Ceylon 1894 10 cents
This specimen was lot 70521 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $288. The catalog description[1] noted, "CEYLON. 10 Cents, 1894. London Mint. Victoria. PCGS MS-66 Gold Shield. Tied for the finest certified for the date, and just one finer for the type with PCGS, this lightly toned Gem offers subtle iridescent toning around the peripheries." This ten cent piece was struck 1892-94, 1897-1900 as part of the decimal currency reform of 1870 in Ceylon. The earlier mix of stivers and rixdollars was inherited by the British from the Dutch, who occupied the island until 1796. Bronze ¼, ½, 1 and 5 cents were issued in bronze and ten, 25 and 50 cents issued in silver. Ceylon attained its independence in 1948 after the British left India and is now known as Sri Lanka.
Recorded mintage: 3,000,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 1.17 g, 0.800 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-94.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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