Haiti 1850 centime KM-33
In 1803, native forces made good their rebellion against French rule, marking the first successful slave rebellion in the Western hemisphere. Turmoil did not cease with independence as the United States withheld its recognition and various factions contended for power. Faustin, a general in the Haitian army, was selected to be emperor of Haiti in 1849 by a clique of fellow army officers in the expectation that he would be their puppet. Instead, he exiled them and ruled alone until his ouster in 1859. He survived the coup and lived to be 84 years old. This specimen was lot 1537 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 21 (Winter Park, FL, May 2017), where it sold for $3,226.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Haiti, copper 1 centime, AN 47/1850, encapsulated NGC AU 55 BN, second finest known in NGC census. Fasces design, bold strike but crude due to die corrosion, chocolate brown color all over, very scarce, second only to a single AU 58 at NGC. NGC #3353211-021." This type is accompanied by a two centimes (KM 35). Another one centime is known for 1850 (KM 34) with arms on the reverse instead of fasces.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: copper.
Catalog reference: KM-33.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Byrne, Ray, Coins and Tokens of the Caribees, Decatur, IL: Jess Peters, Inc., 1975.
- Arroyo, Carmen, Coins of Haiti, 1803-1970, San Antonio, TX: 1970.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel F., Augi Garcia and Cori Sedwick Downing, Treasure Auction #21, featuring Selections from the Richard Stuart Collection, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC, 2017.
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