Philippines 1733 barillo KM-Pn3
This specimen was lot 21532 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Las Vegas, August 2020), where it sold for $18,000. The catalog description[1] noted, "PHILIPPINES. Barrilla, 1733. PCGS VF-25 Gold Shield. An EXTREMELY RARE issue seldom encountered in the marketplace. BA monogram in center surrounded by "Ano De 1733" in obverse legend; Reverse: Crowned arms of Manila. A handsome and charming example of this typically crude series with minor earthen deposits amongst the devices. A wholly original looking survivor with moderate even wear and rich patination offers good eye appeal, a real treat for the advanced collector to acquire such an elusive issue." The Philippines were conquered by Spain in the late 1500's. Other than introducing Christianity, the colonizers made little effort to develop the islands which gradually fell into the hands of the friars. Manila was important only as a way station on the route from China to Mexico and whatever coins were used there were derived therefrom. Crude, locally produced copper coins were issued c.1798-1835 and in the 1830's large quantities of Latin American pesos were counterstamped "F.7" or "Y.II" for local circulation. Finally, about 1860, a reforming government in Madrid sent the resources to reorganize the Manila mint and modern coinage began. These included gold one, two and four pesos (struck 1861-68). This seems to be a locally made pattern or die trial.
Recorded mintage: unknown but few.
Specification: copper.
Catalog reference: cf. KM-Pn3; Basso-2.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Basso, Aldo P., Coins, Medals and Tokens of the Philippines, Menlo Park, CA: 1968.
- Ganzon de Legarda, Angelita, Piloncitos to Pesos, A Brief History of Coinage in the Philippines, Manila: Bancom Development Corporation, 1976.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The August 2020 ANA Auction: World Coins, featuring the Duke of Lansing Collection, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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