L. Mey Serrurier counterstamp

Started by Henk, December 01, 2023, 04:52:13 PM

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Henk

A well worn french Napoleon III 10 centimes stamped with L. MEY / SERRURIER. A serrurier (locksmith) stamp probably used on locks he made. Not listed in Brunk (first edition).


Figleaf

Although Mey is a village in Lorraine/Lotharingia, the locksmith may be Belgian.

Apparently, the last name didn't become common in France until the 1920s, a bit late for the host coin. Most common first names starting with L in the Mey families are Louis and Laurent. Most common francophone places for the family are, Paris, Dunkirk, Lyon and a number of places in the Alsace: Strasbourg, Soufflenheim, Wolfisheim, RĂ©guisheim, Ebersmunster, Colmar. Remarkably, in Belgium, the family settled in flemish-speaking places.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

brandm24

I found nothing on this issuer, Henk. Not in any references I checked and an internet search turned up nothing.

I doubt it, but there's a slight possibility it may be an English stamp. French coins were commonly stamped by English merchants as it was illegal to "deface" British coins.

Bruce
Always Faithful

FosseWay

The personal name could be English (though obviously "May" is a commoner spelling). But I can't think of any use of the word serrurier that doesn't require a knowledge of French.

brandm24

Quote from: FosseWay on December 02, 2023, 03:51:15 PMThe personal name could be English (though obviously "May" is a commoner spelling). But I can't think of any use of the word serrurier that doesn't require a knowledge of French.
That's what threw me off. The use of the French word is curious but then again French counterstamping was very uncommon while British merchants were prolific and advertised that way commonly...mostly on French coins and less often on Italian coppers.

Bruce
Always Faithful

JBK

As has already been suggested, if it was made for circulation then it was very unlikely a French merchant, as merchants would counterstamp coins from other countries to comply with local laws against defacing coinage.

Somewhere I have a Luxembourg copper counterstamped (probably Pears Soap) and I have a Belgian counterstamp on another country's host coin.

There is a possibility that it was issued in another French-speaking country, or of course, it could also have been a one-off test of the punch.




brandm24

Quote from: JBK on December 12, 2023, 12:32:05 PMAs has already been suggested, if it was made for circulation then it was very unlikely a French merchant, as merchants would counterstamp coins from other countries to comply with local laws against defacing coinage.

Somewhere I have a Luxembourg copper counterstamped (probably Pears Soap) and I have a Belgian counterstamp on another country's host coin.

There is a possibility that it was issued in another French-speaking country, or of course, it could also have been a one-off test of the punch.




I agree, JBK. French counterstamps aren't very common with the exception of some like those with  "Sedan" stamped on them. Most are struck on British coins, some on Italian coins and others on various foreign coppers.

Bruce

( How have you been, JBK?)
Always Faithful

JBK

Sorry Bruce - I missed your reply to my last post - I can't believe I have been away from the site for that long!

I've been picking up the occasional counterstamp here and there, but nothing too special. As I'm sure you have seen, prices keep going up for anything that is especially interesting or well-known.

I will say that as evidenced by listings on eBay, there has been something of a Renaissance in political counterstamping.

Figleaf

Not sure what you guys mean by "made for circulation". I think this is a cheap advertisement, hence the word serrurier - locksmith. As mentioned above, Mey or De Mey, likely derived from the Flemish word meyer - miller is a common name in Belgium, where, like in the UK, there would be no restrictions on counterstamping French coins.

Moreover, French coins circulated in Belgium, because Belgium long kept the exchange rate of BFR equal to that of FFR. In addition to the Latin Monetary Union, this was politically motivated, as the dominating French-speaking part advocated that the country, including its Flemish speaking part should become part of France.

The host was already a bit of a dog before it was counterpunched, so it may have come out of a bulk lot of coins no longer fit for circulation, sold for their bronze value, which would have been of some professional interest to locksmiths in the first place.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

JBK

"Made for circulation" means the counterstamper intended the coin to circulate, thereby providing free advertising, outside of France for the reasons given.

Other theoretical purposes (which I do not think apply in this case) are that the person was simply testing his punch, was creating a pocket piece, etc.

brandm24

Though the picture is a bit bright the coin doesn't seem to have the characteristics of a pocket piece...especially the odd gloss often seen on these pieces. I agree it's likely meant for advertising.

Good to see you again too, Jeff. Please email me when you have a chance.

Bruce
Always Faithful