Martinique (1805) 22 livres
The French Overseas Department of Martinique was colonized by the French, taken formally in 1635. It was occupied briefly by the British several times during the Napoleonic wars. It remains a French dependency to the present day.
The example shown is a gold countermarked Brazil 6400 reis. The countermark is not dated, but this type was emplaced in about 1805. The host coin was originally 14.34 grams. It was lot 25008 and sold on January 3, 2011 at the 2011 January New York Signature World & Ancient Coins Auction #3012 for $5,175. The catalog description reads: "22 above Eagle Countermarked on Brazil 6400 Reis 1769B, type of KM172.1, issued under Decree of September 1805, KM31, Prid. Fig. 22, pg. 242, good XF. Superb, bold countermark on cut down, and re-edged, genuine 6400 Reis."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 0.917 fine gold, this specimen 11.89 gm, 183.5 gr.
Catalog reference: KM 39, host KM 172.1.
- 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, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
Links to:
- Brazil 1766-B 6400 reis
- Martinique (1805) 20 livres
- British West Indies (1799-1803) 66 shillings plugged and countermarked Brazil 6400 réis
- Coins and currency dated 1805
- return to coins of Martinique