Inventive Dentist

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I recently purchased a collection that included several counterstamped coins, among them an 1847 large cent that was intriguing more for what it didn’t say as for its three-line inscription—EDWARD MAYNARD/PATENTEE/1845—which was stamped on each side. Three questions immediately came to mind: who was Edward Maynard, what did he patent in 1845, and why was the coin counterstamped at least two years after the patent date? As it turned out, the first two questions were easy to answer. 

Dental Surgeon

Maynard was born in Madison, New York, on April 26, 1813. Following his education at Hamilton Academy, he was accepted into the United States Military Academy in 1831, but he soon resigned for health reasons. Over the next four years, he studied, among other things, architecture, civil engineering, and anatomy. 

He became a dentist in 1835, and a year later moved to Washington, D.C., where he opened his dental practice on Pennsylvania Avenue, “3 doors east of 4½ street.” An advertisement in the February 17, 1836, Washington Union advised readers that his dental surgery practice was “in strict accordance with mechanical principles, consequently giving the greatest possible benefit with the least possible pain,” and that he would be “pleased to have gentlemen call at his office, and examine specimens of his work.” It would be interesting to know how a dental surgeon could do that.

Prominent Professional

In April 1839, Maynard’s advertisements stated that in a month, his office would be for rent and the furniture would be for sale. Where he went isn’t known, but in October 1840 he advertised that he had “returned to town, and resumed the practice of his profession on Third Street.” By this time, he was considered to be the foremost dentist in the country. In 1845 Russian Emperor Nicholas I offered to make him the “Actual Dentist to his Imperial Majesty” if he would live in Russia for 10 years. Although Maynard turned down the offer, the emperor presented him with what was described as “a magnificent diamond ring.”

Following his death on May 4, 1891, the June 25 issue of The American Journal of Dental Science published a lengthy obituary that stated

his discoveries in dental surgery have been of such importance and his skill as an operator was so remarkable, that it may be safely said that he has had no superior in his profession, and the honors bestowed upon him in recognition of it in this country are sufficient proof of the truth of the assertion.

Firearm Patent

While his accomplishments in the field of dentistry, including his inventions of many instruments and critical surgical procedures, were certainly significant, it was his firearm-related inventions that made him a wealthy man. His first patent, which is referred to on the counterstamp, was awarded to him on September 22, 1845, for a “Percussion-Primer and Gun-Lock.” It is described on the H L Publishing website (hlebooks.com/patents/maynard/mayn01.htm) as “a magazine from which a paper roll, not unlike modern cap guns, advanced a charge over the nipple as the gun was cocked. Theoretically this accelerated a gun’s rate of fire as the shooter could concentrate on loading and firing the gun.” Following tests, the United States government acquired the patent, giving Maynard a royalty of $1 for every rifle that was manufactured. Considering the fact that a Springfield rifle cost $18 during the Civil War, this was a significant amount. Maynard earned more than $75,000 in royalties for his patent. During the Civil War, both the Confederate and Union armies used
Maynard rifles. 

Although my counterstamp isn’t listed by Greg Brunk in his 1987 catalog American and Canadian Countermarked Coins, he lists a related item as number 26585. It is described as MAYNRD (sic) ARMS CO./WASHINGTON and is stamped on an 1851 large cent. The mark is found on rifles and carbines manufactured in Chicopee Falls by the Massachusetts Arms Company. This is the company Maynard contracted with to build firearms after establishing his company in April 1857.

International Recognition

Other countries quickly recognized the advantages of Maynard’s firearms. In 1854 the king of Sweden awarded him a gold medal of merit “as a testimonial of his appreciation” for his “system of priming for fire-arms.” Four years later, the king of Prussia presented him with the Order of the Red Eagle as a token of his appreciation for his inventions. This was considered one of the most prestigious Prussian awards. 

Maynard’s agents promoted his firearms extensively. In 1860 his St. Louis representative, Yeatman, Robinson and Company, advertised his “breech-loading, self-priming, rifle and shot gun” extensively. The ads of his Washington, D.C., agent, H. Semken, stated that the rifles fired “15 rounds per minute, sure at 1,000 yards, weight only 6 lbs.” The November 12, 1860, issue of the Daily National Intelligencer and Washington Express included a lengthy testimonial to the Maynard rifle, listing its numerous advantages. It is summarized with the statement that “the Maynard improved rifle-musket does really possess all the advantages above enumerated, has been fully demonstrated by practical experiments, conducted by a number of the most skillful gun-makers and sportsmen in the country.” High praise indeed!

Counterstamp Advertising

As I mentioned, when I acquired the counterstamped piece, I wondered why it was struck on a coin dated two years after the patent date. A possible answer lies in the fact that some manufacturers of firearms, and to a much greater degree silversmiths, “branded” their products with metal punch marks.​​ These marks, which numismatists refer to as counterstamps, are sometimes found on coins. It is logical to assume that once a company had a counterstamp punch made, they would use it on coins as a form of free advertising.

I welcome readers’ comments. Write to me at P.O. Box 2866, La Plata, MD 20646. If a reply is desired, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. 

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A version of this article appears in the August 2026 issue of The Numismatist (money.org)