Haiti 1967-IC 20 gourdes
The first specimen was lot 1671 in Jean Elsen sale 127 (Brussels, December 2015), where it sold for €125 (about US$160 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"HAITI, République (1804-), AV 20 gourdes, 1968. Mackandal. Flan poli. Superbe. (republic of Haiti, since 1804, gold twenty gourdes of 1967, for Mackandal. Impaired proof.)"
The second specimen was part of lot 30913 in Heritage sale 3081 (New York, January 2020), which sold for $14,400. The catalog description[2] noted, "Haiti: Republic 12-Piece Uncertified gold & silver Proof Set, 1) 5 Gourdes 1970 - Proof (Surface Hairlines); 2) 5 Gourdes 1971 - Proof (Surface Hairlines); 3) 10 Gourdes 1967 - Proof (Surface Hairlines); 4) 25 Gourdes 1970 - Proof (Surface Hairlines); 5) 25 Gourdes 1971 - Proof (Surface Hairlines); 6) gold 20 Gourdes 1967 - Proof; 7) gold 50 Gourdes 1967 - Proof; 8) gold 50 Gourdes 1971 - Proof; 9) gold 100 Gourdes 1967 - Proof; 10) gold 200 Gourdes 1967 - Proof; 11) gold 200 Gourdes 1971 - Proof; 12) gold 1000 Gourdes 1970 - Proof; A large set of Proofs spanning the dates 1967 to 1971. The group is sold with the original case of issue. Total AGW approx. 9.26 oz." Wikipedia notes that "François Mackandal (died 1758) was a Haitian Maroon leader in Saint-Domingue. He was an African who is sometimes described as Haitian vodou priest, or houngan." While the Haitian people starved, the regime issued numerous silver and gold commemoratives which were issued to insiders and sold abroad. A hundred gourde (KM 69), two hundred gourde (KM 70) and thousand gourde gold coins (KM 71) accompany this issue.
Recorded mintage: 10,351.
Specification: 3.95 g, 0.900 fine gold, .113 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-5, KM 66.
- Arroyo, Carmen, Coins of Haiti, 1803-1970, San Antonio, TX: 1970.
- 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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 127, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2015.
- [2]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3081, featuring the Caranett Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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