Mauritius 1971 1/2 rupee
The first specimen was lot 73133 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, June 2020), where it sold for $144. The catalog description[1] noted, "MAURITIUS. 1/2 Rupee, 1971. Kings Norton Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-67 Gold Shield. An alluring and impressive example, this Gem radiates with luster and wholly untoned surfaces, and stands with just three other specimens for the finest graded in the PCGS census. Ex: Kings Norton Mint Collection." The second specimen was lot 73568 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $105. The catalog description[2] noted, "MAURITIUS. 1/2 Rupee, 1971. PCGS SPECIMEN-67 Gold Shield. Variety with security edge. A charming animal type, this specimen features a stag upon the reverse and is exceeded in the PCGS census by just two examples. Ex: Kings Norton Mint Collection." This type was struck 1965, 1971, 1975, 1978. It has a modest catalog value and only the King's Norton mint provenance saved these specimens from being tossed into a junk box.
Recorded mintage: 400,000 + 750 proofs.
Specification: 5.85 g, copper-nickel, 23.65 mm diameter (same module as a British shilling).
Catalog reference: KM 37.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The June 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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