Requesting Some Help With 1853 Half Dollar - Counterstamped 'N C Baker'

@conder .... Found this at https://sites.google.com/site/moste...-breast-1787 reads as follows ....

"Unique 1787 Brasher Doubloon, EB on Breast, Garrett Specimen

America's First Gold Coin Struck

Pronounced by Numismatic experts as America is most famous and significant coin, this unique doubloon is also widely accepted as the very first gold coin struck by the United States of America. One of only seven examples known, this specimen is unique in that the EB counterstamp (initials of silversmith Ephraim Brasher, who made the coin) is on the shield over the eagles breast. The other six examples carry the EB stamp on the eagles wing.

A coin of unparalleled historic importance, this precious rarity has been a classic since the earliest days of coin collecting in the United States."

@ conder ... Can you cite any numismatic sources that refer to the Brasher pieces as tokens?
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Note that every numismatic article I've ever encountered on Brasher doubloons refers to them as coins. I've yet to read about a "Brasher token" Indeed, some possess elements of traditional U.S. coins, circulating today. There's the motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM, the eagle, stars and the olive branch. The doubloons had a specie value, too. It can easily argued that Brasher's coin helped set a standard for official U.S. coins that followed.

In 1787, there was no mint. Brasher sought approval for his pattern coin in NY State. If I was to accept the belief that "coins" not issued and released for circulation by the U.S. government are really tokens, doesn't that imply that 1913 Liberty "Nickels," 1933 Gold "Double Eagles," 1894-S Barber "Dimes," etc., and all pattern pieces are also tokens, not coins?

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IMHO, pattern pieces like the Brasher Doubloons were proposed to circulate as coins, therefore, they're not token issues. Tokens are substitutes for coins. Doubloons, one of which PCGS assigned a $15 denomination, were not coin substitutes.

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Glad we can agree on something, I am.

Rich Hartzog, God rest his soul, was an expert on exonumia. Rich long held the position that, by "virtue" of being counterstamped, a coin becomes a token and ceases to be a coin. It's been estimated that, during the 1850's, about 10% of then circulating coins were counterstamped.

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In looking back to reference what I said, about a Brasher Doubloon once being the most valuable coin sold, it appears that I should've said "gold" coin .... It's been a long time since I read that, and I'm unable to cite the specific source.

Hey Quartergeek .... Happy to help! Given the potential first name, I found the below info. Note that this Norris C. was born in 1853, being the same year as your coin.
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Website: https://www.myheritage.com/names/clara_ormsby

Clara O Baker (born Ormsby), 1852 - 1943
Clara O Baker (born Ormsby) was born on month day 1852, at birth place, Vermont, to Dr. John Bliss Ormsby and Malina LeMar Ormsby (born Baker).
John was born on January 2 1821, in Corinth, Orange, Vermont, USA.
Malina was born on February 13 1825, in Canada.
Clara had 3 siblings: Thomas Edwin Ormsby and 2 other siblings.
Clara married Norris Calvin Baker on month day 1894, at age 42 at marriage place, Massachusetts.
Norris was born on January 18 1853, in Shipton (Danville) Quebec, Canada.
They had one daughter: Doris Juliette Hemminger (born Baker).
Clara lived in 1900, at address, Florida.
She lived in 1910, at address, Florida.
She lived in 1920, at address, Florida.
She lived in 1930, at address, Florida.
She lived in 1935, at address, Florida.
She lived on month day 1940, at address, Florida.
Clara passed away on month day 1943, at age 91 at death place, Florida.
She was buried at burial place, Florida.
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If the above NORRIS can be connected to your family, this is about as slam dunk of an attribution that you may get.

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The above Norris is buried in Tampa, FL. Here's a link to his gravesite that also shows a portrait .... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial...calvin-baker






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I found Norris listed in a 1922 Tampa City directory. Here's his info .... Baker Norris C (Clara), mgr Reliable Seed Co, h R F D 2

Here's a link to the directory .... https://archive.org/stream/rlpolkst...lpo_djvu.txt

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Hope this helps nail your counterstamp as a family heirloom!

Thanks for the acknowledgement, Quartergeek. I hope you'll share the results with me. These counterstamp pursuits often prove to be learning experiences for me.

Baker's purposeful stamp may well have been used when was younger. He may have attempted to patent a product in Canada and/or belonged to a masonic order. These are other avenues that might provide added insight.