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 Replies: 22 / Views: 3,615 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4415 Posts |
Here's an 1864 Two Cent Piece bearing a patent medicine stamp. Dave Bowers gets the credit for attributing this counterstamp. The issuer was Charles H. Goodwin of Exeter, New Hampshire. He had shops on Water Street, commencing in 1856. A pharmacist or apothecary by trade, he marketed and sold a variety of drugs and notions. It's thought that his OIL OF ICE may have been a byproduct of camphor; this, as there was a "camphor ice" product then known.   These OIL OF ICE counterstamps are typically seen on Indian cents. I also have a Shield nickel bearing this stamp. Brunk and Rulau documented about 60 known coins,with 1880 being the latest date recorded. The total may well approach a hundred or more. This issue has been copied. The copies, produced with individual letter punches, have rounded O's. Note the squarish O's on this genuine piece. Fortunately, not many of these copies have been seen. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Cool, thanks for sharing.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5238 Posts |
I like it! My google search, however, did not enlighten me as to what "oil of ice" was. I would assume like most patent medicines it grew hair and probably cured everything.
Edited by oriole
10/26/2021 07:42 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3342 Posts |
What a great brand name! It brings to mind old whiskey brands like Elk Tooth and Vim.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
Very interesting!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
656 Posts |
To my way of thinking... OIL OF ICE would mean WATER. Perhaps this was the mother of all scams!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4415 Posts |
Quote:
To my way of thinking... OIL OF ICE would mean WATER. Perhaps this was the mother of all scams! I seriously doubt this was the case. Goodwin maintained a downtown apothecary business for many years. He must've had a good reputation as such. Scammers, the flim-flam men, were typically transients. I'd note that there were a good many traveling men who counterstamped coins to garner word-of-mouth advertising! Camphor was extracted from tree bark and was mainly used as a soothing agent, applied to the skin. I was unable to find any ads suggesting that Goodwin widely marketed this product. However, he did advertise a few other of his products. Stay tuned for my next thread on these products ....    BTW .... Thanks for the enthusiastic replies, guys! Edited by ExoGuy
10/26/2021 12:59 pm
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New Member
United States
44 Posts |
Very cool! |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
If you can find a historical documented linking to the counter stamp, the coin would have a lot more numismatic interest.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
If you can find a historical documented linking to the counter stamp, the coin would have a lot more numismatic interest.
'Oli of Ice' suggests camphor oil skin rub, to my way of thinking. Vicks Vapor Rub would be a more modern equivalent.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4415 Posts |
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If you can find a historical documented linking to the counter stamp, the coin would have a lot more numismatic interest. I thoroughly agree and endeavor to do that with every article I write or counterstamp post that I make. If you check out my other postings, you can find many ads and pics of products. Oftentimes, I've acquired a silversmith's spoon with a matching hallmark, a knife with a matching maker's mark or a daguerreotype with a matching stamp on the casing. I can't afford to buy all the early guns, so I settle for pics of those. I do have one of Goodwin's news ads that cites a pair of his other products. The OIL: OF ICE is not mentioned therein. I post that ad with examples of his other counterstamps. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
982 Posts |
Edited by captainrich
10/26/2021 10:07 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
I like it, and a deuce of course, I haven't seen that counterstamp before, really neat.
"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
4415 Posts |
Quote:
I like it, and a deuce of course, I haven't seen that counterstamp before, really neat. @ Westcoin .... I thought you might chime in on this "deuce" as you lovingly call it. The uncommonly seen host bearing this c/s was my incentive to acquire it. @ CaptainRich .... Great examples, you've got. I've long admired your avatar! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1173 Posts |
Very interesting, thanks for sharing.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
I found a bit of info here, which you're probably already aware of. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthope...ce-453353596Quote:
It's likely his OIL OF ICE was a camphor in glycerin concoction. This information came from a 1928 Saturday Evening Post that mentioned "old Charles Goodwin invented Goodwins Grand Grease Juice and Goodwins oil of ice..." I tried looking for the 1928 mention but their archives require a subscription. This would appear to be his headstone in the Exeter NH cemetery. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial...enry-goodwin |
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Replies: 22 / Views: 3,615 |
Posted 10/26/2021 01:11 am
