MORE ON THE COREY'S OINTMENT COUNTERSTAMP

Wish I had a nickel for every time I'd heard a collector opine the following: "If only this coin could talk!" Well, counterstamped coins often do tell us quite a bit about their travels, their uses, their handlers and more. Yet, there remain those that seem stubbornly resistant to attempts at attribution. Such has long been the case with the "TRY COREY'S OINTMENT" issue on this Liberty Seated Quarter.

Previous E-Sylum articles have speculated about the issuer of this counterstamp, but with the aid of the internet, I've stumbled upon a most likely prospect. Let's look at the evidence ...

Dr. Medad Smith Corey (1827-1908) was born on Long Island, attended medical school in Buffalo, graduating in 1861, settled in Chautauqua County, NY and commenced to practice medicine. On October 9, 1883, Dr. Medad S. Corey, then of Hamlet, NY, was granted patent # 3,575 for "The Eureka Pile Ointment."

Such are the facts. I'm now in the process of learning more about Medad. It seems that he owned a small country store and maintained a garden out back, wherein he grew herbs and produce. He was a member of the Odd Fellows. He conducted Prohibitionist meetings and ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the state assembly on that ticket. He apparently sold his patent to a Cincinnati company that was still marketing his Eureka Pile Ointment as late as 1913. He retired in 1892 and sold life insurance in his later years. He traveled extensively and was held in high esteem by all newspaper accounts.

With regard to the Corey counterstamp, I note a striking similarity between the Corey's Ointment issue and that of the Sage's Candy Coin issue. The latter is suspected of emanating from Buffalo, NY, wherein Dr. Corey earned his medical degree. Both issues appear to have circulated in the 1870-80's.

Summarily, I'd submit that Dr. Medad Smith Corey, an enterprising man with a patented ointment to his credit, is the most likely issuer of this counterstamp issue. The stamped coins may have been used as a promotion and to establish credibility, prior to his seeking the patent. Oftentimes, the attribution of counterstamps admittedly remains tenuous at best. Hopefully, this path may lead to more absolute evidence.

Internet Resources:
Gravesite
Medical Degree
Patent Listing

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW INFORMATION ON THE COREY'S OINTMENT COUNTERSTAMP (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v14n22a16.html)

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