Coins Stamped with Advertising: A Forgotten Chapter of Nineteenth Century Midwestern History

Gregory G. Brunk

Over one hundred years ago in the United the 1870s that it needed to produce few additional States, it was common for merchants to stamp their pieces for circulation during the 1880s. In fact, so names and advertising slogans on coins. Probably many silver dollars had been struck during the late about five percent of all coins that circulated during 1870s that unopened bags of these coins-never the 1850s were so stamped (Brunk, 1990). Many having been needed for circulation-were found in pieces were foreign silver coins, particularly the the Mint almost one hundred years later, and were quarter-size "two reales" or "two bits" minted in distributed to the public during the 1970s through the Spanish colonies of the New World. These sales handled by the General Accounting Office. Spanish American silver coins were American legal This odd historical circumstance of a decline tender until 1857, when the government began their in the production and circulation of newly minted withdrawal from circulation. coins by the late 1870s is unfortunate. It is difficult Many Spanish American coins circulating in to establish the date of any numismatic attribute, the United States had struck upon them advertising in this case an advertising mark, unless a large marks of merchants. Because of the inflation caused number of specimens are extant (Casey, 1986). The by the Civil War, which led the Confederacy, various chief method of estimating the issue date of states, municipalities, local banks and individual merchant advertising stamps is by examining the merchants to issue paper money, all types of silver latest date coin so stamped (see the literature on coins had a great premium over paper money during ancient coins, where this problem has been the early 1860s. Thus, most of the silver coins discussed extensively, e.g., Grunwald, 1946; stamped with advertising that had not been Thompson, 1954; Kraay, 1962; Buttrey, 1970, Baker withdrawn by the government were melted by 1984; Howgego, 1985). private individuals during the war. Until recently The more specimens of a stamp that are traced, such pieces have been considered to be "mutilated" the more certain one can be in estimating its date coins, and since they had no value to coin collectors, of issue, but this approach does not work well for many more were destroyed during the "great silver American advertising stamps struck after the early melt" of the 1970s when the price of silver hit an 1870s because so few later date coin reached general astronomical value because of the market manip- circulation in the succeeding decade. Since we can ulation of the Hunt brothers. only date advertising marks stamped upon coins Following the Civil War, merchants again based upon the date of the coins used for stamping, turned to stamping coins, but they now stamped we can state with certainty that advertising coins almost exclusively United States coins. All were extensively used in the United States until the denominations of coins were stamped, including late 1870s, but we are uncertain if the practice was a few gold pieces; but the most commonly utilized important after this time. Although a few North coins were half dollars, quarters, dimes, nickels, American advertising marks on coins are known "small cents" of the same size as today's pennies, to have been struck up until the First World War, and the old "large cents" that last were minted in most of the dated later issues are from Canada 1857. Also used were the now obsolete "two cent (Brunk, 1988). piece," "three cent piece," and "half dime," which ceased to be produced during the 1870s. Private Token Coinages Because of the strong political movement for Scattered examples of private coinages are the free coinage of silver that followed discovery known from ancient times (Rostovtsev and Prou, of major silver deposits in the West, the United 1899). Some were issued for religious celebrations, States Mint produced so many silver coins during others for the various Roman games. All are rare. Journal of American Culture The idea of advertising using such "coins" became By the end of the eighteenth century, the common in England well before the Industrial Industrial Revolution had affected much of Revolution. Private "token" coinages in pewter and England and Scotland. One aspect of this economic lead made an appearance in the British Isles by the transformation was that heavy machinery and end of the twelfth century. Again, the first of these quality tools began to be seen in even some remote were struck for religious festivals, particularly those areas, particularly near rivers since plentiful water of the "Boy Bishop" celebration at Bury St. attracted the attention of mill entrepreneurs. Edmunds (Caldecott, 1936;Rigold, 1978). Gradually Various artisans now started to mark their names a transition occurred and the pieces clearly began on the minor regal coins that the Crown issued to advertise the products, services, and locations of during the eighteenth century, but still such official merchants. coins were not issued in great enough numbers to By the seventeenth century, traveling token alleviate local shortages. Private coins remained makers were crossing England offering their skills common. Although many different types of to all local merchants. Such talents were in desperate merchants stamped British coins in the eighteenth need because the Crown never showed much interest and nineteenth centuries, the most common marks in providing a sufficient minor coinage of were struck by cutlers (Brunk, 1989b). This pattern or brass, and serious shortages of small change is not too different from the American experience always plagued the economy, not only in the small where the most common marks were struck by towns, but also in the major cities. The seventeenth- silversmiths (Brunk, 1987). Both English and century English tradesmen tokens differed little from the few regal minor coins that were in American merchants commonly had stock stamps circulation. The distinction between coin and token that they used to mark their products, and only is just a matter of governmental sanction, and this as an after thought were such stamps used to mark distinction often meant little to the common man. advertising on coins. Coins have such sanction, while tokens do not; in These stamped coins provided an efficient and all other respects they may be identical. cheap form of advertisement in a period when The number of these early merchant tokens posted bills, symbolic signs in front of one's from the British Isles is immense (Williamson, establishment, and word of mouth were the best 1889), and they have a close parallel to United States ways to publicize one's goods and services. A wide "Hard Times Tokens" of the 1830sand "Civil War" variety of slogans are found on the British coins tokens of the 1860s. Both of the latter series were of the period, including "Abbey, Bedford, Cutler," the size of American cents and were issued by "B.Hall, Glazier & Glass Bender," "Cark Cotton merchants in most areas of the North and by Works, 1787", "Warburton, Surgeon, 85 Portland tradesmen in a few cities of the South. All three Street, Manchester," "John Thomas, Cutler, 104 series often show interesting symbols of various Blackman Street, Boro," and perhaps the most occupations, like a pipe for a tobacconist, a fish unusual of them all: "Tho. Moore, Rat Killer, for a fishmonger, or a beer barrel for brewer. They Beverly, 1800" (Scott, 1975; Brunk, 1989b). also had a legend that identified their issuer. A Many of the late eighteenth-century Scottish typical English piece was issued by the Mayor of tradesmen marks were more than just advertising Cambridge, portrays Oliver Cromwell and reads, placed upon any coin that might be found in "Iohn Lowry of Cambridg, His Halfe Peny, 1657." circulation-they had a monetary purpose as well. Another shows a ship and states "Elizabeth Because of the discovery of large silver deposits in Thompson in Hull 1669, Her Half Penny." the Spanish colonies of the New World, the British Isles were flooded with "eight reales." Some of these ~ I.), q~ j'Q d~J/I~~O~,~, ~.\J> Spanish silver dollars had been captured by English ,1'1. ~;tP i.>i privateers, while others flowed into England as a ~P.:J.:-:~~~ .I'.:J..