Azores (1887) 600 reis
The first specimen was part of lot 26443 in Heritage sale 3022 (New York, January 2013), which sold for $558.13. The catalog description[1] noted, "Portuguese Colony Lot of Two Counterstamp Coins, 40 Reis 1887 countermarked upon 1/2 Real 1774 of Spain. 600 Reis 1887 countermarked upon 10 Reales 1863 of Spain. Coins grade F/VF." The second specimen was lot 35258 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2022), where it sold for $384. The catalog description[2] noted, "AZORES. 600 Reis, ND (1887). Luiz I. NGC AU Details--Cleaned; Countermark: AU Weak. cf. Gomes-14.01 (Same)." The third specimen was lot 40274 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $216. The catalog description[3] noted, "AZORES. Azores - Portugal. 600 Reis, ND (1887). Luis I. NGC EF-45, Countermark: XF Weak. Issued by decree of 31 March 1887. Countermark: Crowned G.P. (Governo Portuguese) within circular indent. Applied to the reverse of an 1815, Lisbon Mint, 400 Reis of Joao Prince Regent (1799-1816; Gomes-JR.24.07)." The SCWC notes that this counterstamp exists on a profusion of Portuguese and foreign coins. This host coin is not listed therein but it is unlikely that the listing was intended to be comprehensive.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.14 g, 0.900 fine silver (weight of host coin, Spain KM 611).
Catalog reference: KM 26 (unlisted host coin), Gomes-30.17. The second specimen is KM-26.2; Gomes-L1.14.05.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Alberto Gomes and Francisco Antonio Magro, Moedas Portuguesas e do Território Que Hoje é Portugal: Catálogo das Moedas Cunhadas para o Continentes e Ilhas Adjacentes, para os Territórios do Ultramar e Grão-Mestres Portugueses da Ordem de Malta, 6ª Edição, Lisbon: Associação Numismática de Portugal, 2013.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3021, featuring the Cecil Webster, Richard P. Ariagno and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collection, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 ANA Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring The Salton Collection Part III, the Augustana Collection and the Robert C. Knepper Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
- [3]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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