Straits Settlements 1888 20 cents
The first specimen was lot 1240 in Steve Album Auction 53 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $360. The catalog description[1] noted, "STRAITS SETTLEMENTS: Victoria, 1867-1901, AR 20 cents, 1888, a pleasing lustrous mint state example, NGC graded MS61. On April 1, 1867 the Settlements became a British Crown colony, making the Settlements answerable directly to the Colonial Office in London instead of the government of British India based in Calcutta." The second specimen was lot 4034 in the same sale, where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "STRAITS SETTLEMENTS: Victoria, 1837-1901, AR 20 cents, 1888, an attractive example, PCGS graded MS62. Tied with only one other example for highest graded (Top Pop) at PCGS! On April 1, 1867 the Settlements became a British Crown colony, making the Settlements answerable directly to the Colonial Office in London instead of the government of British India based in Calcutta." This type was struck in 1871-1901 and many dates are common in low grade, like this one.
Recorded mintage: 295,000.
Specification: 5.43 g, 0.800 fine silver, 23 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-12, Prid-55.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 53, featuring Selections from the Dr. Robert A. Rosenfeld, Almer H. Orr III, Dr. Dirk Loer and Joe Sedillot Collections, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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