Costa Rica 1847-JB real
This specimen was lot 3940 in Goldberg sale 84 (Los Angeles, January 2015), where it sold for $763.75. The catalog description[1] noted, "Costa Rica. Real, 1847-JB. Female bust 3/4 facing. Reverse Coffee tree. Boldly struck example. Toned. NGC graded AU-58." In the mid-nineteenth century, Costa Rica suffered from recurring coin shortages, which the mint in San José was incapable of alleviating. One attempt was this silver one real, struck 1847, based on an earlier type struck 1843-45. The SCWC lists this type as 0.750 fine (the coin states "9 D's = dineros 9/12 = 0.750 fine; 12 dineros = pure silver.) It is lightweight compared to the colonial standard of 3.38 g. The design is unusual, featuring what is usually catalogued as an "Indian maiden," and was never repeated on any other coin of Costa Rica or its neighbors.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 2.90 g, 0.750 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-65.
- 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]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Aleeza Brown, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 84: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2014.
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