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 Replies: 24 / Views: 2,916 |
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Pillar of the Community
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4415 Posts |
Many American gunsmiths counterstamped early, classic coins for a variety of reasons. I've long sought them out, collected and attributed a good many. As is the case with silversmiths, positive attributions of counterstamps can be made by matching the mark/hallmark with that on a known product, say a firearm or silver spoon. Last year, I had the good fortune to acquire a long sought after gunsmith c/s in a trade. It's a Derringer c/s on a Half Cent. Subsequently, I bought a few books on Deringer (actual spelling was with but one R). Thanks to my still somewhat intact memory, when I spotted the below MY FRIEND nickel on ebay a few months ago, I recalled what I'd read in a book about Deringer. His pocket pistols inspired James Reid who later patented his "knuckle duster" pocket pistols a few decades later.   As may be seen on the close-up pics below, the stampings on the coin, font & size, are a match. Note how the "F R" in FRIEND are widely spaced, whereas th "N D" in FRIEND virtually touch. The date stamp on the nickel differs from the patent date, and it doubtless was stamped with another purpose in mind.   I also happen to have a J.REID c/s on an 1864 Two Cent Piece. This c/s matches that on the Bunline-style revolvers James Reid produced when he lived in NY City. Near the close of the Civil War, James relocated to Catskill, NY, wherein he produced his "knuckle dusters." Note how the coin's c/s, font & size, match that seen on the barrels of Reid's revolvers ....    |
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
Fantastic!  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4415 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
2145 Posts |
Excellent. Always enjoy reading the history you tell of your counterstamped coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1758 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
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4415 Posts |
Thanks, Rothery. Beyond making these acquisitions and attributions, I much enjoy unearthing historical backstories about the interesting folks who stamped the coins. Some of the stories are really wild, while others tell about the lives and times of those who once held these coins.
I liken my interest in counterstamps to metal detecting, the thrill of the hunt for mysterious artifacts. My digging advantage though is, come rain or shine, there's no dirt involved!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
That's pretty wonderful! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
I'm intrigued by the 1856 date on an 1867 coin. Grandchild's birth date perhaps? Deringer died in 1868 at 81, so this was late in his life.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4415 Posts |
Quote:
I'm intrigued by the 1856 date on an 1867 coin. Grandchild's birth date perhaps? Deringer died in 1868 at 81, so this was late in his life. @kbbpll The MY FRIEND c/s with the 1856 date stamp were Reid's issue, not Deringer's. It was simply my study of Deringer's pocket pistols that led me to learn about Reid and his later MY FRIEND knuckle-dusters. There are many possibilities for the date stamp. January 5, 1856 was a Saturday. It certainly wasn't a patent date, as Tuesdays were typically the day of the week that patents were formally issued, I believe. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Awesome thread Exo! Neat pistols too. The font on the knuckleduster looks different than the Shield nickel but the J. Reid looks exact-a-mundo on the longer antique. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4415 Posts |
Quote:The font on the knuckleduster looks different than the Shield nickel @ TNG .... I humbly beg to differ with your observation. Note the outstretched leg and curled foot on the R in FRIEND. Note how the N leans toward the D. Compare the serifs. Wear on the coin and the pistol does muddy the view a bit, but I'm seeing a match. Let's see what others say .... Otherwise, I'm happy to see you like the post!  |
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Pillar of the Community
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3628 Posts |
Fascinating post! Threads like this open my eyes to parts of the hobby that I never knew existed. I appreciate the opportunity to learn. Thank you!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4415 Posts |
@ fortcollins .... My pleasure. I've been at this hobby for 65 years now .... Still learning!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Quote:
TNG .... I humbly beg to differ with your observation. I agree and stand humbly corrected. I think without reading the actual wording, I was comparing the lettering on the REID piece(s) and compared the REI and RIE without realizing it at the time in the wrong picture. Sorry to have you take the time to point that out. Yes you are absolutely correct in your response. |
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Pillar of the Community
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4233 Posts |
Sorry, I was confused. The first paragraph seemed like it was about Deringer so I thought the first coin was his.
HistoryNet says "Doctors diagnosed Reid's 9- year-old daughter, Annie, with an unnamed lung disease and advised him to move her to an environment with "cleaner air." So in 1864 Reid moved 100 miles north to the village of Catskill". That puts Jan 5 1856 close to her birth date - maybe they're wrong about how old she was in this quote?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1101 Posts |
Wonderful information Exoguy!! Your research over several threads I've read has caused me to really appreciate counterstamped coins instead of just looking at them as "damaged". Thanks!!
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Replies: 24 / Views: 2,916 |
Posted 02/17/2021 5:02 pm
