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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,300 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
I recently spotted this coin on ebay, recalling that the seller has their own website. Sure enough, the coin was listed thereon; this, at a reduced price and minus sales tax. Having long collected coppers, especially the unusual die varieties, the S-239 was THE one I found to be most appealing. The three tiny silversmith hallmarks were even more enticing. So, I quickly ordered the coin and then saw it instantaneously disappear from ebay. Thanks to the American Silversmiths website, I was quickly able to attribute the tiny hallmarks to Ebenezer Austin of Charlestown, Massachusetts. The coin's hallmarks are an exact match to one pictured on the website .... http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~silv...hs/14504.htmThe icing on the cake was learning that Ebenezer had been a lieutenant in the Continental Army, serving directly under George Washington and family as a steward. Although the silversmith website states Ebenezer died in 1800, another source cites that he was listed in an 1802 census and may have lived to 1818.    |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Great story and congrats!
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Moderator
 United States
34402 Posts |
That is a pretty cool pick-up @exoguy! Any thoughts on what is on Liberty's face, extending from the tip of her nose?
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4416 Posts |
@ Coinfrog .... Thanks. This c/s was unknown to Brunk & Rulau, who literally wrote the books on American c/s's for the past forty years. What I find exciting about collecting c/s's is that there are many thousands that await discovery and attribution. It's a constant hunt that I find challenging. One of the interesting tidbits I learned about Ebenezer was that he kept a diary of his service to Washington and the "family." That diary was long ago published in book form and gives the reader a good glimpse into colonial life. Quote:
Any thoughts on what is on Liberty's face, extending from the tip of her nose? @ Spence .... I don't recall what I've read about this diebreak. Conder may well chime in on the cause of this anomaly. This is by no means a rare variety, but it sure is eye-catching - or, dare I say "nose-catching!"  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2362 Posts |
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Any thoughts on what is on Liberty's face, extending from the tip of her nose? I love die cracks and this is a cool one. I checked my Penny Whimsy and see that it sometimes extends to the rim. It's listed as upper range R3 rarity. Member ANA and EAC "You got to lose to know how to win". Dream On by Aerosmith |
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Moderator
United States
188213 Posts |
Very interesting!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Super cool and an interesting back story. Thanks for sharing ExoGuy!
"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
4416 Posts |
I continue to enjoy discovering and learning of what counterstamped coins tell us about times past. Whether beautiful or ugly, rare or common, coins as a whole have much to tell us about the history of mankind. Yet comparatively few coins speak as loudly as do those bearing counterstamps.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
I thought I'd update this post with some more info I just found; this, with consideration for future collectors and researchers. Most silversmith sources point to 1800 as Ebenezer Austin's final year of working and/or living. If that were the case it would have been someone, other than him, using his hallmark, who stamped this 1802 large cent. I just found a specific source for Ebenezer's life, spanning 1733 into 1818, when he was collecting a pension for his Revolutionary War service. It's a page contained in Early Silver of Connecticut and Its Makers. Here's a snippet of the page ....  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5668 Posts |
I love how you can connect a single coin to a specific individual with these counterstamps, something that's virtually impossible with any other coin (except perhaps pedigreed collections).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
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I love how you can connect a single coin to a specific individual with these counterstamps ... Same here, Zurie. It's oftentimes more than an individual. In a larger sense, they tell of places, things, events, etc. Many c/s's are connected to patents, masonic orders, political happenings, wars, the westward movement, the economy, you name it. Counterstamps add a whole new dimension to numismatics. |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,300 |
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Posted 05/15/2021 10:43 am