~ result of commerce. As they had not been issued This is a merchant's halfpenny token from Hull in Yorkshire, by the Crown, they were valued only as bullion- England. The piece was issued by Elizabeth Thompson in 1666. unless they were given some additional mark of It likely is the work of a traveling token maker, who moved authorization by the government or a private from town to town offering to make halfpennies and farthings merchant (Kelly, 1976). for merchants in order to alleviate the chronic shortage of small change that plagued the British Isles until the late 18th century. Not only did such tokens lessen day to day problems encountered in commercial transactions, but proved to be good advertising. The only monetary mark of the Scottish type issued in the United States was struck by the banking firm of Puech-Bein of . It must have been issued shortly after the city was acquired from France since it retained the French spelling "Nouvelle Orleans" (Byrne, 1975; Brunk, 1987: 131- 132). These Louisiana bankers sold "cut" coins to Caribbean island governments, where fractions of During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries many Scottish mill owners and other tradesmen stamped Spanish silver dollars were stamped with an island symbol American silver dollars with marks to stabilize their value, as in order to tariff them at much higher than their such pieces were not legal tender in the British Isles, but bullion value. constituted much of the coinage in circulation. This 1772 eight reales is stamped "Cark Cotton Works, 1787," and on the reverse appears the value "Four Shillings and Six Pence." In a series that is mostly Scottish, this is one of the few English mills that also stamped coins. It was constructed in Cark-in-Cartmell by James Stockwell in 1782 and was still standing until the 1930s, when it was destroyed by a fire. Peuch-Bein was a New Orleans banking house that produced By the late eighteenth century there were many "cut" coins for the island governments of the Caribbean, where large hydraulic presses in England that would they were stamped with island symbols and circulated locally. The bank also produced a number of their own "cut and contract with merchants to mint private silver countermarked" coins. Their marks likely date from the late tokens of six pence and shilling value from melted l8l0s and appear on Spanish American eight reales cut into Spanish silver dollars, but few of these large presses four sections and circulated as "two bits" or quarters. On the yet existed in Scotland. As a result, many northern obverse is stamped "P.B." circled by a chain. On the reverse merchants did not have the opportunity to issue appears "Nouvelle Orleans" around an eagle on whose breast their own silver tokens to alleviate the shortage of is the American shield. This proves that the pieces were issued after Louisiana became part of the United States, and they almost small silver coins, and they had to find another certainly must have seen use among early traders along the solution. In Scotland, many merchants, and Mississippi River. particularly mill owners, hand stamped Spanish The practice of cutting and stamping coins in American eight reales with smaller marks in order the West Indies was an attempt by island to stabilize their wildly fluctuating silver value governments to restrict the flow of silver coins out (Whetmore, 1957; McFarland, 1979, 1980, 1986; of the Caribbean, where specie was scarce because Brunk, 1989b). Some of the better known marks it was used to purchase needed foreign goods (Wood, of Scottish mills include "Ballindalloch Cotton 1914; Pridmore, 1965). Puech-Bein literally cut Works 5 (Shillings), "Catrine Cotton Works 4 Spanish dollars into four pieces, stamped them with (Shillings) 9 (Pence)," "Payable at Lanark Mills, their initials, and circulated the resulting cut coins 5 (Shillings)," and "Rothsay Cotton Works, 1820, at a value of "two bits" or twenty-five cents. We 4 (Shillings) 6 (Pence)." All these monetary marks do not know precisely where the coins traveled, but tariffed the Spanish silver dollars they are found they must have seen service in some English upon at somewhat more than their silver value in speaking area as a number of counterfeit coins with order to keep them in circulation and away from the Puech-Bein mark have been overs tamped "Bad." the melting pots of Liverpool, London and Apparently the company was not adverse to making Birmingham. a profit by cheating its customersl In the United States most stamped coins were It seems reasonable to think that some of the used by merchants for advertising, were accounting Puech-Bein cut coins saw use by early traders along devices used in keeping track of tools, or were the Mississippi River from the 1810s until perhaps intended to be exchanged for a certain quantity of the late 1830s. These traders would not have been a specific product. For example, a railroad engineer much concerned about the coins they used, except might give an individual a token in exchange for that they be of good silver. Another New Orleans a cord of wood when it was impractical to use actual piece that circulated along the Mississippi River coins because of the security problems involved in during the 1840s was issued by Phillips Cheap Store. keeping large amounts of money on a freight train. It only stamped foreign silver dollars, particularly The stamped coins later could be exchanged at the French five francs, and advertised that goods were main railroad office for hard currency by those who sold at the "auction prices" that prevailed as they had cut the wood. were unloaded at the docks. Journal of American Culture PHII.I.IPS S, "The Lono S\U'," cheap dry (oocia aDd millinery noro, at alU;- advertising counters tamps are so plain that they tion pricn I Nayadet, ned 4001' to tho have gone unnoticed until recently. These American Hone Station J Bouneau, c. Su.pan, marks appear at first to have had no obvious purpose aDd Fellc:.lty. c. Nayael,. and seem to later. generations who view them to be only mutilations. This observation leads to an obvious question: why would an American silversmith stamp just his, or less often, her name on a coin that was intended to be used to advertise one's products? Only within the past decade has it become obvious that such a simple practice served as good advertising in an age when there were few means of publicity and local economic regions were small. A systematic Phillips, / Cheap / Store./ Nayades St. / N.O. This stamp search of major collections has revealed over 5000 might have made its way up the Mississippi River to the Midwest. different names stamped on coins by Americans It is the issue of a dry goods salesman, who sold his goods "at auction prices" according to the 1848 city directory. That was during the nineteenth century. Well over 1000 the practice of selling all a ship's cargo at auction shortly after different marks have been found on two or more it arrived in port. All the marks are known on European silver coins, indicating their purposive stamping as dollars and none appear on American coins. The illustrated piece advertising (Brunk, 1987). is found on a five francs of Napoleon of France. So far we have been able to determine the issue location of only a small percentage of these pieces, By the nineteenth century, stamping coins with since the stamps seldom contain city names, but advertising had become common practice in many a clear pattern is evident. Figure 1 presents a countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, mapping of the known geographical location of Great Britain, France, and the United States (Scott, American countermarks. Pieces from the East 1975; Brunk, 1989a, 1989b). In Britain, Andrew clearly predominate, with over 200 known examples Pear's soap company, which was later to become from New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. part of Lever Brothers, became a well known public The states where the most countermarks were issued pest after stamping 250,000 French coins stretch in a band from Maine to Iowa and Missouri. with the words "Pears Soap." These he circulated Few advertising countermarks were issued in the in Great Britain since the French coins were about South or the Far West, except for the state of the size of English pennies, and England was facing California. yet again another shortage of small change. A One of the earliest American advertising second common stamp from London asked the countermarks was issued by Jacob Houck of public to "Read Lloyd's Penny Sunday Times." Baltimore. He was a patent medicine manufacturer. Pear advertised extensively in the United States, and During the 1830s he stamped a large number of both of these advertising pieces commonly are seen quarters, half dollars, and silver dollars. His mark in New England, where they are mistaken as is one of the few that commonly has been recognized American products. by numismatists since the turn of the century (Duffield, 1919). Some of his medicine bottles and A Short History of American Countermarks stamped coins undoubtedly went West with the Numismatists, the scholars of coinage, call such early settlers and free-lance sellers of medicinal stamps on coins "countermarks" or "counter- goods, the barkers of patent medicine shows. stamps." Toward the end of the colonial era, many Houck's stamp did not effect a coin's silver value, American silversmiths adopted the practice of so there was no reason not to keep his pieces, as stamping coins, and we know of over one hundred they would be honored as readily as unmarked coins. silversmith hallmarks that appear on United States By far, the most common of such advertising coins (Brunk, 1989a). Also a handful of American marks are just people's names, like "E. Seip," "G.H. goldsmith marks have been noted on foreign gold Holt," or "F.P. Colby." Some pieces are much more coins (Gordon, 1987: 91-96). Each of the punches colorful, but still give no indication of location. used to stamp coins initially was meant to mark We know of a number of stamps issued by patent silverware made by these artisans and only later was medicine dealers, which include: "We Recommend an artisan's punch used to strike coins for Waltons Bitters," "Use Goodwin's Grand Grease advertising purposes (Brunk, 1987). Unlike the often Juice for the Hair," "Try Corey's Ointment," very fancy British monetary marks, most American "Whitten's Golden Salve," "Use Dr. Kidder's · Prepared Solely Crom VfIriIUr.." ~1 .&(!)~D meVQ)~9 JlALlJrIM01JJ,

