Ceylon 1899 10 cents
This specimen was lot 71272 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, October 2020), where it sold for $456. The catalog description[1] noted, "CEYLON. 10 Cents, 1899. London Mint. Victoria. PCGS MS-66 Gold Shield. An incredibly alluring Gem, this vibrant minor is enlivened by a deep iridescence and stands with just one other piece as the finest in the PCGS census." This ten cent piece was struck 1892-1900 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 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: 1,000,000.
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, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The October 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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