Counterstamps

(gear) / (P.) BRYANT / (gear) counterstamped in serrated box punches on both sides of an 1840s Braided Hair large cent. Brunk-Unlisted, Rulau-Unlisted. Host coin Very Good.

A large and impressive stamp. Its large size precludes it from being one used by a silversmith and most other maker marks, except those of larger items. It is however very similar to those found on carpenter tools, either a mark of the carpenter himself or more likely the manufacturer of the tool itself. Currently unattributed, a little bit of research with antique tool listings should reveal its origin. One possibility is either Pheletusor or Patrick Bryant from Chesterfield, MA. This is currently the only known example.

From the Steve M. Tompkins Collection. Purchased from Alan Weinberg.

Estimate: $ 150