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Houck's / Panacea / Baltimore. This advertisement for Jacob Houck's patent medicine appeared in the 1842 edition of Matchett's Baltimore City Directory. The pieces are found on a wide variety of silver coins, including quarters, half dollars, silver dollars, Spanish American two reales, and French, Prussian and Brazilian silver dollars. The piece illustrated is an 1800 silver dollar. Free Ticket to / Yankee / Robinsons / Quadruple - Show. Fayette "Yankee" Robinson managed a traveling circus most of his life. Apparently the price of admission was half a dollar, as his stamp is found on many such coins, including this well worn coin of 1854. The woodcut is from his obituary, which appeared in the Sept. 13th, 1884 New York Clipper. The marks of three doctors also are worth note. A commonly seen stamp was struck by Dr. W.P. Shattuck of Waterford, Maine, who ran a "water cure" establishment (Bowers, 1984). Easily the most often encountered American advertising mark was issued by Dr. G.G. Wilkins of Pittsfield, New Hampshire, who variously practiced dentistry, sold patent medicines and liquor, ran a restaurant, and sold furs (Bowers, 1987). A Midwestern issuer of such pieces was P.E. Ballou, who stated in his advertisements that he was a phrenologist. Although they have all but died out, during the nineteenth century the popular press was full of advertisements by phrenologists, who believed that illnesses could be diagnosed by carefully examining the size and shape of one's head. In addition to ~ GEO. G.WILKINS, being a phrenologist, Ballou held a degree from ~DENTIST, a medical school in Chicago and practiced PITTSFIELD, ~. H. homeopathic medicine in Ohio. Traveling shows and their entertainers provide another category of stamped coins that saw use in the Midwest. "Sprague & Blodgett's Georgia ArrUh·ll. Minstrels" is seen stamped on half dollars with the Dr. a. O. \\,jl~in, \\')1 :\rrrurJ 1", itwna Fr:tll\; U. n~·r,,,.Frl,I ••" DOV;I statement "Admit One," indicating that the pieces 00 t'1'OI"I"illt IJ( 1\' J,'SI,('r!JIl':'lt {'IF :H\~·t1I.'llll; to ,r\ )li, (Sh..rl"II rlle',) not only were advertising coins, but admission ~3rn "'T1 ~"'. Tilt 1'",:lirnirl."1 tn...1 ~' lI' l,.~ ",:1<1. l.t,,:furc tbe VoJlicl: (0\11"\ tickets as well. The price of admission must have In C\'"C'or.1 t""J.n', lJon J""hn Y. ~(ll.ri'l~C' U :\uol:r)' for ,!It' pro,r.;u. been fifty cents. A traveling show that certainly tioll. ,~~ omit l!'li. ""'I'1t,; (,1(lr"',~in= :\11\' nplllhJU or Ollr 0""" in fC'r:vd 10 worked the Midwest and often visited w11~11I1' rh.H~(, Or 1.:'I"'JI·.~bh: ('If IN, yro":llllc J ••·.i:;" 10 lir..: or r~Il.('.1 tn was Yankee Robinson's Circus. Fayette "Yankee" he ('h'd the vuiIJjn;. of )Ir. :>htr· InHII'-, .~.elt. \r,,'rk \\ (' m:l~' flub1i,h Robinson's stamp reads "Free Ticket to Yankee 1,',,"11 1\ lll\·h -'111 HHt!C' thi. C'ommun, itl •.ilb wooJl'fnll'nt :aollinJi;n.'uioli. Robinsons Quadruple-Show." It appears on half dollars, which again must indicate that the pieces are admission tickets. Robinson happened, unluckily enough, to be touring the South when Dr. G.G. Wilkins. This is the second most common advertising John Brown raided Harper's Ferry. Naturally, his stamp seen in the United States. It usually is found without other comment. and illustrates the fact that most nineteenth name personified the hated North to those who century merchants thought that just their name was good enough would soon secede from the Union and form the for advertising. As a result of this practice, there are over 600 Confederacy. A portion of his obituary, which maverick name stamps that obviously were meant for advertising appeared in the Sept. 13, 1884, New York Clipper, (as many are found in large volume) that remain unidentified tells his story: (see Brunk, 1987). The illustrated piece appears on an 1858 "flying eagle" small cent. Yankee Robinson the famous circus ... manager, died Wilkins variously practiced dentistry, sold patent medicine and Sept 4. at Jefferson, la In the season of 1859 he started from liquor. and ran a restaurant in Pittsfield, New Hampshire Charleston, S.C .... and when at Raleigh, N.C .... John Brown (Bowers, 1987). He was quite a rogue and was given the nickname raided Harper's Ferry .... When the news reached Charleston, the "Hero of Fort Wilkins." In 1874 the Pittsfield Weekly Star a "committee" started for Robinson, having evil designs on his reported that he had been accused of setting a neighbor's barn person: but Yankee took to his heels ... and ran twelve miles on fire. into the woods. Sending back word from his hiding place to learn whether he was more scared than hurt, he was advised Family Pills," "Use Neligan's Worm Candy," and to "skeddadle," which he did, thereby losing the savings of a "Good for a Bottle of Pierce's Rosetta Hair Tonic." busy life. Undoubtedly most of these patent stamps saw circulation in the Midwest for their intent was to Unfortunately, not all countermarked coins advertise a product nationally, whereas most other were intended for advertising, which makes advertising stamps were only intended to attract identifying them all the more difficult. Many coins local interest. stamped by use of single letter punches during the nineteenth century are only personal keepsakes that one time I had more than 200 cents marked "B. Parker." I have had