The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 32, August 8, 2004, Article 13

MORE ON THE  "E" AND "L" COUNTERSTAMPS

  Regarding the E and L counterstamps, Mark Borckardt writes:
  "I must disagree with Tom DeLorey's disagreement regarding
  the new theory. I have actually not read this article yet, so I
  cannot say whether I agree or disagree with the article.

  Tom made two observations. First, that the reverse does not
  show any disturbance, indicating the counterstamps were
  applied with the coin still in the mint die. Nearly every
  counterstamped quarter I have examined does have a minute
  disturbance on the reverse. With my old eyes, this is only
  visible with 5 to 10x magnification, but it is there. Tom
  compared these to the 1848 CAL quarter eagle that was
  counterstamped in the die and does not show any disturbance
  on the obverse.

  The other of Tom's observations is that the people doing the
  counterstamping would not have had access to a reverse die
  as a base or support for the stamping process. Even though I
  do not agree that these were counterstamped while resting on
  the die, all of the early 19th century coinage dies that left the
  mint (whether as scrap iron or any other reason) suggests to
  me that it is quite possible a reverse quarter dollar die was
  available outside the mint."

  Ronald S. Thompson writes: "Unless I am missing something,
  I don't think you need to put the quarters on the reverse die
  to counterstamp the obverse without damage.  I think the
  same result would occur with a reasonable hard wood other
  than really hard woods like oak, iron wood or ebony."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization 
promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor 
at this address: whomren@coinlibrary.com

To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum