This series of counterstamps always interested me, as irritating as they are. There are a number of varieties, all but one using the lstter G to distraction. There are hundreds of examples known, but they've always been of interest to collectors because of their quirky nature. All are struck on US coins, with the exception of a few on Canadian tokens and one on an 1806 British halfpenny.
The issuer was named Charles H. Goodwin who fancied himself a "Druggist and Manufacturing Chemist" according to one of his advertisements. Most know these kind of people as quacks who sold patent medicines that did little to cure or even alleviate the symptoms of whatever condition they were meant to treat.
Goodwin's "empire" was located at 49 Water St. in Exeter, New Hampshire. He first went into business in 1856 and was active into the early 1890's according to directory evidence. Apparently, his combination of G-products sold well.
He advertised such things as "GGG or Q. of F." (Goodwin's Grand Greasejuice or Quintessence Of Fat) for the embellishment, preservation, growth, and beauty of the human hair.
Others included "GGGG", Goodwin's Grand Glittering Globules, a breath perfume he described as an "ambrosial aromatic yankee cachous", and of course "GGT and Q of Q", Goodwin's Great Tobacojuice and Quintessence of Quicksilver. This was described as the great American remedy for the Cimex Lecalarius or common bed bug. I'm sure that worked well.
Yet other remedies he concocted, these for bad breath, were advertised as "Goowin's Disinfectant Nectarian Breath Balls" ... No, really, they were
...and of course "Goodwin's Odoriferous Little Aromatic Mouthfuls." Geez, I could do some damage with a line like that.
Anyway, i'll have to leave it at that. I'm starting to get a headache and really need a second cup of coffee.
Bruce
