Costa Rica 1887-GW 5 centavos
This type was struck for Costa Rica 1885-87 along with a ten, twenty-five and fifty centavos. The type is not rare in circulated condition but is very scarce this nice. The succeeding type (KM 128), struck 1889-92, is listed as only 1.20 grams. Costa Rica officially switched from the peso to the colon in 1897, which currency was reformed again in 1917 and 1920. The second specimen was part of lot 27070 in Heritage sale 3022 (New York, January 2013), which sold for $646.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic Lot of Seventeen 1 Centavo and 5 Centavos Coins, All 19th century issues. Grades range from VF-UNC. Some nice surprises here. Sold as is, no return lot. The Cecil Webster Collection of Costa Rica."
Recorded mintage: 491,000.
Specification: 1.26 g, 0.900 fine silver, .028 troy oz ASW, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM 125.
- 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.
Link to: