Mexico 1907 50 centavos KM Pn173
This specimen was lot 25388 in Heritage sale 3015 (Long Beach, September 2011), where it sold for $8,050. The catalog description[1] noted,
"The Famed Caballito 50 Centavos of 1907--Republic Pattern 50 Centavos 1907, by Charles Pillet, KM-Pn173 in silver, Matte PR62 NGC, dark gray surfaces, an exact match in appearance with the Pattern Caballito Peso of 1909 found in an accompanying lot in this sale, and obviously originally part of that ultra-rare two-coin pattern set, which was commissioned by the Mexican government. Plain edge. Signed on the obverse in small capital letters of varying height "CH. PILLET" at an angle along the inner rim by the first two rays. Also marked 'ESSAI' in small capitals above the horse's tail with the base of the lettering facing the rim, and the same on reverse just below the eagle's right wing tip, again with the base of the word facing outward. This is a pattern for a coinage that never came to be, the intention obviously being to mint a half-sized version of the Caballito Peso. Artistic honors were heaped upon the engraver for his work created from 1890 onward. He excelled at portrait and awards medals and produced many of each. He was chosen by the American Numismatic Society to show his work at the New York International Medallic Exhibition held in March 1910. And Leonard Forrer tells us that Pillet exhibited a number of his creations in metal at the Paris Salon of 1909. Perhaps this and the Peso found in this sale were the very ones exhibited. We shall never know, but they do reflect the same toning, the kind which comes from being exposed to the elements and to light. Whatever the source -- whoever originally owned this and the Peso -- here we see one of the rarest of all Mexican coins, clearly the masterpiece of an engraving genius."
This pattern, depicting the Caballito design adopted for the peso of 1910-14, was never used for the fifty centavos piece. Instead, the government continued the plain design adopted in 1905.
Recorded mintage: unknown but rare.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: KM Pn173.
- Bailey, Don and Lois, Whitman Encyclopedia of Mexican Money, Volume 1, An Illustrated History of Mexican Coins and Currency, Atlanta: Whitman Publishing, 2014.
- Buttrey, T. V., and Clyde Hubbard, A Guide Book of Mexican Coins, 1822 to date, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1992.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3015, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2011.
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