no meaning except to their owner. A typical given one to everybody by the name of Parker that I knew, as legend on a 1858 half dollar reads "Maggie E. Fish, well as to others, and now have less than a dozen. Another old brass founder, die sinker and stencil maker was Sharpsville, Ind., March 4th, 1870." Maggie perhaps ]. W. Strange, a man older than Parker, I think, and who I was was the girl friend of J.W. Fuller, the local jeweler, not well acquainted with, but did visit his shop on Central Street, who issued his own advertising countermarks. From Bangor. I think he made brass candlesticks, and irons, etc. He Illinois there are a number of such private pieces. always had a stock of old brass things in his dusty shop. He They include "P. Barton, Cairo" on an 1817 countermarked copper cents, and perhaps other coins, and rather American large cent; "J.R. Jones, Chicago" on an artistically, usually in small script letters. I think that he had 1823 ten dollar gold coin; and "Emma E. Schiele, a son, C.A. or G.A. Strange. I have seen some I think he marked, both with his and his son's name, though I am not sure of 812 Converse Ave., E. St. Louis, Ill." on an 1872 the relationship (quoted in Brunk, 1976: 107-108). nickel. Surprisingly, the most common stamp found Historical Accounts on American coins was issued in Montreal, Canada. We have few contemporary accounts of the It is the mark of Devins and Bolton, a pharma- practice of stamping coins that have come to us ceutical and patent medicine firm. They stamped from the nineteenth century, and Brunk (1989a, many American large cents, which commonly 1989b) cites the scattered foreign sources. One of circulated in Canada until the 1870s (Brunk, 1988). the few first hand American comments are those Before his death, Richard Devins wrote a letter to of Walter Gould, who was raised in Bangor, Maine, D.R. Storer, editor of the American Journal of during the Civil War. When an old man, he wrote Numismatics, explaining his practice of stamping to Frank Duffield, the editor of The Numismatist, coins. His comments have not been published who was printing an article series on countermarked previously: coins (Duffield, 1919). Gould put down his recollections of Ben Parker, who made many of the When I was first in business, owing to numerous and endless stamps that other New England merchants used to odities of coins then in circulation, I purchased everyone I got mark coins: hold of (and stamped them) with the words "Devins & Bolton, Montreal," I kept count up to eighteen hundred dollars, but did not give up stamping, but kept on .... My first knowledge of Mr. B. Parker, commonly known as Ben Parker, was about 1862, when his place of business was This account implies that Devins and Bolton an old wooden building for brass foundry and metal working stamped over 180,000 coins with their advertise- at No.3 Columbia street, Bangor. My recollection is that most ment! Only slightly less commonly seen today are of the business done was making stencils for marking lumber, etc., repairing brass knuckles and ornaments for harness, locks various coins stamped by Dr. G.G. Wilkins of and lamps. How long he had been at this location before the Pittsfield, New Hampshire (Bowers, 1987). Thus, Civil War I do not know, but until about 1869 I knew the kindly the "Hero of Fort Wilkins" must have struck an old man, and was sent to him to get stencils made. It was his almost equally large number of pieces. When one custom to countermark coins with his name (B. Parker) for his considers the over 1000different types of advertising customers. For other people he would countermark their names issues known to have been issued by nineteenth- or initials when requested, usually on U.S. copper Cents. I have century merchants, the total number of coins seen his name and work on a few other coins. stamped must have been immense. I remember Mr. Thos. ]. Steward, the biggest manufacturer and exporter of birch bark shooks to the Mediterranean for oranges and lemons, calling for some stencils to mark the shooks, Catalog of Midwestern Issues often taking from his pocket an old cent and asking Mr. Parker Stone and Ball was a jewelry firm in Syracuse to stamp his initials (T.].S.) on it, which Ben always did without New York. When the partnership dissolved in 1853, charge. Years afterwards one of these "T.].S." cents came into Calvin Ball continued in the business until 1903. my hands with others. During the late 1890s the Syracuse Herald Previous to 1869 I worked in a fruit store, and used to interviewed Ball, and printed an article on his examine the boxes from Palermo and Messina for the "T.].S." countermarked coins in their June 27, 1897 issue shook mark, and often found it, that was made in Bangor and returned from Italy or Sicily in a box form filled with fruit. (Soeffing, 1990). Up to this time there were no marketable oranges and lemons raised in America. There are many novel schemes for advertising, In the 50s and 60s it seems to have been a common practice but few efforts are rewarded by direct results that to mutilate, mark and hole coins. There was no law against can be traced through nearly half a century. In 1853 it, and the mutilated coins, and those partly cut away were equally two young men, Calvin S. Ball and S. H. Stone, as desirable as the perfect and clumsy coins of the period. At OUR COUNTR I I J]le2eVe!f I

