St. Martin (1820) 2 stuivers
This specimen was lot 75349 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2022), where it sold for $1,320. The catalog description[1] noted, "SAINT MARTIN. 2 Stuivers, ND (1820). NGC VF-30. Holder places date at 1798, though SCWC gives the type with both "SM" in circle, as well as large "M" countermark, as produced in 1820. Host is 2 Sous from French Guiana. Countermark is graded as VF Standard. The "SM" in circle has a strong die crack through the center, and the host exhibits fairly readable peripheral legends." St. Martin is an island in the Caribbean long divided between France and the Netherlands. During one of its chronic coin shortages, Spanish colonial dollars were cut into fifths and traded as 18 stuiver pieces. Other French colonial coppers were counterstamped for the island. They are today rare; this specimen sold for three times the catalog value.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: copper.
Catalog reference: KM-3.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Byrne, Ray, Coins and Tokens of the Caribees, Decatur, IL: Jess Peters, Inc., 1975.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The February 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins, Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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