St. Eustatius (1801) 3 reaals

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from the Stack's Bowers 2026 NYINC sale, lot 41121
photo courtesy Stack's Bowers LLC

This specimen was lot 41121 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2026), where it sold for $1,440. The catalog description[1] noted, "NETHERLANDS WEST INDIES. Saint Eustatius - Spain. 3 Reaals, ND (ca. 1801). VERY FINE; Countermark: VF Details. Associated with local notice 30 September 1801. Countermark: "3" within rectangular indent. Applied to the reverse of a 1724-F, Segovia mint, Spain 2 Reales (Pistareen) of Luis I (KM-297). This wholesome looking minor coin exhibits even wear and display attractive old envelope patina. The countermark is somewhat shallow, but fully impressed on the reverse with minor die degradation in the form of a cud just above the "3". Upon close inspection, a natural planchet defect is mentioned for accuracy. A handsome example of this enigmatic piece.

Numismatic scholar and collector Mr. Bob Lyall wrote in his article "West Indies Coinage - Some New Discoveries", published in the Spink Numismatic Circular 1998, that "From the Notice dated 30th Sept. 1801 the 'small quarts' were to have their value raised from 2 Bitts 4 Stuivers to become 3 Pesos (3 Reaals). The reference 'small quarts' presumably means Pistareens as there were no known official cut fractions of Dollars in 1801 in St. Eustatius and Pistareens were valued at 2 Bitts 4 Stuivers in 1797. Thus the Pistareens stamped with a large 3 are possibly the result of this 1801 Notice". Ex: Bob Lyall Collection (Dix Noonan & Webb 9/2018) Lot # 5106. Ex: Edward Roehrs Collection (Dix Noonan & Webb 11/2011) Lot # 631. Ex: John J. Ford Collection (Glendining's 10/1989) Lot # 236."

The host coin is a Spanish two reales of Luis I (KM 328), not of Philip V (KM 297).

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: host coin 6.77 g, 0.903 fine silver, this specimen 5.46 g.

Catalog reference: Lyall-SNC, 1998, pg. 19; Prid-30 (Unattributed).

Source:

  • Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
  • Byrne, Ray, Coins and Tokens of the Caribees, Decatur, IL: Jess Peters, Inc., 1975.
  • [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2026 NYINC Showcase Auction, Ancient and World Coins, featuring the Kazmier Wysocki Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.

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