NNP

Touch, Touchmark.  The stamp of the maker. A maker's mark, usually applied after the piece is formed; it is not in the die or in the mold but is a separate punch which is impressed in the piece usually in an unintrusive place, as the edge of a medallion, the back of a plaque, or on the lower reverse or on a base a statue. The punch may be a name in full or it may be abbreviated, a monogram, symbols or trademark; it may also have additional information as city, fineness of the piece or other data. A touchmark is not to be confused with the coin or medal, a touchpiece, given by the sovereign to a subject who he has touched to cure a sickness called the king's evil (scrofula, a form of tuberculous).  See maker’s mark, signature, hallmarks and hallmarking.

excerpted with permission from

An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology

For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON

Roger W. Burdette, Editor