r/ChopmarkedCoins

I found this so-called Spanish Philippines 8 reales on a legit auction site. However, as I consulted Numista, such emergency coinage did not seem convert 8 reales as late as 1889. Any insights are very much appreciated!

I’m new to the world of chopmarked coins, and older coins in general. However, I really would like to dig into the history of these coins and find more information out about them. Please feel free to drop any knowledge about these coins or chops. All information is greatly appreciated and welcomed!

First coin is a Japanese One Yen. Unsure of year, but it looks like there’s a possible partial ink chop on the obverse along with some physical chops through out. More chops on reverse.

Second coin is also a Japanese One Yen, unsure of date as well. Various chops through out. Any chops worth noting?

Third coin is a Fatman coin from China, unsure of year or information beyond that, but reading and researching as much as I can. Thank you all for looking!

I figured I would share the one I have

Hi everyone! Just discovered this amazing community~
Wanted to share a new find I recently got.
Haven't seen a gin chop mark for a long while!

Any collectors also into Japanese stuff here?

Has anybody seen this counter mark before?

Just got this neat first-year Bolivia Portrait 8 Reales. Both Mexico and Peru bot recieved the dies in 1772, meaning this is the 2nd year of the design overall. Like with the introduction of any new type, the introduction of the portrait 8 Reales caused Chinese merchants to treat the type with suspicion for a few years, so as a result, the first few years of the portrait type from all mints tend to be much scarcer with chops. Based on this coin having mostly large chops, it's possible that the coin didn't make it to China until large chops became in vogue in the early to mid-19th century, or alternatively, it may have been hoarded for decades.

Noteworthy chops include a double-struck Latin "R", two Sun shapes (that remind me of shroff marks),卩巳 (of a slightly different style thaqn the rest of the chops), 大巳, A vortex shape with a square over it, 3 small chops next to each other (the only 3 on the coin), 百, 堯, 䒼, and 和. There is also a single shroff mark that appears to have been placed on top of the largest cluster of chops. This also happens to be my first slab with a "special" label, which made zero impact on my purchase.

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*I used ai to remove the background and combine the photos into a single image with a black background.

The VOC Java Rupee has the infamous "支" zhī chop, believed to have been left by Chinese merchants operating in Java, that can be found on many Dutch/VOC issues. There is a 1766 VOC Java Rupee with an identical chop in the Huntsinger Collection. The chop on the Scheepjesschelling (little ship shilling, my favorite Dutch word) is somewhat ambiguous; u/superamericaman gave me a hard maybe after I sent him the listing photos. After seeing it under my scope, it definitely seems intentional. The shape of it kind of reminds me of the chop on the Murphy Argentina 8 Reales if the top line was cut off. I will leave this one up for debate.

I bought this back in 2007 for 39USD + 12 for shipping, was it a good deal?

I recently shared an article about a 1797 British George III "Emergency Issue" countermark (S-3765A) that sparked a healthy debate. A fellow senior collector raised a valid concern: If the official countermarking occurred in 1797, how can the host coin be dated 1802?

As a researcher, I prefer evidence over blind faith—even when a coin is slabbed by PCGS. After digging through the archives and numismatic literature, here is the breakdown of why these "anachronistic" coins exist and why they are recognized as genuine.

1. The PCGS Verdict

The coin in question is housed in a PCGS holder labeled "PCGS Genuine / Chop Mark-VG Detail". The label specifically identifies it as S-3765A KM-634 C/M on Mex 8R.

• S-3765A: The Spink catalog designation for the George III Emergency Dollar.
• C/M on Mex 8R: Confirms the countermark was applied to a Mexican 8 Reales host.

By slabing this coin with these specific attributions, PCGS is explicitly certifying that the George III oval countermark is genuine, despite the host coin date.

2. Why the Dates Don't "Add Up"

While the official Bank of England authorization for these emergency issues was in 1797, my research into the history of the steel dies revealed some surprising facts:

• Longevity of the Dies: The oval punches used for these coins were not destroyed in 1797. They remained available for many years.
• Widespread Use: These punches were used across various assay offices for gold and silver taxation, not just the Tower Mint.
• The "Collectors' Market" Theory: According to Numista, these dies were likely used for years afterward to countermark foreign coins—other than Spanish 8 Reales—specifically to satisfy the demands of collectors.
• Documented Survival: In the Birmingham Mint, these specific punches were used as late as 1830.

3. Historical Evidence of "Late" Stamping

In Harrington Emerson Manville’s Bank of England Countermarked Dollars (2001), he documents several instances of genuine oval countermarks appearing on coins dated after the official 1797-1799 period:

1. 1798 8 Reales: Stamped a year after the official Mint issues.
2. 1803 8 Reales: Stamped six years late (formerly in the A.J. Byrne collection).
3. 1806 8 Reales: Stamped nine years late (formerly in the R. Gladdle collection).

He also notes that these genuine marks appear on copper coins and smaller silver denominations (half-reales) that were never part of the official Bank of England silver bags.

Summary & Takeaways

1. The countermark is real, but it isn't a "circulating" 1797 emergency issue. It was likely applied later using the original official steel dies.
2. Expertise matters. PCGS experts are aware of these variations and the history of the punches.
3. Market Value. These "variants" that defy traditional logic (stamped on non-Spanish or later-dated coins) are often rarer and can command higher prices among specialists.
4. Protect yourself. Due to the high premiums on George III countermarks, I strongly recommend only purchasing coins authenticated by reputable TPGs (Third-Party Graders).

In love with the way chop marks makes every coin unique. Now my go too