Colombia 1873-M 20 pesos KM-Pn49
This specimen was lot 21097 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $81,000. The catalog description[1] noted, "Stunningly Rare 20 Pesos Pattern Issue, COLOMBIA. Gold 20 Pesos Essai (Pattern), 1873-MEDELLIN. Paris Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-62. By A. Barre. A type that is missing from most collections on account of its EXCEPTIONAL RARITY, this tantalizing issue from the hand of Barre offers all the immense beauty and allure that one would associate from his French coinage designs of the period. Exceedingly crisp and brilliant, with a delightful golden-yellow hue throughout and dazzling eye appeal. Undoubtedly a specimen for the advanced collector of Latin American, pattern issues, or important gold coins from around the world." Albert Barré prepared patterns for Colombia in half, one and two decimos, fifty centavos, one peso (silver) and ten and twenty pesos (gold). This particular design was also struck in copper (KM Pn50). Not all of the designs were used but his bust of Libertad appears on circulating ten centavos (KM 175), twenty centavos (KM 178), five decimos (KM 153.4) and ten pesos (KM 141). William Wyon's bust appeared on the rest, including the regular twenty pesos from Medellin (KM 158). This is the most valuable pattern in the SCWC for Colombia.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 32.26 g, 0.900 fine gold.
Catalog reference: KM-Pn49; Restrepo-72.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Restrepo, Jorge Emilio, Monedas de Colombia, 1619-2006, Medellin, Colombia: Impresiones Rojo, 2006.
- [1]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.
Link to:
- 1872-B 20 pesos
- 1872-M 20 pesos
- 1872-P 20 pesos
- 1873-B 2½ centavos
- 1873-P ¼ décimo
- 1873-B 5 centavos
- 1873-M AB ½ décimo
- 1873-B 10 centavos
- 1873-B gold peso
- 1873-M gold peso
- 1873-M 5 décimos
- 1873-P 5 décimos
- 1873-M 10 pesos
- 1873-P 20 pesos
- 1874-B 20 pesos
- 1874-P 20 pesos
- Coins and currency dated 1873