Here's a counterstamped, WILDER HOUSE, 1854
Seated quarter that's getting strong bids on
ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl..._2118wt_1142Given some correspondence with the seller, his Kansas attribution is based upon another piece he'd found in a search.
Both Brunk and Rulau list this counterstamp, and neither was able to attribute it. Brunk (2003) lists four specimens, the latest date being an 1873 nickel (W-589). He notes that there were two Wilder House hotels, listed in an 1881 directory. Rulau followed suit in 2004.
In addition to the Ft. Scott, Kansas and Mansfield, Ohio establishments, I found additional establishments named Wilder House as follows:
Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84, Volume 1
Wilder House (Plymouth Union) r. 27 cor. 13, Norris D. Wilder, prop.
The Past and Present of Kane County, Illinois, 1878
Bushee, Abner ...... first proprietor of the Wilder House (hotel business) in Aurora, Illinois (1861)
Saratoga illustrated: the visitor's guide of Saratoga Springs, 1892
Wilder House ..... 109 Front St. ...... (Accommodation - 50 people) .... Dennis O'Brien, prop.
I also found mention of a Wilder House in Boston, late 1880's, but no directory evidence; this, in addition to a few other possibilities. It appears that Wilder House, akin to Eagle House and Mansion House (being similarly vague counterstamps), were popular names for for taverns and hotels. While some of them likely served liquor, others probably not. This Wilder House counterstamp is well deserving of additional research.
To my thinking, this
ebay listing, although apparently unintentionally misleading, given the highly questionable Kansas attribution, the enthusiastic bids illustrate that history, be it genuine OR perceived, can very much influence the worth of a coin or token.
What say you?
Posted 05/17/2012 3:03 pm
