@CoinLover .... Just now spotted my summons.
Looks to me like you've corralled a maverick counterstamp. Checking Brunk, he listed four specimens recorded in 2003. More, including your 1853 quarter, may well have surfaced since then. All are silver coins, two quarters, a half dollar and an eight real piece. The latest date was 1854. These are Brunk catalog # D-137.
The host coins, all silver, including an eight real piece, cause me to suspect that J.C. Davis, whoever he was, was located in the midwest or further west. He might have been in the jewelry, saloon trade of other more profitable than most business. Purely conjecture on my part, this is. It does seem that this issue is pre Civil War. The 1850's were the heyday of counterstamping, and no later dated coins are as yet apparent.
The name "Davis" is extremely common, and there are likely a good many "J.C.'s" to be found. Now, had the initials been "J.Q." or "J.X." or "J.Z." a potential issuer for this counterstamp might be easier to find. Occasionally, a piece with a town or occupation surfaces, and that will solve the puzzle as to who the issuer is. Many a former maverick has been identified by this means.
As to value, I'd venture a worth of $20-$30 on this maverick. BTW, I did check out Jeff Davis and see that his middle initial was "F" ....
Posted 06/20/2017 10:41 pm
