ODE TO A CINCINNATI COUNTERSTAMP

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V27 2024 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 27, Number 36, September 8, 2024, Article 29

ODE TO A CINCINNATI COUNTERSTAMP

Bill Groom submitted this wistful look at an interesting old counterstamp. Thank you! -Editor

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The Joy of Collecting Counterstamps

This 1833 large cent bears stampings that read: J.G. JOSEPH / CINt. As Joseph was working as a silversmith between 1834-44, this possibly unique piece appears to be a Hard Times issue. The dating comes from Beckman's study of Cincinnati silversmiths. Joseph also worked as an optician, jeweler and a watch and clock maker. His shop in Cincinnati was located at 169 Main Street.

The heavy wear on this cent and its stampings suggests it may have served as Joseph's pocket piece. His tiny stamp, being under 2mm high, may have been applied to spectacles or watches. To date, this writer has been unable to locate any products bearing his stamp.

Joseph's advertisement, shown right, appeared in the Liberty Hall & Cincinnati Gazette on June 21, 1836. Like many early silversmiths, it appears that Joseph found there to be more profit in the pursuit of retailing.

Ode to a Counterstamp

Not much to look at, not much to see,
Yet this old coin called out to me.
Who was this Joseph, and what did he do
To this poor coin, most collectors now rue?

Damaged, so be it, 'twas treasure to me;
As in it still lives telling history.
Solving its secrets is my game;
And finding out, from whence it came.

A silversmith in Cinti' was his trade;
When these callous stampings Joseph made.
It's anyone's guess, just what his intent,
As many times over, he struck this poor cent.

Well, Joseph's long gone, to his reward;
While in my cabinet, this coin's safely stored.
To history it speaks, tells a story for sure,
Its life goes on while Joe is ... no more.

Bill Groom

Bill adds:

"I've been a National Token Collectors' Association (NTCA) member for going on ten years now. I've been writing a Punchlines series of counterstamp articles for their Talkin' Tokens journal throughout most of those years. NTCA offers a free, two month trial membership which can be found at: https://www.tokencollectors.org/"

Wayne Homren, Editor

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@gmail.com

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