Ceylon 1913 25 cents
This specimen was lot 20203 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $3,360. The catalog description[1] noted, "CEYLON. Specimen Set (3 Pieces), 1913. All PCGS Gold Shield Certified. 1) 50 Cents. SP-64. 2) 25 Cents. SP-64. 3) 10 Cents. SP-64. Stored together, each coin is well-matched with mostly white centers and edges that show light mauve to copper-orange color. Somewhat of an enigma, this set was clearly specially produced, yet the finish is highly unusual, falling somewhere in between a matte appearance and that of a reflective Proof. Due to existence of reflective Proofs of the date, Baldwin's openly questioned the reasoning for this so-called matte striking in their offering of the only other example of the 50 Cent denomination that we're aware of (Sale 86 - 5/2014, Lot 355). What seems indisputable is that these issues are VERY RARE. As such, undoubtedly worthy of an advanced collection and additional collector research." This type of 1911-17 was 0.800 fine silver. The subsequent type of 1919-28 was only 0.550 fine silver. Ceylon attained its independence in 1948 after the British left India and is now known as Sri Lanka.
Recorded mintage: 1,200,000 + proofs.
Specification: 2.92 g, 0.800 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-105; Prid-139A.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2020 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
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