St. Bartholomew (1821) 9 stuivers
This specimen was lot 41493 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $9,000. The catalog description[1] noted, "SAINT BARTHOLOMEW. Saint Bartholomew - Mexico. Swedish Administration. 9 Stuivers, ND (Post 1821). PCGS Genuine--Graffiti, Poor/Fair Details; Countermark: Fine Details. Countermark: c/9 raised within an elliptical indent. Applied to the reverse of a 1738-Mo MF Mexico pillar Real of Philip V (KM-75.1). A subsequent "LI" countermark within oval indent was applied in the upper left area of the initial countermark. This heavily circulated example displays rich mottled slated patina with brighter coloration in the exposed areas. The initial countermark is deeply applied and bold, while the subsequent "LI" countermark is bold, though slightly uneven. Close inspection reveals two scratches as "X" on both sides is noticed. Despite its shortcomings a highly sought after issue that seldom appears on the market and should be considered VERY RARE. From the Richard August Collection." The SCWC also mentions counterstamped three, four, seven, 14 and 18 stuivers issued pursuant to this proclamation. St. Bartholomew, commonly called St. Barts in English and Saint Barthélemy in French, was a Swedish possession 1784-1877, when it was sold back to the French, who attached it to their colony of Guadeloupe.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: host coin 3.38 g, 0.917 fine silver.
Catalog reference: cf. KM-4 (Curacao); Prid-39 (not attributed); Sch-1374 (Curacao); AAJ-12.
- Bjorne Ahlstrom, Yngve Almer and Bengt Hemmingson, Sveriges Mynt, 1521-1977, the Coinage of Sweden. Stockholm: Numismatika Bokforlaget AB, 1976.
- Byrne, Ray, Coins and Tokens of the Caribees, Decatur, IL: Jess Peters, Inc., 1975.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Passon, Tom, Catalogus van de Munten van de Nederlandse Gebieden Overzee, vanaf 1601 tot heden, Apeldoorn, Netherlands, 2022.
- Scholten, C., The Coins of the Dutch Overseas Territories, 1601-1948, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman, 1953.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2025 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Richard August Collection and the Richard Margolis Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
Link to:
- Curacao (1819-25) 3 reaal
- St. Bartholomew (1819-21) 18 stuivers countermarked on a Spanish pistareen
- Coins and currency dated 1821