SPRAGUE & BLODGETTS / ADMIT / ONE / GEORGIA MINSTRELS on an 1873 Arrows, Close 3 Liberty Seated half dollar. Brunk S-776, Rulau Mo-Un 7. Host coin VF.，This counterstamp features a very boldly struck and well centered circular prepared punch and is an ever popular mark. Sprague & Blodgetts minstrels was a traveling show that gave their first known performance in Missouri in 1876. Famous members of the troupe included James Bland, Billy Kersands, and Sam Lucas, meaningless names today, but well known and deeply appreciated stars in their time.<p>Such a counterstamp is two coins in one -- the Liberty Seated half dollar itself plus the advertisement of a great traveling show. In essence this is an admission "ticket" for fifty cents, perhaps inspired by the earlier counterstamped half dollars of Yankee Robinson.From the Q. David Bowers Collection.
