Equatorial Guinea 1970 500 pesetas Fr-6
This specimen was lot 41089 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $480. The catalog description[1] noted, "EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 500 Pestas, 1970. NGC PROOF-67 Ultra Cameo." This type was struck for Equatorial Guinea to glorify president Francisco Macias (r. 1968-79). No doubt they were passed out to friends and supporters of the beloved president as there is no evidence they ever circulated. It is one of a series struck in Italy ranging from 75 pesetas to 5000 pesetas. Circulating coinage from the country is hard to find. Macias was overthrown in 1979 and received a well-deserved execution by firing squad but his clan still rules the country today.
Recorded mintage: 1,680.
Specification: 7.05 g, 0.900 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-6; KM-25.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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