Cyprus 1977 50 pounds
This specimen was lot 33723 in Heritage sale 3076 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), where it sold for $900. The catalog description[1] noted, "Cyprus: Republic gold Proof 'Archbishop Makarios III' 50 Pounds 1977 PR69 Ultra Cameo NGC. A magnificent modern Proof, sold with its original case of issue." Cyprus, off the coast of Turkey, fell to the British in 1878 and was made a crown colony in 1925. It became a republic in 1960 and has been de facto partitioned between the Turkish north and the Greek center and south since 1974. The archbishop, who was president of Cyprus 1960-77, died in 1977 and this NCLT honors him.
Recorded mintage: 38,000 + 51,000 proofs.
Specification: 15.98 g, 0.917 fine gold, AGW 0.4711 oz (same standard as a British two pounds).
Catalog reference: KM 47.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3076, featuring the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection and the James Mossman Collection of Canadian Coinage, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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