1861 O Liberty Seated Half With Counterstamp From LCS

Yea I was happy to pay melt value for a piece of history. Are there any books or information on counterstamps?
I also picked up a few others coins for melt value that I will be posting. A 1964d Kennedy half DDO fs-101 and 1964 ascended hair proof. I just need to figure out how to get good pictures to post first.

Looks like it was never full or that was the design. The top wouldn't have worn off completely like that from wear

to the CCF, 1993z

Great pick! IMHO, the counterstamp increases the value of your find about four-fold; this, as simply a maverick, unattributed mark. If G.S. BEDELL could be positively identified, the value of this piece would be further enhanced. While the host coin and the stamp are both heavily worn, the details of both are clear enough to potentially attribute, and that helps.

Although plentiful in today's market, 1861-O halves tend to be more desired by collectors for their history. Earlier that year, Confederates took over the New Orleans Mint and struck half dollars that are today recognizable by three, different die breaks. From what I see, yours doesn't appear to be one of those.

Brunk listed a few counterstamps bearing the surname "Bedell" but none with the "G.S." initials. Assuming that "George" was most likely the subject's first name, I ran some searches in early directories. The only possibility I could find was listed as a clerk, located in Boston in 1869. IMHO, this maverick piece stands a fair chance of someday being attributed; this, given the fairly uncommon surname and pair of initials.

@1993z .... Counterstamps present a challenge, and that's why I much enjoy collecting, studying and learning about them.

Rulau's "Token Catalogs" list a good many counterstamp issues, too. Out of print since 2004, used volumes can be had for under $50. Most of the classic counterstamps are listed in these.

Here's an entry level, 1994 edition for $20 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Standard-C...AOSwYxBcpLcA.

@1993z .... There are no Bedell's listed in Rulau's 2004 catalog, so there won't be any listed in his earlier books.

Rulau's books do list a great many other counterstamps though. Both Brunk and Rulau depended heavily upon many contributors, myself included. Considering the huge numbers of listings, mistakes were inevitable and were often corrected in later editions. When attributing counterstamps, I differentiate between potential, possible, probable and positive attributions. Proving that a counterstamp is that of a particular individual is quite different from suspecting or believing same.

Very nice!