Official "Post A Counterstamp" Thread....

Congratulations, Joe, & Merry Christmas!

Here's one of my recent acquisitions .....



Ed Blanchard operated a tavern, prior to and during the Civil War. He also issued tokens, dated 1865, bearing images of a horse and a dog. Logo counterstamps like this one are among my favorites.

And one more while I'm here... A Canadia cent with an ornate star on the obverse:

Way to go, Joe!

@ chafemasterj .... Lacking personal insight into modern day jewelry lingo, I regard yours as a simple counterstamp. Perhaps those in the trade would call it something else? I can't say that this apparent "carat marking" might be attributed to any particular company. IMHO, it's a long shot at best.

I can tell you that it's not a hallmark. Hallmarks consist of a recessed set of initials or a name. Note that recessed hallmarks are less subjected to wear from being handled. Hallmarks are the signature marks of silversmiths and others who largely did metal work. Here's an example, N A recessed in a rectangle, on an early spoon, along with a close-up pic ....





The above 1801 large cent bears a matching hallmark. This is the signature mark of Nathaniel Austin. He was a silversmith, during the Revolutionary War. Based in Boston, he worked at times alongside Paul Revere. During the war, British ships shelled Boston, and Austin's workshop was demolished. There's additional history about Austin that adds to the desirability of his counterstamped coins. To date, there are six known coins bearing his hallmark; with the latest dated piece being 1807.

Always happy to help and encourage a fellow collector, I am, Chafemasterj. The key to attributing your "carat mark" methinks would be to find that same stamp on a known product.

I've long collected silversmith hallmarks, a.k.a. counterstamps. Over the years, I've continually sought coin silver spoons that bear matching marks. The spoons then attest to the attribution of counterstamp. Oftentimes, collectors can guess at just who issued a given counterstamp, but proving the attribution is not easy. I enjoy the detective work it often takes to arrive at "slam dunk" attributions. Along the way, a good many history lessons can be had. It's a labor of love that can be likened to a form of insanity, perhaps!

Thanks, Scopru. Great venue, this, and I certainly enjoy getting lessons from others hereon.

What is the term used for a counterstamp that has been identified and/or matched with the original stamper? It's on the tip of my tongue.

Yes!! Thank you. Was driving me crazy.