British Honduras 1954 50 cents
This specimen was lot 34053 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2022), where it sold for $2,280. The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRITISH HONDURAS. 50 Cents, 1954. London Mint. Elizabeth II. PCGS PROOF-66 Cameo. Tied for finest certified of date with one other example of the 'Cameo' designation on either the NGC or PCGS population reports, none finer. This handsome Gem offers hard flashy surfaces with frosty devices and a thin veneer of mottled tan coloration. Upon close inspection under magnification the surfaces remain virtually blemish free with highly reflective fields. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Purchased privately from Seaby (1973)."
This type was struck 1954, 1962-66 and 1971 and is common, despite the small mintages. The only other issue for British Honduras in 1954 was a nickel-brass five cents. The country, long claimed by Guatemala, is now known as Belize. The issues of British Honduras are marked by their dull design; the reverse on this coin was used during the reigns of queen Victoria, kings Edward VII, George V, George VI and later queen Elizabeth II. In 1974, the reverse was altered to read "Belize" but is still used for circulation issues (KM 36, issued 1974-2000).
Recorded mintage: 75,000 plus proofs.
Specification: copper-nickel.
Catalog reference: KM-28.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Byrne, Ray, Coins and Tokens of the Caribees, Decatur, IL: Jess Peters, Inc., 1975.
- Stickney, Brian, A Monetary History of Central America, New York: American Numismatic Society, 2017.
- [1]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.
Link to: