U.S.N Countermark on Buffalo Nickel
Peter Smith
Hi to the group
I have recently acquired a dateless Buffalo nickel with the
afformentioned U.S.N countermark. After some research I came to the
conclussion it stood for United States Navy. In an old copy of Rulau,
I saw a 1886 Morgan Dollar with the exact same Countermark.
Unfortunately, that is all it gives, and I can't find my copy of
Brunk. So does anyone know the origins of this Countermark
Where they a type of canteen token for US naval personel?
Thanks in advance
Pete
Arizona Coin Collector
"Peter Smith" <Pe...@pacresta.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:35kpn4tiv68nc6hna...@4ax.com...
Hello
The Indian Head (Buffalo) nickel was minted from
1913 thourgh 1938. Are you seeing this "USN" on
the back side of the coin on the upper right? I am
thinking your seeing the letters from the motto
"E PLURIBUS UMUN" that may be worn real badly
and only those letters are showing up.
You will find the year on the front face near the
bottom.
Peter Smith
Hi
When I said dateless, I meant that the date had been worn off
The USN goes straight across the buffalo, not round the edge.
Here is an example of the Countermark upon a morgan dollar, it is the
exact type of script as well
Steve
Perhaps idle hands by a seaman with that punch which was normally used for
something else?
Steve
Ken Barr
> Hi to the group
>
> I have recently acquired a dateless Buffalo nickel with the
> afformentioned U.S.N countermark. After some research I came to the
> conclussion it stood for United States Navy. In an old copy of Rulau,
> I saw a 1886 Morgan Dollar with the exact same Countermark.
>
> Unfortunately, that is all it gives, and I can't find my copy of
> Brunk. So does anyone know the origins of this Countermark
It's not listed in Brunk (either first or second edition), so that
won't help even if you do find it ...
I've sold a few of these over the years, and always assumed that they
were simply created by a bored machinist at sea ...
> Where they a type of canteen token for US naval personel?
Probably not ... nothing of this nature is listed in Cunningham.
Peter Smith
wrote:
>Peter Smith wrote:
>> Hi to the group
>>
>> I have recently acquired a dateless Buffalo nickel with the
>> afformentioned U.S.N countermark. After some research I came to the
>> conclussion it stood for United States Navy. In an old copy of Rulau,
>> I saw a 1886 Morgan Dollar with the exact same Countermark.
>>
>> Unfortunately, that is all it gives, and I can't find my copy of
>> Brunk. So does anyone know the origins of this Countermark
>
>It's not listed in Brunk (either first or second edition), so that
>won't help even if you do find it ...
>
>I've sold a few of these over the years, and always assumed that they
>were simply created by a bored machinist at sea ...
Thanks for looking for me, you are probably right about the bored
machinists, though there might be something more to it, we just never
know
>
>> Where they a type of canteen token for US naval personel?
>
>Probably not ... nothing of this nature is listed in Cunningham.
That is a new one on me, what is the "Cunningham" book?
Mike Marotta
> That is a new one on me, what is the "Cunningham" book?- Hide quoted text -
Cunningham, Paul A. Military Tokens of the United States - Vol.I
(Domestic Issues). Tecumseh, MI. 1995. 440pp., illus. $50.00
Cunningham, Paul A. Same title as above. Vol.II (Overseas Issues).
Tecumseh, 1998. 461pp., illus. $49.95
Paul Cunningham is a longtime Michigan tokens dealer, perhaps best
known for his catalog, MICHIGAN TRADE TOKENS.
It is a shame that such efforts are not more widely distributed across
the hobby. Michigan is blessed as the home of the ANA. Even as the
hobby suffers from the demise of the local coin store and the local
coin club, we are doing fine here. Michigan exports numismatic
collectibles into the hobby and Michigan dealers are known as strong
buyers at conventions. If you live in Metro Detroit, there is a show
every weekend. You can make two coin club meetings a week. Well,
actually, you would have to make choices because you'd have scheduling
conflicts. There are that many from Southgate to Pontiac, from
Westland to Flint. The freeways make every place near or far the same
drive.
Mike M.
Michael E. Marotta
"Not to mention Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, Bob Seeger ...
... and
Motown."
Johnny Doe
<Pe...@pacresta.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>When I said dateless, I meant that the date had been worn off
>
>The USN goes straight across the buffalo, not round the edge.
>
>Here is an example of the Countermark upon a morgan dollar, it is the
>exact type of script as well
>
>http://fao-coins.info/ctstp/images/USN.JPG
If you look closely at this image, it is pretty obvious that the "USN"
was stamped in AFTER it was worn to the point it is now, with no
circulation after that time. I vote for someone trying to make a
collectible out of something that was only of scrap value before
stamping.