An 1833 Cent With A Story To Tell & A Rhyme As Well .

As many CCF members know from my posts, I've collected a wide varietyof coins and exonumia; this, for almost 70 years now. I started collecting counterstamped coins back in the late 1970's. Gaining momentum from books by Rulau and Brunk, it took me about ten years to actively seek out the c/s's at shows. When I purchased my first computer in the early 1990's, I started building a database on my holdings, using it to then track and study this genre. As time passed, I gained increasing respect for this numismatic step-child.

The 1833 cent shown below has the typical appearance of many well-worn c/s survivors we see today. It's stamped multiple times and as such, this coin was likely a test piece for the merchant's stamp which was intended for use on his products. When first spotted it at auction, I noted that the letters, the font, was tiny. This suggested to me a fine craftsman. More importantly, I took note of the stamp, itself: J.G. JOSEPH / CINt. The town, Cincinnati, being present virtually assured me that a positive attribution could be made.




This c/s was unknown to Rulau and Brunk, major authors on this genre. Now, twenty years since their works were last published, I've yet to spot another such c/s. Here are the notes from my database ....

JOSEPH G. JOSEPH BEGAN BUSINESS IN 1834 IN CINCINNATI;THIS, PER BECKMAN'S STUDY OF CINTI SILVERSMITHS. JOSEPH RAN ADS AS AN OPTICIAN, JEWELER, SILVERSMITH, WATCH & CLOCK MAKER - IN THAT ORDER. THIS TINY C/S MAY HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO HIS SPECTACLES OR WATCHES..HE RELOCATED TO TORONTO BETWEEN 1842-44, SO THIS IS A HARD TIMES ISSUE. HIS SHOP WAS AT 169 MAIN STREET AS PER THE 1836 DIRECTORY. HE USED A HALLMARK ON HIS SILVER, AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A RETAIL C/S.

Here's an advertisement from an early city directory ....


Finally, here's a little poem I penned on this piece ...

Ode to a Counterstamp
Not much to look at, not much to see,
Yet this old coin called out to me.
Who was this Joseph, and what did he do
To this poor coin, most collectors now rue?

Damaged, so be it, 'tis treasure to me;
As in it still lives telling history.
Solving its secrets is my game;
And finding out, from whence it came.

A silversmith in Cinti' was his trade;
When these callous stampings Joseph made.
It's anyone's guess, just what his intent,
As many times over, he struck this poor cent.

Well, Joseph's long gone, to his reward;
While in my cabinet, this coin's safely stored.
To history it speaks, tells a story for sure,
Its life goes on while Joe is ... no more.