Unusual Spade/Thistle (?) Countermark On English 1775 1/2-D

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Author	Replies: 4 / Views: 2,176
Numismat Pillar of the Community United States 1666 Posts	Posted 06/01/2010 11:38 pm This one has me stumped. The counter-mark looks like a crude incuse thistle and the punch on the reverse side is a clear spade. Does anyone recognize these marks? any help would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you! =) Report this Post to the Staff

Conder101 Bedrock of the Community United States 17884 Posts	Posted 06/02/2010 8:09 pm Never seen the punch on the obv before. (and you have to consider hat it may not HAVE a meaning) The "spade" on the rev is simply the damage caused to the reverse by the obv punching. The metal buldged outward from the force of the punch until it flattened against whatever the coin was laying on. Report this Post to the Staff
Numismat Pillar of the Community United States 1666 Posts	Posted 06/03/2010 12:25 pm The spade shape is fairly high profile with clean, sloping edges. If it were struck on a flat surface, there would just be an indistinct flat spot, as is seen on the majority of counter stamped coins. This one actually looks like it was purposely stamped over a spade shaped mold of some kind. Since both the thistle and spade were commonly seen on British commonwealth coins and tokens of this period, I strongly believe that it does have a meaning. Edited by Numismat 06/03/2010 12:27 pm Report this Post to the Staff
ExoGuy Pillar of the Community United States 4416 Posts	Posted 06/04/2010 10:12 am Thumbing through Brunk's book on merchant and privately countermarked coins, I'm unable to spot this mark. Its apparent absence doesn't mean much as there are far more countermarks or counterstamps that have yet to be recorded. This particular mark is strategically centered on the coin. Perhaps, it's the mark of a Scottish merchant who grudgingly accepted King George's coins in trade? Just a thought ... This coin shows much wear and may have been a pocket piece, carried by a Scot who had a political ax to grind and would show this to those who would listen? Regardless, a fun coin to contemplate! Report this Post to the Staff
Numismat Pillar of the Community United States 1666 Posts	Posted 06/04/2010 1:20 pm Hey ExoGuy, It's definitely been handled quite a bit, the edge legends are all but worn. If your theory is true, that may have also been on purpose. I suppose a Scott would have plenty of reason to be unhappy with George III. I have also learned that the spade was a popular image on game counters or gambling tokens, whatever you want to call them. This opens up a new area of research, but it's very difficult to find any info at all. Thanks! =) Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 4 / Views: 2,176

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