187F

COUNTING COUP #553/2250

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:10.00 USD Estimated At:NA
COUNTING COUP #553/2250
BIDDING STARS SOON!
Approx $250,000 Collection (Original Purchase price per the family. Purchased for an investment )
STILL PROCESSING SALES LOTS. TOTAL PCS OVER 150 :
FROM THE ESTATE OF MR. & MRS. WILLIAM DOYLE
FRANCIS BARNUM SCULPTURES RARE & LIMITED EDITION / 150 PCS PLUS
CIVIL WAR , OLD WEST , WILDLIFE . All MADE IN AMERICA OF THE FINEST PEWTER AND AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP. ALL SIGNED BY FRANCIS BARNUM
THE COUNTING COUP #553/2250
APPROX. 6" BY 5.5"
APPROX. 3.60 LBS
AUTHENTIC SCULPTURE BY FRANCIS BARNUM
SOLID PEWTER, WOOD BASE, HIGH QUALITY AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP

The Francis Barnum sculpture “Counting Coup” is a collectible pewter piece based on a well-known tradition from the Plains Native American warrior cultures.

Historical meaning of “counting coup”

“Counting coup” was a practice among several Plains tribes (including the Lakota, Cheyenne, and others) where a warrior gained honor not by killing an enemy, but by:

Touching an enemy in battle without being killed
Striking an opponent with a hand, stick, or weapon and escaping safely
Showing bravery by getting close enough to risk death, then withdrawing

The more daring the act, the greater the honor. It was one of the highest forms of warrior achievement and respect.

About the Francis Barnum sculpture

Barnum’s “Counting Coup” typically depicts:

A Native American warrior on horseback
A moment of close-contact bravery in battle
Often shown reaching toward or passing an enemy warrior
Cast in tri-colored pewter
Mounted on a marble base with a title plaque
Artistic style

Like many Barnum historical pieces, it focuses on:

Motion and drama (horse and rider in action)
Detailed traditional clothing, weapons, and horse tack
A storytelling moment rather than a static portrait
Symbolism

The sculpture is meant to represent:

Courage and warrior honor
Skill and restraint in battle
Cultural traditions of Plains Indian warfare

HISTORY:

Counting coup was a traditional practice of bravery among several Plains Indigenous nations (including the Lakota, Cheyenne, Crow, Arapaho, and others) in the 18th and 19th centuries.

What it meant

In battle, a warrior earned great honor not by killing an enemy, but by:

Touching an enemy warrior and escaping alive
Striking an opponent with a hand, stick, or special “coup stick”
Riding into danger, making contact, and withdrawing safely

The word “coup” comes from French explorers meaning “blow” or “strike,” and it was adopted into English descriptions of Plains warfare.

Why it was important

Counting coup was one of the highest honors because it required:

Extreme courage (getting very close to the enemy)
Skill in horsemanship and timing
Self-control (choosing not to kill when possible, but to demonstrate bravery instead)

In many cases, risk mattered more than damage inflicted.

Coup sticks and symbols

Warriors sometimes carried a coup stick, a decorated staff used to:

Touch enemies in battle
Mark acts of bravery
Count or record honorable deeds

War deeds were often later retold in councils or ceremonies, where a warrior’s reputation was built.

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