Cyprus 1881 1/4 piastre
This specimen was lot 29608 in Heritage sale 3042 (Long Beach, September 2015), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "British Colony - Victoria Proof 1/4 Piastre 1881 PR63 Red and Brown NGC. Presenting a winsome combination of color, this specimen features a bright, cinnamon obverse with fully-reflective properties and a moodier reverse coated in chestnut tone, highlighted by turquoise accents. A seldom-encountered type, elusive in a Proof designation, and most intriguing as such." The SCWC lists this type for 1878-98 where it was struck in moderate numbers along with half piastres and one piastres, all in bronze. Cyprus, seized from the Turks by the British in 1878, was given a quasi-sterling coinage where nine piastres = one shilling.
Recorded mintage: 72,000 plus proofs.
Specification: bronze.
Catalog reference: KM 1.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World Coin Auction 3042, featuring the Read and Bob Bennett Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2015.
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