue. Some minor old encrustation around legends only serve to underline the originality, though we note a tiny spot over the first M of COMMISSION. This particular variety has to be considered the most interesting, with the additional legend of GOING AT ONLY A PENNY surrounding the image of Wilbur auctioneering. Wilbur auctioned and wholesaled plenty of things, but he is best known for his involvement in the slave trade when Charleston was the center of such activity on the Eastern seaboard. He sold slaves at his storefront at 176 King Street. This large cent sized token must have been made in substantial numbers, as there are multiple die varieties and plenty of survivors around today. This one is nicer than most...$375
"May You Ever Enjoy the Blessings of Liberty"
1838 engraved and dated love token. On engrailed edge copper, perhaps a Canadian provincial penny token. Holed. Extremely Fine. Obverse engraved in a neat but crude stippled script "A Keepsake for E. MANNING given to her Aug 16 1838 by W. MANING." Poor guy didn't know how to spell his own last name. The reverse shows the evocative inscription "May You Ever Enjoy The Blessings of Liberty," an unusual sentiment considering that this is ostensibly romantic, not political. I haven't been able to track down where this couple was from, but I suspect there is enough information here for a careful researcher to track them down. A cute and unique memento of a married couple from long ago...$285
Attention Desperate Bald Guys: Try Miller's Hair Invigorator
(ca. 1861) USE MILLER'S HAIR INVIGORATOR on 1778 Mexico one real. Brunk M-694. Mark Very Fine, coin Good. Nice medium silver gray with a good bold date on the host coin. MILLER'S / HAIR / INVIGORATOR are seen punched with individual stamps; there's no room for USE or the usual N.Y. A very rare undertype for this well-known mark. Since a bottle of Miller's concoction "an effective, safe, and economical compound," was 25 cents, most known examples of this mark are on two reales. Miller seems to have consciously chosen obsolete Spanish-American coins, perhaps because their scarcity in circulation meant they stuck out, or perhaps because bullion dealers sold them at a discount when they were this worn. He also issued Civil War tokens. Miller's product was said to treat gray hair, baldness, dandruff, and pretty much anything else that could go wrong above the scalp. Something tells me Miller's target demographic looks like the crowd at a lot of coin shows. This is a neat countermark, and the undertype is a "one bit" that was provably in New York around the time of the Civil War...$365
R.H. WILKINS counterstamp on (1827?) Bust dime. Brunk-unlisted. Fair undercoin, Very Fine mark. The coin is pretty far gone, with just a whisper of the tops of the date remaining. The devices are light gray, contrasting with dark gray fields and the lighter rims. Some scattered circulation hairlines and marks are seen. An intriguing mark, one I've never seen before, that someone should be able to pin down. Of course, any mark on a Bust dime is quite scarce and marks on any Bust coinage is in high demand...$295
Hatch's Restaurant, Lacrosse, Wisconsin counterstamp on 1869 Shield nickel. Brunk H-349. Extremely Fine. A scarce and distinctively precise mark, typically found on nickels dated in the 1870s. Medium nickel gray with no significant problems, aside from the expected flattening on the reverse. The mark is strong but for the last letter of HATCH'S. The corner of Main and 3rd streets in Lacrosse still has a standing building from the era,
so it's easy to picture dining within Hatch's big picture window. This mark was not represented in the enormous collection of countermarks sold in the September Americana sale by StacksBowers, and Stack's had only sold one example in the previous several years. I've always liked marks that were this informative. Maybe a postcard exists that would make for an ideal future exhibit or article?...$325
Sage's Candy Coin on Seated Half, Ex. Brunk Collection
Sage's Candy Coin countermark on 1874 With Arrows half dollar. Brunk S-86. Mark Very Fine, coin Good or so. The mark is bold and complete on central obverse on a host that has been well worn and shows even medium silver gray patina. Some minor marks are seen, none serious. This mark was apparently used as advertising by R.V. Pierce (aka "Dr. Sage") of Buffalo, New York for one of his patent medicines, apparently issued about 1874, the date most commonly found on host coins. A popular mark, always found on silver coins, still a bit controversial. This one was depicted on the cover of Brunk's sale catalogue by World Exonumia (June 29, 1999) and included as Lot 554. The auction ticket accompanies this piece...$525
Guatemala. 1772 P two reales. Guatemala (G) mint. Marked H.C in crenulated rectangle at center of obverse. Very Good. Dark silver gray fields with light silver gray devices and flat spots where die swelling wore unevenly. Some light marks and evidence of handling, good eye appeal for the grade. The two reales was struck in the last year before the city of Guatemala was destroyed by an earthquake, marking the end of the G mintmark. H.C has not been identified, though it may be the mark of Henry Clark, the Philadelphia silversmith who flourished ca. 1813; it could also be a more provincial smith who's not listed in the main silversmith guides. An interesting early American silversmith mark on a scarce host coin...$185
(ca. 1850s?) "Hobo" two reales of Carlos III. Coin nearly slick, engraving Very Fine or better. Holed at 6:00. A charming little engraving, replacing the obliterated bust of Carlos III with a gentleman in a collared coat, with pipe and hat. The reverse shows a cleverly stylized rendering of the Pillars and Shields devices, with 2/ at the bottom periphery--this denomination was worth roughly two shillings, suggesting an English origin (though "shilling" was used as a synonym for a one real in some parts of the United States well into the 19th century). I've seen a lot of engraved coins, but I don't ever recall seeing another hobo-style two reales...$325
1874 Arrows half dollar, counterstamped PARISIAN VARIETIES / 16TH ST & B'WAY. N.Y. Very Fine. Light golden toning on pleasing light silver gray surfaces, the lovely color deepest at the rims. The countermark is firmly impressed. One of the cooler entries in the countermark series, this stamp was an advertisement for a theatre called some variation of "Parisian Varieties" or "The New York Parisian Varieties" between 1874 and 1876 (which are also the most commonly encountered dates among host coins). According to A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 by Thomas Allston Brown, the theatre hosted all manner of shows: vaudeville, burlesque, puppet, psychic, et al. Teddy Roosevelt grew up four blocks away, on 20th Street - I'd bet dollars to donuts that he visited the theatre more than once. The building, at 18 E. 16th Street between 5th Avenue and Broadway, now houses a high end stereo store. This stamp is almost always found on half dollars, which was probably the theatre's admission fee, though a few are found on trade dollars. The Terranova Collection sale last year included two on half dollars: an 1875-CC (not a particularly rare date or anything) in EF that brought $1725 and an 1873 Arrows that was just about as nice that brought $218.50, one-eighth as much. So how is anyone sane supposed to price this thing? I'll go by what I paid for it, plus enough of a markup to go to a modern theatre in New York (now more than fifty cents)...$475