Costa Rica (1889) c/s 50 centavos
The first specimen was lot 27074 in Heritage sale 3022 (New York, January 2013), where it sold for $1,821.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic 50 Centavos Counterstamp No Date (1889), but date unlisted., about VF, Type VII counterstamp upon Colombia Medelllin 50 Centavos of 1873. This is a very choice grade for this type. Counterstamp is fully Extremely Fine. The Cecil Webster Collection of Costa Rica." In 1889, the government, facing a coin shortage, counterstamped a supply of Colombian half dollars for local circulation. This also had the merit of driving out an issue of debased (.500 fine) coin from Colombia. A variety of dates and types are known, indicating that officials grabbed whatever lay to hand. A shipment of five, ten and twenty-five centavos from the Heaton mint in 1889-92 alleviated the crisis.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 12.5 g, 0.835 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM 133 thru KM 136 (KM 135.5 shown here).
- 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 David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3021, featuring the Cecil Webster, Richard P. Ariagno and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collection, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.
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