BRITISH COUNTERMARKED SILVER INFORMATION SOUGHT

My research involves UK merchant countermarked silver coins. These are mainly Spanish-American eight reales that were countermarked during the fifty year period 1780 to 1830. The bible for this series is Harry Manville’s Tokens of the Industrial Revolution- Foreign Silver Coins Countermarked for use in Great Britain c. 1787-1828. This book was published in 2001 by Spink, London and The British Numismatic Society. It was awarded the 2002 book prize of the International Association of Professional Numismatists. The book gives some historical background to every issue and lists all the known examples with provenance. It was a true tour de force.

I have written a general article on the subject that was published by Numismatics International in NI Bulletin issue May/June 2016. (www.numis.org)

My research started with the book information. I have checked every entry, obtained supporting documentation including photographs, and added provenance as I visit museums and archives that store old auction catalogues. My best source of catalogues has been that held by the Fitzwilliam Museum of Cambridge University in England. This is now being equalled by the Newman Numismatic Portal a mammoth undertaking which, I believe, will alter the future scope of numismatic research. I have recently discovered information through this source that I would not have found any other way.

In general I am now discovering new information and updating my records accordingly. So anyone with examples or information regarding this type would be of interest to me. However I still have some old entries where the relevant documentation still eludes me.

From the USA.

1) Colony Coin Company for May 1971. I believe this to be a sale catalogue with records of two merchant countermarks, one for Lanark Mills and one for Cromford. I do not believe there are photos.

2) Moffat Auction for July 2004. I believe this is an auction in the USA and to have one lot for J. Muir Manufr. Paisley. I am not sure of photos.

From the UK.

1) Ashby, Glasgow for July 1983. One example of a Lanark Mills. Not sure about a photo.

2) Weight, London for September 1912.Three lots, a Lanark, Rothsay and Cromford being lots 792, 789 and 770.

3) Seaby list for 24 December 1930 number S139, lot S5428, believed Lanark Mills.

4) Wallis & Wallis south of England for 27 February 1963 lot 57 a Dalry.

Any information and scanned copies of relevant pages (mainly the front sheet, the lot description and photos) would be gratefully received.

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web