I examined the Bob Dalton Coffeeville (sic) 1895 quarter in Stack's Terranova counterstamped coin collection auction in Philadelphia. The piece struck me just as peculiar as when I first saw the plate in the catalogue weeks before. The 1895 quarter is well worn, in perhaps barely Good condition. Yet the engraved (not counterstamped) inscription was crisp, sharp and devoid of any dirt or verdigris in the letter recesses.

If indeed the inscription was done in or around 1895 when the coin was choice, the inscription would, like the coin, show a lot of wear and a lot of residue in the letters. The same can be said if it were merely carried as a pocket piece. The incused inscription would be almost as well worn as the coin.