Modified Carolus III Dollar: Has Any One Ever Seen One?

That is a story I have never heard of before. While I have not specifically hunted for one - I have spent several decades looking through inventories for oddities just like that.

I have MANY altered Portrait Dollars. The most common are the holed coins. Usually done to mark a forgery they can also be a political protest if the King is worn upside down, jewelry if he is upright, clothing ornamentation is the hole is more random. Then there are the mounted coins used for belt buckles or buttons. There are the restamped coins used for advertising.

But the recarved ones are far more interesting. There are the Peruvian 8R issues with the Limae monogram engraved to read Mo so they could pass for Mexican coins in China. I have many re-engraved to make them "Numismatic rarities" which turns a common coin into scrap metal. I have quite a few where the King's eye was poked out to prevent bad luck or ward off the demon. In some cases one of the symbols for luck was placed near or over the eye. I have recarved portraits including one which makes good old Charles look like a Pirate. I even have a Ferdinand which someone has carved a smaller facing portrait in the field before the King. But my favorite is one in which they completely turned the King around so that he faces to the LEFT instead of to the right.

These Altered originals are a fun part of the hobby that used to sell as damaged coins. Now they are starting to catch on. I have made a section for them in the book under Class 4 Altered originals.

I am putting them all in my book. But over time I can post some of them.