Gold Coast 1818 ackey
This specimen was lot 52312 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $3,600. The catalog description[1] noted, "GOLD COAST. Ackey, 1818. Birmingham (Heaton) Mint. George III. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, Unc Details. While this example's unfortunate designation is likely ascribable to an old wipe, the present example retains much charm and allure throughout. A tremendous example of the ever popular type in phenomenal proof." The trading company that ran the station on the African outpost of the Gold Coast had this one ackey and accompanying half ackey struck in 1818. We don't know if any made it to Africa to circulate there. The Gold Coast was a major center of the slave trade in the eighteenth century but Britain had abolished the slave trade by 1818. Ivory, gold and palm oil were probably the main trade items.
Recorded mintage: 1,085 plus proofs.
Specification: 14.13 g, 0.925 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-9.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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