o MORE EXTENSION

Vote the Land Free. The motto of the Free Soil and Free Speech Party is seen stamped on an 1843 quarter. Also illustrated is a political ribbon from the 1848 presidential campaign in which the party supported Martin Van Buren. Journal of American Culture began business as jewelers in the old savings bank extensively and are the only political marks found building. They succeeded the firm of Norton & on American coins, although the bust of liberty is Hotchkiss. During the first year of their partnership occasionally found cut out of large cents using a the young merchants conceived the original idea jigsaw. When this cutout liberty was worn as a of perpetuating their name by stamping it upon badge, it signified that one was a "" the coin of the realm. Accordingly every quarter sympathetic with the Southern cause. that came into their possession was stamped with By the middle of the nineteenth century, there the inscription: had been a shift in the center of American population toward the Midwest, and with the STONE & BALL movement of settlers came the practice of advertising SYRACUSE, by stamping coins, as it was a cheap, effective, and N.Y. easy to produce means of gaining publicity. A number of advertising marks are known as well from This coin with its inscribed substitute for "In the boom towns of San Francisco and Sacramento, God We Trust" was then replaced in the cash drawer having been issued during the California gold rush. and paid out again to customers. By the 1870s a substantial number of advertising None but 25-cent pieces were stamped and the pieces likely came from the Midwest, but most of work was all done during the first two years of the them have not yet been identified as they only consist partnership; but for forty-four years these quarters of a person's name without a city of origin. These have been heard from in many unique and stamped coins were intended for local advertising, unexpected ways. rather than national publicity campaigns, and thus Immediately upon the breaking out of the war did not need to have extensive legends. most of them disappeared and it is the opinion of The known Midwestern pieces have been Mr. Ball that they were hidden away down South; identified by consulting old state and local business and not until about 1880 did they begin to make directories, advertisements in trade journals of the their reappearance. He now has about $10 worth period, and through the invaluable help of many of stamped quarters that have been returned to him librarians and members of local historical societies. by both acquaintances and strangers from all parts What follows is a listing of the advertising pieces of the country. A great many letters are also received, that can be identified to Midwestern states. All these all of which he answers and supplies whatever stamps have been found on more than one coin, information is asked ... and thus it is safe to conclude that they had a specific A number of advertising countermarks are purpose-usually advertising-and are not simply known from the Midwest, and certainly many more mutilations that resulted from idle hands playing wait to be discovered. The Midwestern pieces fall with stock metal dies that were supposed to be used into two general time periods. The coins stamped only to stamp one's products. If two identical pieces before the Civil War most commonly appear on have survived until today, certainly many, many Spanish American silver coins or the old U.S. "large more were issued. cents" that were minted until 1867 (Rulau, 1985; Brunk, 1987). The marks issued after the Civil War often are found on small denomination American Bloomington silver coins (particularly dimes, quarters and half Milo Chatfield ran a grocery and tobacconist dollars), nickels, small cents, and the now obsolete shop that was located on Main Street during the two cent piece that ceased to be minted in the 1870s 1850s. In order to advertise his business, he stamped (Rulau, 1983; Brunk, 1987). quarters, half dollars, and Spanish American two One of the earliest countermarks that saw reales with his name and that of his town, "M. extensive circulation in the Midwest was issued by Chatfield Bloomington-Ill." During his life he the Free Soil Party and is the only American held many local political offices and seems to have advertising issue that was not issued by a tradesman. died in 1885. During the election of 1848, the Free Soil Party supported Martin Van Buren for President. Their Chicago partisans were largely in Massachusetts, New York A.P. Boynton was a watch dealer at 12th Street and Ohio. During the campaign the party had and State. While he is known to have sold pocket barrels of large cents stamped "Vote the Land Free." watches as late as the year 1872, his advertising mark Their mark is found on quarters and Spanish only has been found on dimes and quarters from American two reales. The stamped coins circulated the 1830s and 1840s. It simply reads, "A.P. Boynton Edward Blanchard was a saloon keeper who M. CHATFIELD, was listed in business directories from 1858 to 1870. --"aT" •••••• "•.•..•.••• alT.'".14"" ",_ He probably stamped various coins in 1858 to Foreign

Joliet Walkerton H.A. Balch was a photographer, who stamped J. Willis Cotton not only stamped his name quarters in 1857. The year he issued these pieces on large cents, but various interesting slogans as can be determined with some precision by looking well. One of his pieces reads on the obverse, "J.W. at the latest date coin found stamped. Of the ten Cotton, Walkerton, Ind., 1875." The reverse is struck known countermarked quarters he issued, the three "Good Health is More Wealth than Much Money." latest dated pieces are from 1857. Another reads "Industry and Economy Should Go Hand in Hand." Like the pieces of J.W. Fuller of Sharpsville, Cotton also hand stamped his coins. This must have been very time consuming and could Winona not have been used for any large scale advertising The American Hotel began business in 1872. campaign. It remained in business under a variety of names until it was destroyed by a fire in 1886. The hotel stamped nickels in 1874,andover twenty of its pieces Dubuque are known in museums and private collections Charles and Henry sold grocers and today. provisions in their store at 41 Main Street. They stamped half dollars and Spanish American two reales with a die stating "C. Cannon, Grocer, No St. Louis 41, Dubuque, Iowa." Apparently they left Dubuque For a long time, the stamp "LB.B., St. Louis, at the start of the Civil War since they are not listed Mo" was a major enigma. It has been known to in any city directory after 1860. numismatists since at least the turn of the century (Duffield, 1919). It is found on quarters, half dollars, Iowa City and Spanish American two reales, but most of the One recently discovered advertising stamp read stamps are seen on dimes and the now obsolete "A.B. Walker, Artist, Iowa City." It is found on "half-dime" or silver nickel. Isaac B. Burbbayge both quarters and two reales. From 1858 to 1862 used only his initials, not only because of his Alphonso Walker was listed in the city directory unusual name, but because of the small size coins as an "artist," which is what most early that he commonly stamped. He was first listed in photographers called themselves. the Missouri state business directory of 1842, but Another stamp likely from Iowa City simply he must have been in business much earlier for he reads "Clark House." This hotel was located on advertised in the 1854-1855 Illinois and Missouri Jefferson Street, "opposite Capital Square," a State Directory that his business was "established reference to the old state capital building, which between ten and twenty years ago." now is located on the campus of the University of Another St. Louis merchant was John J. Iowa. The establishment is listed in city directories Outley, a photographer, who first appeared in the published shortly before the Civil War. city directory of 1852. His shop was located at Third and Washington Streets, and he continued to be listed in the directories until the l890s. He stamped Lawrence quarters and half dollars in 1858 with his name R.L. Frazer was a territorial jeweler. The and a mark that identified him as an "artist." "K.T." in his mark indicates "Kansas Territory," and so the pieces must have been struck before 1861, when Kansas became a state. Most likely they were Cincinnati issued in 1858, which is the date of the latest known The Steamboat "General Pike" operated out stamped coin. The mark is found on both quarters of Cincinnati between 1856 and 1861. The stamp and half dollars. It seems to be the only issue which "Genl Pike" has been noted on two dimes. The identifies itself as having a territorial origin and only other steamboat known to have stamped coins reads "R.L. Frazer, Jeweler, Lawrence, K.T." with advertising was the "Jewell," which ran out of New Orleans in the l870s. Another stamp from Cincinnati is the Ann Arbor silversmith hallmark of Enos Woodruff, which One large cent and a token from the "Hard consists entirely of script letters. His store was Times" period of the late l830s are found stamped located at 58 Main Street in 1825. By 1829 the firm "A.J. Sutherland, Ann Arbor." Nothing is known had become Woodruff and White, and thus the mark about this merchant, whose presence in Michigan apparently dates from the early l820s. seems to predate all local historical records. A third advertising mark from this city reads "Faris, Cincinnati." It is the work of J.W. Faris, Ypsilanti an early photographer, who was listed in the city A small number of varied coins are stamped directories of the l840s. One example is found upon "W.H. Worden, Ypsilanti." Like A.J. Sutherland, a French five francs of Louis XVIII, showing just nothing is known about this merchant. how diverse was the coinage that circulated in the United States during the early nineteenth century. C L ARK H 0 II S n. [Jefferson Street, Opposite C:lpita.l Square,] XOVV' .A. OITY, IO"V\7 A.. John Hursh, F»roprie"tor.

Clark / House. An Iowa City hotel run by John Hursh, the stamp appears on an 1856 half dollar. I. B. BURBBAYGE'S il0~ill~~Uillrn0~rn(JJ~~il[~rn .\~U 1~ GENERAL AGENCY,~~

LB.B. / St. Louis / Mo. This is the mark of Isaac B. Burbbayge, who ran an intelligence o££ice and general agency, selling maps of Western rivers, a wide variety of goods, and slaves. The pieces probably were issued in the 1850s. The illustrated coin is an 1836 half dime, a denomination that no longer is issued. Outley's Slcy-Light Daguerrian Gallery, Corner of Third and Washington avenue, (1'0 rmerl., Oalle,. ok lle •• I•••• ) t "'oll1d tolirlt III al..,'nllioD o( ,entrOr ,t.• .,try 'hi' 'rtc'.rn, in thi, Call'tT, t.T.U I. "Ill' or a ,eM ,•• ,J II,,.,;,,. 1'",. •.•. AI 1M' II •• lIl1k,n by """H,la &hI. tll" .n,t flU'I' lllUUOIiT 'MUM 1'1IF: l:Arr, I will •••••• n' II •• 00 •••• "I.J'I.C:T • flt1.rt '1 tan l.' hid •.•.1.1 e'hr.. 'OMDI,.' "(uD4 Iht mont,. 0., M- tom"'orhlioOI aDd mod'" .rlft~"I.d ",,, ••• ,. 'f"f'OlItI ,. n••• iD'he cil~, 1.4 •• , ,ficf":." I•• and Inl(ol'll, rlnClD, (, •• II ,.110. fie,",". ,ilbt' 11n,l•• , ,. l,our'l I"~t" In elo'Wl'ly I' ",,",' II hit ""I.It,.,. 1,,14 Il Ibl ,"'rtell noll("(', 6',,"_ '''''', or 'ho" 1I.1D, oaf.f LftWD. Ire ••• n't'd 1hel' w.r' c.n be 40Dllo the 6D""t "t- 111,1,8unn'" (or ODt b,l( .blt I. rb,,,cl't I' OlhN C.lI,'lu.

n, tndu.ofln, '0 ",Irur .11. lad o •• mll.""nl,. ,ttmheD Ie ell' rft,to",ru,' D", ,. 'OCtlft, U ha'ttoforr, • ,ha" 01 'De p_""h, palr.Dlle. J. J. OtJTLI. \', .'1'''''.

].]. Outley / Artist. This advertising mark of the St. Louis photographer found on an 1858 half dollar.

FA RI S' Daguerreotype Miniature Rooms, Main 8t., betWU71Fourth ~ Fifth Sts. OTer Lawson at Brothers. Miniatures taken every day without reS2rd to weather, in :l style unsur~s5ed. Apparatus, Plates, Cases, Chemicals, &e., constantly on hand, and furnished on the most reasonllble terms.

Faris / Cincinnati. ].W. Farris was a photographer, who likely stamped coins in the 1840s. His mark is illustrated on a French five frances of Louis XVIII dated 1819. G. 'v. GOLLINS. & PHOTOGRAPH GALLERY, WlIOLESALB DEAJ,,:r. In eve'7 description or manuereolUllC, AMBROTYPE, -AND- ~hOtCC1'lll)ll, GOODS. UoomlIlWcnver'sllla!k 1:.11. PtlDLtc IIQUAnt, unDANA, 0

The only reference we have to this Ohio merchant comes from the 1858-1859 Urbana City Directory, which published an elaborate wood cut of Collins and his equipment. Only two examples of his mark are known, both on quarters. ALDIHE RB~TAURART, ~I~LIARD AiD ~AMnE M~M, E. A. HATCH, Proprietor, DenIer in Foreign and Domestic !taudi£'st 6itt$. ~Um$t Wine5/ CnOICE H!VAIDiA CIGARS. & IMPORTED SCOTCHALE" DUBLIN PORTER. COR. THIRD AND MAIN STREETS.

Hatch's I --I Restaurant I Cor Main & 3rd. Sts. I .. I Lax, Wis. This stamp of Hatch's A1dine Restaurant of Lacrosse is seen on an 1873 nickel. The advertisement is from the city directory. Coins Stamped with Advertising The slogan "We Recommend Waltons Bitters" remain today in private collections or museums. that is found on half dollars has been identified Instead, most were melted. The pieces that will by the observation that the name Samuel W. Walton surface in the future almost certainly will be found appears on bitters bottles manufactured in by ordinary people, taken from dresser drawers and Cincinnati. old cabinets. These stamped coins remain as largely forgotten reminders of a period of American history Elyria when advertising took many varied, and sometimes W. Packard stamped quarters and half dollars bizarre, forms. in 1865. His mark was "W. Packard, Elyria, 0." Nothing is known about this merchant. Works Cited

