What is "countermark"

Countermark \Coun"ter*mark`\ (-m?rk`), n.

1. A mark or token added to those already existing, in order to afford security or proof; as, an additional or special mark put upon a package of goods belonging to several persons, that it may not be opened except in the presence of all; a mark added to that of an artificer of gold or silver work by the Goldsmiths' Company of London, to attest the standard quality of the gold or silver; a mark added to an ancient coin or medal, to show either its change of value or that it was taken from an enemy.

2. (Far.) An artificial cavity made in the teeth of horses that have outgrown their natural mark, to disguise their age.

Countermark \Coun`ter*mark"\ (koun`t[~e]r*m[aum]rk"), v. t. To apply a countermark to; as, to countermark silverware; to countermark a horse's teeth.

n. 1 A mark or token added to those already existing, as a security or proof. 2 (context farriery English) An artificial cavity made in the tooth of horses that have outgrown their natural mark, to disguise their age. vb. (context transitive English) To apply a countermark to.

A countermarked, punchmarked or counterstamped coin is a coin that has had some additional mark or symbol punched into it at some point during its career as a circulating coin. This practise is now obsolete.

Countermarking can be done for a variety of reasons. If the currency is reformed, existing coins may be rendered void. In this situation, coins already in circulation could be marked with the new value (according to the new currency system). The life span of existing coins could thus be extended, which might under some circumstances be a cheaper alternative to recalling the coins, melting them and striking replacements. Similarly, foreign coins could be marked as legal or accepted currency, thus allowing them to circulate in the area where they were countermarked. Countermarking can also be done for political reasons, i.e. a new state or régime demonstrating its authority by countermarking coins issued by the previous state.

Some experts recommend not to use the term countermark and counterstamp as homonyms, but in different contexts. A counterstamp is applied by a die, and by machine to an existing coin, while a countermark is punched onto the coin, mostly by hand, using a punch and a hammer or a primitive hand-operated machine. Often countermarks are applied by private persons, as is the case with chops (often referred to as chopmarks), which were punched by money changers, bankers or shroffs onto foreign coins circulating in China in the 19th century. In contrast the use of counterstamps should be authorized by a local or national Government.

The term punchmark, is mainly used when referring to the earliest Indian silver coins which are coin-like pieces of metal of a standard weight that are bearing various symbols which were applied with punches, resulting in what is known as punchmarked coins.