Costa Rica 1853-JB 1/4 peso
This specimen was lot 26745 in Heritage sale 3019 (Chicago, April 2012), where it sold for $690. The catalog description[1] noted, "Ceiba 1/4 Peso 1853. Nice VF-EF much like nicest Dana Roberts' example. From the primary date collection of Fred Mayer. Most typical die variety (of the 2) of this rare date with the top of the "3" having a die break into the branch above (and thus appearing as perhaps a "5" which it is not)." Costa Rica officially switched from the peso to the colon in 1897, which currency was reformed again in 1917 and 1920. This type was struck 1850, 1853 and 1855 and is not rare in low grade. It was superseded by a twenty-five centavos piece (KM 106).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.4 g, 0.903 fine silver, .185 troy oz ASW, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM 103, Y-7.
- [1]Tucker, Warren, and Cristiano Bierrenbach, World and Ancient Coins sale 3019, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.
- 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.
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