Costa Rica (1849-57) c/m 1/2 escudo

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Heritage sale 3038, lot 34096
Costa Rica H3038-34096r.jpg

This specimen was lot 34096 in Heritage sale 3038 (Dallas, January 2015), where it sold for $2,350. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic gold Counterstamped 1/2 Escudo ND (1849-57) MS63 NGC. Type VI Lion within circle counterstamp upon Central American Republic 1/2 Escudo 1847-JB. A scarce type in all grades, bordering on rare in this state of preservation. With full golden brilliance." Altho Costa Rica participated in minting coinage of the Central American Republic, there was never enough bullion to satisfy local needs, especially as specie was drained to pay for European imports. Costa Rica went thru a series of six different counterstamps 1841-57 in ineffectual attempts to keep coin within the country. This one, the sixth series, appears on various gold and silver coins ranging from half a real to this escudo. The local mint was closed in 1892 and coinage thereafter was contracted out.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: host coin 1.69 g, 0.875 fine gold.

Catalog reference: KM 80.

Source:

  • Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
  • Gurdian, Raul, Contribucion al Estudio de las Monedas de Costa Rica: 100 Años de Colon, 2a Ed., San José, Costa Rica, 1997.
  • Stickney, Brian, A Monetary History of Central America, New York: American Numismatic Society, 2017.
  • [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Scott Cordry, Heritage Signature Auction 3038, featuring the Empire, the Santa Catarina, the Law and the Santa Maria Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.

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