Counterstamps

GW in a box punch on a 1784-Mo-FF Mexican 2 Reales. Brunk W-27, Rulau-Unlisted. Host coin Very Good.

Brunk lists this mark as a fantasy tribute to George Washington, however there were several silversmiths with these initials. One possible candidate is George Walker, a Philadelphia, PA silversmith working from 1795 to 1822. One of the marks attributed to him looks very much like the one found on the example above. He was in a partnership with his father William in 1795-96 as WILLIAM & GEORGE WALKER. Another possibility is George Woltz a silversmith working in Hagerstown, MD from 1775 to 1811. He also has an initial stamp that is very similar.

From the Steve M. Tompkins Collection.

Estimate: $ 175