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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,702 |
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Pillar of the Community
Turkey
870 Posts |
Traded this with a very valuable forum member sometime earlier.. How do you grade that coin? Is this a counterstamp in George's cheek?..  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
molydeii- Yes it is, and I feel that I have seen it before somewhere, though I do not remember where. I have a feeling that this is a counterstamp indicating that it circulated as a trade coin or in a colony. We just need for someone who is a bit more of an expert in couterstamps to chime in.
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Pillar of the Community
 Turkey
870 Posts |
Yes! this coin came from the States, I traded it with a very valuable forum member!.. For a small silver coin, it has been to three continents (so far to my knowledge!)..
I think this is a counterstamp too!. It looks like a small crown to me.
Any ideas about the grade.. I am just relatively good ad grading coppers, not very familiar with silvers.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
60 Posts |
Looks like an NF (Nearly Fine) to me. Always a bit difficult with photographs though!
The counterstamp is similar to the crowned lion that was used on British silver at the time to signify a London assay mark (used prior to 1822). It is only a similarity in size and shape however, not detail.
Hope that is some help.
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Pillar of the Community
Turkey
870 Posts |
Thank you for that information. I really cherish that forum. It taught me a lot. What is an "assay mark" ?
Does a London assay mark mean the coin is used in Mainland England?
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
60 Posts |
An Assay Mark is a Hallmark (mark used on silver items other than coins).
The crowned Lion was used to signify a London assayed (certified) piece. All hallmarks are punched into the silver, gold or platinum, using hand punches. They all have an outer shape around the mark like those shown on the Emergency issue coinage (8 and 4 Reales), where the head of George III was used.
The countermark on your coin is not an assay mark, just similar in size and shape.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2605 Posts |
Hey, molydeii, thank you. I've tried to ask about this mark here but it didn't generate much of discussion. I've done some digging on my own, here're some responses I've gotten: Quote:
Dear ...:
The countermark you are referring to is not listed in the Countermarked Coins book by Brunk. I have never seen this type of mark before. Sorry I can not help further, if I find out anything else I will contact you.
David J. S.
Numismatic Researcher
American Numismatic Association
Quote:
Dear ...:
Thank you for your inquiry. I do not recognize the countermark on this coin, but will continue trying to identify it for you. I suspect that it could be a 19th century merchant or banker's private mark t validate the quality of the coin. It somewhat resembles the "sun" mark on some Thai coins of that era.
Sincerely yours,
Robert W. H.
Curator, ANS
Quote:
Dear ...,
Thank you for your message. A colleague with expertise in this area
suggests that the countermark is a test mark, punched into the coin to
check that it was not a forgery - a great number of forgeries of George's
first coinage were in circulation, and thus there was a need to test coins.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Elina S.
Secretary, British Numismatic Society
Department of Coins and Medals,
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, CB2 1RB
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
svslav- Wow! I must say that despite the fact that these three experts could not identify the mark I am still quite impressed that they responded to your inquiry. Have you found that experts are willing to address such inquiries?
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Pillar of the Community
Turkey
870 Posts |
I'll add all those responses to my collection folder, my humble opinion tells if it is was a test mark, than there should be a lot of other coins with such marks would be around I think. Perhaps it is a test mark by an individual who didn't use a standard countermark. For some reason the best answer seems to be the second one I think.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2605 Posts |
Archraz, this was the only instance when I was actively seeking the expert knowledge. Out of the four contacted three responded, with one forwarding my question to a third person. I found it very nice and at the same time the way it should be. Or, maybe, I just stated my inquiry extremely well?  |
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Pillar of the Community
Turkey
870 Posts |
All that information the experts shared ae a bless, I printed them out and keeping them with the coin.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
497 Posts |
It looks a bit like the kind of chop mark I have seen on coins that have circulated in the middle east, most commonly thalers such as the MT thaler, but other silver coins do very occasionly show up. Could be at some point this coin made it into some form of middle eastern / arabic trade network, and someone unfamiliar with the piece made the mark to check it is solid silver - a similar scenario to the second of the responses syslav got. Interesting piece, will be good to see if any more concrete evidence turns up.
www.kingstoncoincompany.co.uk
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,702 |
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Posted 05/24/2010 12:36 pm
