Costa Rica (1846) c/m 8 reales KM-59
This specimen was lot 30094 in Heritage sale 3107 (Chicago, May 2023), where it sold for $18,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Costa Rica. Central American Republic Counterstamped 8 Reales 1846 VG8 NGC, San Jose mint. Type V bifacial Countermark: Sun over mountains, additional round 8R punch; Reverse: Ceiba tree flanked by 2R. Applied over a Guatemala Cob 8 Reales 1752/1 G-J. The stamping of 1, 2, 4 and 8 Reales was authorized by decree in Costa Rica on October 15, 1846 to distinguish them from circulating counterfeits. A whimsical note on the 8 and 4 Reales is that 2 Reales punches were used, accompanied by either a small 8 or 4 Real punch, respectively, "correcting" the main stamp's value; leading to the conclusion that no 4 or 8 Reales bifacial stamps were made. Conservatively graded, this piece shows both discernable and minimally worn stamps upon an appreciable host with full date and assayer. Ex. Pura Vida Collection, part I (Heritage Auction #3044, January 2016, Lot 31162); Meyer Collection (Spink Smythe, October 2008, lot 1260)."
The SCWC lists a variety of coins counterstamped by Costa Rica in the early 1840's, from half reales to eight reales, all now very rare. Doubtless they were withdrawn and melted as soon as possible.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: host coin: 27.07 g, 0.917 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM 59 (this coin plated in the Spain, Portugal and the New World edition).
- Byrne, Ray, Coins and Tokens of the Caribees, Decatur, IL: Jess Peters, Inc., 1975.
- Gurdian, Raul, Contribucion al Estudio de las Monedas de Costa Rica: 100 Años de Colon, 2a Ed., San José, Costa Rica, 1997.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Stickney, Brian, A Monetary History of Central America, New York: American Numismatic Society, 2017.
- [3]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2023 May 3 - 5 CSNS World Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction #3107, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2023.
Link to:
- 1846 ½ real
- Costa Rica 1846 c/s real type IV counterstamp on a cob 1 real
- (1846) c/m on Bolivia cob 2 reales
- (1846) c/m on a Lima cob 2 reales
- Costa Rica (1846) c/m 2 reales KM-56 on a U.S. liberty seated quarter
- Costa Rica (1846) c/m 4 reales KM-51 on a Bolivia 4 soles
- Costa Rica (1846) c/m 4 reales KM-50 on a Guatemala cob 4 reales
- Costa Rica (1846) c/m 8 reales on a French Louis Philippe 5 francs
- Costa Rica (1846) c/m 8 reales KM-58 on a Bolivian cob 8 reales
- Costa Rica (1846) c/m 8 reales KM-62 on a Mexico klippe 8 reales
- Coins and currency dated 1846