Rothsay Mills (1811) 1 shilling 8 pence
The first specimen was lot 21090 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $7,200. The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCOTLAND. Scotland - Mexico. Bute. Rothsay. 1 Shilling 8 Pence (2 pieces), ND (ca. Early-19th Century). PCGS VF-20 Gold Shield; Countermark: EF Details. Countermark: 1/8 surrounded by: 'Payable at Rothsay Mills✦' applied to a (178)2 1/3 cut Bust 8 Reales presumably from the Mexico City Mint of Charles III. VERY RARE in this state of preservation with a neat Mid-19th Century provenance. Countermark boldly applied with good definition of the details. An attractive example that displays lovely old cabinet patina. One of the nicest examples we have seen of this issue. The lot also includes a copy of Boyne's Silver Tokens, published London 1866. From the Kyle Ponterio Collection. Ex: Classical Numismatic Group Triton XIX January 5, 2016 Lot # 680 (with lot tag). Ex: Bank Leu Auction # 51 October 24-25, 1990 Lot # 680 "A Bostonian Collection" (with lot tag). Ex: Glendining's Auction November 24, 1954 Lot # 260."
The second specimen was lot 53299 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $22,800. The catalog description[2] noted,
"SCOTLAND. Scotland - Mexico. Isle of Bute. Rothsay. 1 Shilling 8 Pence, ND (ca. 1790-1800). NGC VF-20; Countermark: EF Standard. Countermark: 1/8 surrounded by: "Payable at Rothsay Mills✦". Applied to the obverse of an undated 1/3 cut Bust 8 Reales of Charles IIII (IV), presumably from the Mexico City Mint (KM-109). Wholly original looking and very attractive, this handsome example displays rich old envelope patina with a slight iridescent sheen. The countermark is deeply applied and bold on a nicely preserved host with much remaining detail. Wholesome and pleasant this piece offers good eye appeal.
According to new information put forth by numismatic scholar Mr. Eric C. Hodge published in his article "New Discovery in Scotland" in the April 2017 edition of Coin News. In this article Mr. Hodge states that there were two different periods of token issuance from this proprietor. The first period circa 1790-1800 covers Manville 90 (5 Shillings [round]), 91 (5 Shillings [rectangle]), 93 (2 Shilling 6 Pence [round]), 94 (2 Shilling 6 Pence [rectangle]), 95 (2 Shillings 4 Pence [rectangle]) and 96 (1 Shilling 8 Pence [round]). While the second period covers Manville 92 (4 Shilling 6 Pence [round]) of much more narrow window of manufacture circa 1820-21. He also goes on to states that the denomination of Manville 92 seems to correspond to other issues in Scotland during the period of 1815-20 and later. An interesting and somewhat complex series of countermarked token. Ex: Clyde Hubbard Collection. Ex: The Acosta Y Lara Collection (Schulman 3/1960) Lot # 3396 (plate # 3397)."
Scotland in the early nineteenth century was tearing into the Industrial Revolution and manufacturers were eager for coin to facilitate trade. As the Royal Mint could not keep up, many private issues appeared. Spanish dollars circulated freely and many of these were countermarked; the SCWC records over a hundred different countermarks. Today they are all rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, .892 fine silver (host coin).
Catalog reference: KM-CC94; Manville-96 (this piece cited); Boyne-pl. 3 # 11 (plate coin); Brunk-53790.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2020 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2024 NYINC Auction, featuring the Emilio M Ortiz Collection and a Symphony of Russian Rarities, the Rothschild-Piatigorsky Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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