Goa 1803 4 xerafins Fr-1489
This specimen was lot 33964 in Heritage sale 3098 (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $3,360. The catalog description[1] noted, "India: Portuguese Colony - Goa. Maria I gold 4 Xerafins 1803 AU53 NGC. Very scarce, and the sole example that we could locate coming to auction in recent years of the 1803-dated issue. The offering retains a bright and semi-lustrous sun-gold hue, with residual luster decorating lightly circulated details. The sole representative of the issue certified by NGC to date. Ex. CNG Auction XIX (January 2016, Lot 2465); Laurence A. Adams Collection." The Portuguese were the first European power to make direct contact with India. They concentrated on trade but were not above piracy or political meddling if the opportunity arose. They conquered or dominated a good part of India in the sixteenth century but gradually had to yield to others, especially the British. By 1806, Portuguese holdings were limited to Diu, Damao and Goa. Each had a mint which struck hammered coinage until the 1860's. The SCWC lists this type for 1791, 1795, 1803 and 1864. All dates are rare. In 1871, a new series of milled coinage, struck by the British for the Portuguese, was introduced.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.63 g, 0.917 fine gold.
Catalog reference: KM 202, Fr-1489, Gomes-39.02.
- 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, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Alberto Gomes and Francisco Antonio Magro, Moedas Portuguesas e do Território Que Hoje é Portugal: Catálogo das Moedas Cunhadas para o Continentes e Ilhas Adjacentes, para os Territórios do Ultramar e Grão-Mestres Portugueses da Ordem de Malta, 6ª Edição, Lisbon: Associação Numismática de Portugal, 2013.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, NYINC World Coins Signature Auction 3098, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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