Reason For Counterstamping?

Business advertising. Coinage was far less likely to move out of town in those days, so the counterstamp would remain a recognizable business name. Free word-of-mouth.

Yup, advertising, or for a gift. Havent seen counterstamping that wasnt one of the two, put I have been proven wrong before.

Hmmm, thats a good point. Never thought about it that way before.

This question was posed some months ago, and here's my reply:

Here's a link to one of my favorite articles about counterstamps:

http://earlyusquarters.com/ARTICLES...icalpast.pdf

Advertising goods and services was the principal reason for counterstamping coins. The above article illustrates and discusses a handful of those truly classic counterstamps. You'll note that the article describes some political and government generated counterstamps, too.

There were a good many other reasons that coins were counterstamped, and I've not as yet seen a comprehensive listing of all plausible reasons, yet Brunk and Rulau cite a good many in their work. Here are some reasons that collecting experience has brought to my mind:

- To serve as an ID of a maker's mark (gunsmith - such as my avatar, silversmith, etc.)

- To serve as a check (hat check, return of repaired item like a watch, etc.)

- To serve as a counter (card game like whist, etc.}

- To serve as a personal ID (Masonic Penny, other, etc.)

- To gain admission (Pay at the door, receive c/s)

- As a prize or gift (Used as promotion for a show)

- To test newly made punches

- As tool checks for workmen to assure return of borrowed tool

- As a memento (personal, political, historic ... e.g. - McKinley's Funeral Train)

- To illustrate a patent mark on a product, invention

- To illustrate a relationship between two or more individuals (working, fraternal, etc.}

- To indicate a work tally, serve as a product counter (bucket, tray filled, number produced, etc.)

- To test for metal's purity, plating (chopmarks ...)

- To indicate a business successor (c/s on token)

- Use as a security device (to ID stolen property)

- To alter denomination or worth (national or private)

- To serve as a transportation or travel token

- Whimsy ...

I never understood it either. But I do undertsand the whole novelty idea. for presidential races to appolo.

IMHO, the realm of counterstamped coins is one of the final frontiers of numismatics. There's ever so much to be learned and recorded about them.

My avatar is a personal favorite. Lemuel Pomeroy was a gunsmith in Pittsfield, Mass. He made rifles under government contract for the state militia. The marks on the coin were also applied to his products. The JC mark is likely that of an inspector. Perhaps, this large cent was used to compare and thus confirm the issued rifles? Only a handful of Pomeroy counterstamps are known.