QUERY: A COLONIAL COUNTERSTAMP MYSTERY

I'm wanting to solicit the thoughts of our learned E-Sylum readers as regards the two counterstamped coppers, pictured below. Acquired separately, I've had them for many years now. The smaller piece is about the size of a British halfpenny, and the second coin is a Connecticut cent.

While Brunk does not as yet list the smaller piece, he does list the Connecticut cent; this, in addition to the same counterstamp on a 1788 Vermont cent (Brunk # P-14). I would note that there is a slight error in the Brunk listing; this, being the addition of a second period or stop, following the letter C. The counterstamp actually appears as: B / D.CP The smaller piece is quite worn, and that stamp may be either: B / CVN or B / C.VN

Closeups: B / C.VN and B / D.CP

Dr. Brunk noted that, in marks such as these, the initial letter, B (on both coins here), typically represented a town. He logically surmised that the P-14 issues emanated from New England.

Counterstamped British Halfpenny

Counterstamped Connecticut Cent

Given the similar style of my two pieces, perhaps they were from the same town ... Boston?

Although the P-14's are listed as merchant tokens by Brunk, these are quite different. I've long been struck by their similarity in style to the Albany Church Penny. Might these have been used as Church Pennies as well? I long ago mused that the D.CP might stand for "Dutch Church Penny" or perhaps, something similar?

Well, having labored over this puzzle for a few decades now, I've decided to see if someone else can attribute either or both of these curiosities. Readers, have at it!

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
QUERY: ALBANY CHURCH PENNY INFORMATION SOUGHT (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n38a12.html)
ALBANY CHURCH PENNY RESEARCH FOLLOWUP (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n02a18.html)

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