Cuba (1872-77) 50 centavos KM-R5.2

from the Stack's Bowers 2018 NYINC sale, lot 22422

This specimen was lot 22422 in Stack's Bowers 2018 NYINC sale (New York, January 2018), where it sold for $1,920. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"CUBA. 50 Centavos, ND (1872-77). PCGS Genuine--Damage, VG Details Secure Holder. KM plate coin with a 'key' countermark on the reverse of a United States Bust Half Dollar, 1833, KM-32. The damage cited on the holder is two small dents on the obverse. Overall a wholesome piece despite this; one should recall that the coin had circulated for forty years before the countermark was applied. RARE host coin for this countermark. Toned and fully original. Ex: Stack's Philadelphia Americana Sale September 30 - October 2, 2010, lot# 5312. Ex: Bowers and Merena, Inc. The Lindesmith & LaRiviere Collections November 11-13, 1999, lot# 3205. Ex: Bowers and Merena, Inc. September 1992, lot# 2046."

This countermark was applied to various Mexican and U.S. coins during the Ten Years War (1868-78), the first major revolt against Spanish rule. The second revolt, beginning in 1896, attracted American support, leading to the Spanish-American War of 1898. Cuba received her independence in 1903 at the cost of becoming an American client state.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: host coin 13.48 g, 0.892 fine silver.

Catalog reference: KM-R5.2.

Source:

• 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]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio, John Kraljevich and Cris Chatigny, The January 2018 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Eldorado Collection of Colombian and Ecuadorian Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2017.

Link to:

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• Coins and currency dated 1872
• return to coins of Cuba