Haiti An 26 50 centimes
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. This specimen was lot 1530 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 21 (Winter Park, FL, May 2017), where it sold for $176.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Haiti, 50 centimes, AN 26 (1829), Boyer. Lustrous AU+ with slight graininess and gray toning on bust side, lovely rainbow toning around rim on other side." This type was struck An 24-30. The dies were hand made, causing wide variations in the portrait. Like many Haitian coins of the period, it bears no Common Era date but only the revolutionary year "AN 26", counting from 1803, the year of independence from France. It was accompanied by similar 25 centimes and 100 centimes.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, probably debased, 5.23-5.38 g, 25-26 mm diameter, this specimen 5.43 grams.
Catalog reference: KM-20.
- 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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