Martinique (1770-72) 10 bits
The first specimen was lot 20691 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2019), where it sold for $4,080. The catalog description[1] noted, "GIBRALTAR. 10 Bits, ND (1770-72). NGC VF-30. Heart-shaped hole pierced from the center of a Mexico 1757-Mo MM 8 Reales, with ornamental edges. An enigmatic countermarked issue upon a pleasing host. RARE." The second specimen was lot 40415 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $4,560. The catalog description[2] noted, "GIBRALTAR. Gibraltar - MEXICO. 11 Bits (8 Shillings 3 Pence), ND (ca. 1765). NGC VF-35. Valued at Eight Shillings and Threepence, revalued to 10 Bitts in September 1798. Type III countermark: Small blunt heart-shaped cut-out with ornamented edges, cut from the obverse on a 1743-Mo MF Mexico Pillar 8 Reales of Philip V. The cut is clean leaving strong impressions of the design from the bi-facial countermark. This countermark type appears with some frequency on the market, but seldom does this variation become available. This well-cared for survivor displays lovely rich cabinet patina dripping with originality and is pleasing to the eye. A real treat for countermark and West Indies collectors alike to obtain a very difficult to locate issue destine[d] for an advanced high caliber collection. Ex: Rudman Collection." The type IV countermark was also applied to ½, 1, 2 and 5 bits; the half bit is the most common. This coin has been variously attributed to Gibraltar, Dominica and Martinique; we follow the SCWC in assigning it to Martinique.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: host coin 27.07 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 22.35 gms.
Catalog reference: KM-20 (Martinique); Prid-16 (Dominica).
- Byrne, Ray, Coins and Tokens of the Caribees, Decatur, IL: Jess Peters, Inc., 1975.
- Pridmore, F., The Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations to the end of the Reign of George VI 1952: Part 3, Bermuda, British Guiana, British Honduras and the British West Indies, London: Spink & Son, 1965.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The August 2019 Chicago ANA Auction: World Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The August 2021 ANA sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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