Sierra Leone 1791 cent
This specimen was lot 33774 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $312. The catalog description[1] noted, "British Colony. Sierra Leone Company bronze Proof Cent 1791 PR63 Brown NGC. Powerful reflectivity with every hair on the lion sharply defined. An inspiring example. From the Jamestown Collection." A series of silver and bronze coins were issued for the projected colony of Sierra Leone in Africa whose capital, Freetown, was to house freed slaves and discharged black soldiers and sailors. The colony failed for the usual reasons and it seems unlikely that the coins issued ever circulated there as most of the survivors are in good condition. Proofs and off-metal strikes are known. This type was struck again in 1796.
Recorded mintage: 500,000 + 400 proofs + gilt proofs.
Specification: copper.
Catalog reference: KM 1 (copper), KM 1a (gilt copper).
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
Link to: