1856-S Seated Liberty Half with scarce and desirable J.L.POLHEMUS counterstamp
A much sought-after countermark on a scarce San Francisco date
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- This item is For Sale - Buy It Now
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- Buy It Now For:
- $550.00
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Item Description
This is a cool one. The J.L.POLHEMUS counterstamp, with the great mortar and pestle design, is popular and scarce among counterstamp collectors (Brunk P-563). The stamp is crisp and fully legible.
The host coin is a 1856-S Seated Liberty Half, which is a scarce coin in its own right. As is typical of mid-1850s San Francisco halves, the obverse rims are unusually weak, especially considering the L_RTY and obverse shield lines would be consistent with a Fine grade. As for the reverse, the area opposite the countermark is flattened, but otherwise it's okay with full rims and a clear mintmark.
Some information on POLHEMUS from various past Heritage auctions:
"Brunk P-563. The J.L. Polhemus counterstamp is one of the most interesting and desired of all countermarked issues. He was a mid-1800s Sacramento, CA druggist who counterstamped many coins that passed through his till, including some gold coins."
"J.L. Polhemus first set up a pharmacy opposite the Magnolia Saloon in Sacramento, CA in August, 1850. He moved to 190 J Street in December of that year, where he remained until his death in 1866 (according to the Brunk reference). His counterstamp is highly prized and pictures a mortar and pestle."
Other information from across the Internet:
"James Lozier Polhemus was born in 1825 in NY City, per Brunk. Polhemus sailed on the Orpheus to California in 1849 and established his pharmacy in 1850; remaining at the J Street address until his death in 1866. An 1859 directory lists him as a wholesale and retail druggist. His wife continued the business until 1874. One of his counterstamped $20 gold pieces, recovered from the wreck of the S.S. Central America, sold for $48,000 in 2001. Brunk wrote that Polhemus was open for business at all hours, selling at cost to indigents, stamping all coins that passed through his till.
Dr. Brunk reported about eighty specimens known in 2003; this, in his work, Merchant an Privately Countermarked Coins. Brunk's listing includes a wide variety of silver and gold coins, foreign and domestic. The Polhemus logo counterstamps are today highly prized by collectors, what with their mortar and pestle pictorial."
From a 2011 Kagin's auction:
"Polhemus counterstamps on U.S. coins have long been known. Virtually every denomination of pocket change was stamped by Polhemus for use as money and doubling as a store card in the 1850s. The Polhemus counterstamped minor coinage pieces are still found today every now and then by token hunters and metal detector enthusiasts. The tie of this Polhemus counterstamp to the SS Central America is exceptionally important. Polhemus started his drug store near the Magnolia Saloon in August 1850. By then end of that year the drug store was more conveniently located on the main street, which was "J" Street. "
Interesting piece of Americana for the right collector.
Shipping and insurance included.
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| Shipping / Handling Cost | Cost For Each Additional Item | Service |
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| $0.00 - Free Shipping | $0.00 | USPS Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box (2 to 3 business days) |
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Item must be returned within: 14 days - Buyer pays return shipping costs.
Refund will be given as: Money back
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