Counterstamped Stone Mountain

He cannot. We are here to share information not keep it secret. Please post your answers here so we all can learn.

Hondo,
The coin is a State Serial Numbered "Contest Coin" for one of the fourteen Southern States (Tennessee in this case) and the District of Columbia. These coins are one of several varieties of counterstamped coins used to market the regular or non counterstamped Stone Mountain coins for $1 each where the gross sales premium of $.50 was used to carve the Confederate Monument on Stone Mountain near Atlanta as a "Memorial to the Valor of the Soldier of the South". The Southern "Governor's Meeting' of July 20, 1925 in Atlanta formally established the Harvest Campaign scheduled to end January 23, 1926 but postponed for various reasons until the last two states sale's campaigns were stopped on May 1,1926. These particular counterstamped coins were used in the "Harvest Campaign", a large marketing movement by the Stone Mountain Confederate Monumental Association of Atlanta, Georgia in what was called the "Appreciation Contest". Girls and Women between the ages of 15-25 married or not would be appointed by clubs or organizations (i.e. Rotary Club, ect.) to represent them in selling the Stone Mountain Half Dollar at $1 each. The Lady selling the most coins under certain rules in their County, Parrish (LA.) or Ward (D.C.) would receive a "Contest Coin" mounted in a Silver Lavalier for second place. The winner would receive a Gold Lavalier for first place. The Unit or City/town winners would compete for the County title where the Lavaliers except for Florida were earned/awarded. The County winners went to a State or Governor's Ball or a reception where the lavaliers in most states were awarded.

At the State level the county winners competed to be one of the thirty (Two ladies from each State and D.C.) to go to The Stone Mountain Confederate Costume Ball a/k/a/ The Appreciation Contest Ball in Atlanta to compete for the grand prize which was a bust to be carved of the winner out of the finest Georgia marble by the sculptor of Stone Mountain in the likeness of the winner that represented the most typical southern lady. The Atlanta Ball was an all expense paid trip to what was to be the most spectacular event in the South in 1926. Various dignitaries and The President of the United States and his wife were invited but the latter did not attend and sent his regrets.

This variety of Stone Mountain Counterstamp is valued based on its condition and whether it is still mounted in its original Lavalier setting. Considered in its value is the State it represents which its abbreviation is counterstamped on the Coin (TENN.) and the psychological impact of a high or low number. In this particular case the Serial Number represents one of 95 counties in Tennessee as of 1925. The numbers were generally random being draw out of a container by a third party and assigned then in alphabetical order to the Counties or Units (Town/Cities) on a list depending on the State. The numbers being assigned at random such as number one or lower numbers or very high numbers have a psychological impact in the typical sellers/buyers mind that doesn't know that most of the counterstamped coins were assigned at random. In case of the "Contest Coin" (G.L. or S.L.) the Number on the coin also represent's the lady recipient or winner of the "County" Contest or Unit (Town/City) in case of Florida Contest Coins.

The unmounted Contest Coins vary in value from severally damaged coins by removing them from their bezel/mount at $600+- to over $2,000+-. After viewing your image I think after all is said and done you could get $1,500 (fifteen hundred) to $1,800 (eighteen hundred) for this particular Stone Mountain counterstamp in its condition from a collector.
I hope this helps with your great discovery. Best of luck.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Houndman...

I learned something new today!

Thanks for the history lesson behind these interesting cs coins!

Hondo, nice score.
Houndman 3581, great information. Thanks for sharing your interesting and valuable knowledge.

Is anyone out their going to the coin show in Raleigh, N.C. They have a grading seminar if you haven't hear. Hurry to register. Hope to see you there.

Houndman3581, thank you so much for taking the time to share such awesome info!

So I have one question... you say that for each state, numbers were randomly assigned to each town or city? They would draw numbers (a third party would draw numbers) to then randomly assign to the county or town. The winners from the respective county would receive the coin stamped with their counties number and the SL or GL designation?

Seems odd to randomly assign the numbers and not just do them in order from 1 through whatever based on alphabetic order? I wonder if I could trace the number 17 to see which county, then which young lady got the coin.

Either way, thanks so much to you and everyone else for helping me out!

Commens,

Thanks for your kind words. I hope to see you in Raleigh. I enjoy that show,too.Thanks for posting the info.

Houndman

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