Urbana G.W. Collins was listed in the 1858-1859 city directory as a photographer. His gallery was located Baker, Richard (1984). "The Countermarks Found on at 154 Scioto Street. Two examples of his stamps Ancient Coins: A Brief Introduction," SAN: Journal have been noted on quarters. of the Society for Ancient Numismatics 12: 52-58. West Millwood Bowers, Q. David (1984). "Taking 'The Water Cure,''' Bowers The mark "P.£. Ballou, Phrenologist" has been and Merena Review 51 (April-May 1984): 66-72. __ (1987). The Strange Case of Dr. Wilkins. Wolfeboro: noted on many American cooper coins from the Bowers and Merena. 1860s and 1870s. Only recently has this individual Brunk, Gregory G. (1976). World Countermarks on Medieval been identified as practicing homeopathic medicine and Modern Coins. Lawrence: Quarterman. and phrenology in West Millwood. __ (1987). American and Canadian Countermarked Coins. Rockford: World Exonumia Press. __ (1988). "Canadian Merchant Countermarks," Lacrosse Canadian Numismatic Journal 34: 265-280. E.A. Hatch ran the Aldine Restaurant located __ (1989a)."Countermarks of Nineteenth Century at the corner of Third and Main Street. It only is America," Numismatist 102: 222-230. mentioned in the 1876-1877 city directory. The __ (1989b). World Merchant Countermarks. Rockford: World Exonumia Press. stamp "Hatch's-Restaurant, Cor Main, & 3rd __ (1990). "Estimating the Circulation of North Sts.- Lax, Wis." is found on two cent pieces, nickels American Advertising Countermarks," TAMS Journal and quarters. "Lax" is an obsolete way to abbreviate 30: 74-85. "Lacrosse." Buttrey, Theodore V., Jr. (1970). "Observations on the Behavior of Tiberian Counterstamps," Museum Notes Mayville 16: 57-68. William Hart was a jeweler who probably Byrne, Ray (1975). "Puech-Bein and Their Tokens," stamped coins in 1857. His mark is found on Numismatist 88: 1494-1497. quarters, large cents and Spanish American two Ca1decott, lB. (1936). "The Money of the Boy Bishop at reales. Bury St. Edmonds," Transactions of the International Numismatic Congress: 336-371. London. Casey, John. (1986). Understanding Ancient Coins: An Conclusion Introduction for Archaeologists and Historians. One of the least known chapters of the history Worcester: Billings Ltd. of the material culture of the nineteenth century Duffield, F.G. (1919). "A Trial List of Countermarked Coins Midwest is the role that was played in day to day of the World," series in The Numismatist from 1919 life by coins stamped with advertising. Thousands to 1921. Reprinted with supplementary information of different pieces circulated in the North, although in Brunk (1976): 27-136. they saw little use in the semi-feudal, agrarian Gordon, Ralph C. (1987). West Indies Countermarked Gold South, which had no need of an extensive system Coins. USA: Erik Press. of minor coinage. In contrast, easily between one Grunwald, Michael (1946). Die Romischen Bronze-und Kupfermunzen mit Schlagmarken im Legionslager in twenty and one in fifty coins were stamped with Vindonissa. Basel: E. Birkhauser. advertising in the North. Howgego, Christopher l (1989). Greek Imperial Counter- Much information about this area of material marks: Studies in the Provincial Coinage of the Roman culture awaits to be discovered. There still are many Empire. London: The Royal Numismatic Society. unrecognized pieces. Since these advertising coins Kelly, E.M. (1976). Spanish Dollars and Silver Tokens: An have had so little value to coin collectors, who Account of the Issues of the Bank of England, 1797- dismissed them as mutilations, very few pieces 1816. London: Spink and Son. 01 I

Kraay, Colin M. (1962). Die Munzfunde von Vindonissa (bis (1988). United States Trade Tokens: 1866-1889. Iola: Trajan). Veroffentlichungen der Gesellschaft Pro Krause. Vindonissa Volume 5. Birkhauser Verlag: Basel. Scott, Gavin J. (1975). British Countermarks on Copper and Massey, Bill (1975). "Yankee Robinson: Portrait of a Bronze Coins. London: Spink and Sons. Showman," Journal of the Civil War Token Society, Stoeffing, D. Albert (1990). More on the Stone and Ball 1975: 92-97. Counterstamps," TAMS Journal 30: 165-166. McFarland, David (1979). "Ballindalloch Cotton Mill," Thompson, Margaret (1954). "A Countermarked Hoard from Numismatic Circular 87: 8-10. Buyukcekmece" Museum Notes 6: 11-34. __ (1980). "The Thistle Bank," Numismatic Circular 88: Whetmore, S.A.H. (1957). "Notes on Some Issuers of 92-93. Countermarked Spanish Dollars," British Numismatic __ (1986)."Deanston Cotton Mill," Numismatic Journal 8: 620-648. Circular 94: 258-259. Williamson, George C. (1889-1891). Trade Tokens Issued Pridmore, F. (1965). The Coins of the British Commonwealth in the Seventeenth Century in England, Wales and of Nations: West Indies. London: Spink and Son. Ireland by Corporrations, Merchants, Tradesmen, etc.. Rigold, Stuart E. (1978). "The St. Nicholas or 'Boy Bishop' London: E. Stock. Tokens," Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Wood, Howland (1914). "The Coinage of the West Indies Archaeology 1978: 87-101. with Especial Reference to the Cut and Countermarked Rostovtsev, Mikhail Ivanovich, and Maurice Prou (1899). Pieces," American Journal of Numismatics 48: 89-136. "Catalogue des plombs antiques de la bibliotheque nationale," Revue Numismatique 1899: 199-219, 278- Gregory G. Brunk is an associate professor of political science 337,417-460. at the University of Oklahoma and a Fellow of the Royal Rulau, Russell (1985). U.S. Merchant Tokens: 1845-1860. Numismatic Society. Iola: Krause.

COBOUR.G PUBLIC LIBRARY Nov - 2 199f