New York--New York. PARISIAN / VARIETIES / 16. ST. & BWAY. N.Y. on an 1875 Type I/II trade dollar. Brunk P-125, Rulau NY-NY 234. Host coin Very Fine. An exciting coin for the specialist. This counterstamp is usually encountered on Liberty Seated half dollars, and it is much rarer when offered on a trade dollar, as here. Both Brunk (2003) and Rulau (2004) report only two Parisian Varieties counterstamps on trade dollars, both of which are dated 1876. This is the first 1875 trade dollar host coin for this counterstamp that we can ever recall handling, and its significance is further enhanced by the low mintage, key date status of this circulation strike Philadelphia Mint issue in the trade dollar series. Mottled charcoal and olive patina to otherwise silver-gray surfaces, the counterstamp is nicely applied and fully legible.<p>Parisian Varieties was an erotic show of nubile young women that opened Sept. 15, 1875, and ran until October, 1876 on Broadway in New York City. Parisian Varieties was located on 18 East Sixteenth Street between Fifth Avenue and Broadway and offered burlesque shows under a variety of different names and managers until the building was bought in July of 1877 and subsequently turned into a library. Before the Parisian Varieties took residence, the building at 18 16th Street was known as Allemenia Hall, or Robinson Hall. Originally a private home, it subsequently became a club house, a ballroom, and afterwards was equipped to handle various stage performances. None of the ventures lasted for more than a few years. It is now used as office and retail space.
