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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,848 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1998 Posts |
This large cent is worn down almost smooth on the obverse but has an H. REES stamp on it. Would this be considered a "hard times token" or "counterstamp"? Also the faint outline on the obverse looks similar to a classic head? Is this coin listed by chance?   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4212 Posts |
Is your goog busted? There are a few examples.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4932 Posts |
A counterstamp. A hard times token is nothing at all in relevance to this coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Hard Times Tokens are entirely different things than large cents, this one is just a very worn large cent with a counterstamp. The only thing hard times tokens have in common with large cents are the time frame they were made, and they are both collected by enthusiasts of early coppers. There are several counterstamp references, Brunk is the author of the standard reference, (I don't have a copy of his book, it's pretty expensive). He lists thousands of various C/S coins, in my research on some Two Cent Pieces in my collection that are counterstamped, only about 7 of 15 were listed. The ones with just designs like stars, or shapes, and simple initials are the ones not listed. This one is almost a complete name, so might be listed. "Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4409 Posts |
My Google searches turned this info up: http://www.exonumia.com/art/cmd.htm which then lead to this: http://www.exonumia.com/sale10/all01.htm (Lot #539) When I typed "HT-415B token" in Google it pops up and say it is a Hard Times Token. I think it is a Hard Times Token as well as a counterstamp. I could be wrong in reaching that conclusion. ExoGuy may have more/better insight. -MV |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Meadowviewcollector is correct, it's a counterstamped large cent from the Hard Times era. Rulau listed this one and many other counterstamps among the Hard Times tokens. These have often been sold as HT pieces in auctions, too. Bowers, in his recent Hard Times book, omitted all counterstamps. Many Hard Times tokens were, themselves, counterstamped, during and following that era. A few Hard Times token issuers also stamped coins and tokens, too.
H. REES, Henry Rees, advertised his blacksmith shop on Arch Street near Broadway in the 1837 Philadelphia Directory. In 1839, he was located on Mulberry, near Broadway. He made ironware products.
This counterstamp is among the most readily obtainable ones from the Hard Times era. The host coins, typically large cents, tend to be well-worn from circulation. These advertising coins likely served to bring business to Rees. The Brunk # is R-163, and the Rulau # is HT-415B. There are probably between 100-200 pieces extant. As the latest date recorded is 1838, it appears that Rees ended business in 1839. I've seen these sell from $25-$75. Although the well-worn specimens better illustrate the counterstamp, higher grade host coins tend to fetch better prices.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1998 Posts |
Thanks to everyone for the info... very interesting
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6478 Posts |
Counter stamps are so awesome.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Quote:
Counter stamps are so awesome. Counterstamps have left an everlasting impression upon this afficionado!  Quote:
A counterstamp. A hard times token is nothing at all in relevance to this coin. Numerous token books and articles have included contemporary counterstamps within the Hard Times series. One school of thought that some exonumists have adopted is that, once a coin is stamped by a merchant, it becomes a token. Personally, I don't agree ... IMHO, it's then both. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4932 Posts |
Quote:
H. REES, Henry Rees, advertised his blacksmith shop on Arch Street near Broadway in the 1837 Philadelphia Directory. In 1839, he was located on Mulberry, near Broadway. He made ironware products.
That is amazing how you can date a counterstamp to a well known blacksmith. Wish I could do that will all my counterstamps and love tokens, even though love tokens are a different story. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
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That is amazing how you can date a counterstamp to a well known blacksmith. Wish I could do that will all my counterstamps and love tokens, even though love tokens are a different story. It's next to impossible when there are simply initials, as often tends to be the case, or if it's a common name like Smith, Jones, etc. That said, a large number of the early counterstamps came from the big cities of Philadelphia, NY and Boston. Fortunately, there are many years of these online big-city directories that can now be quickly and easily searched. Google has a tremendous research setup that any user can freely build their own online research library. Sadly, many of the genealogical websites have corralled a large number of the early directories and now charge fees to access them. Hopefully, time will change that practice. Back in the 1990's, I spent a week, each, at the Philadelphia and Chicago City libraries, digging through their early directories on microfilm. Now, I'm lovin' the ease by which so much info can be gathered on the laptop in a matter of minutes. Patience and perseverance pays. |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,848 |
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Posted 07/12/2015 5:08 pm
