Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3044 3-4 January 2016
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Costa Rica
Republic silver Pattern 50 Centavos ND (1873) MS62 NGC, San Jose mint, KM-unl. Lustrous Mint State with strong subjacent luster and moderate handling marks on the surfaces. A pattern struck in silver with an unfinished 18xx date, the only example in this metal seen by the cataloger, with two similar ones struck in brass from the same pair of dies also noted, one of which was sold by us in 2010 (Heritage Auctions 1/2007, lot 50866 for $9,250). The Decree of April 1, 1871 by the government of Tomas Guardia authorized the striking of gold coins of 0.900 fineness and silver minor coins (of 50 Centavos and lower denominations) of 0.835 fineness. Dies and the corresponding equipment were commissioned to Wilhelm Kullrich of the Berlin mint by a contract dated January 12, 1872 (Murillo, pp. 106). However, the prevailing gold-silver exchange rate at the time resulted in the infeasibility of issuing 0.835 fineness silver minor coins (more debased issues of 0.750 fineness or 9 dineros had been struck starting in 1864, and would be struck again in 1872 and 1875). Moreover, the dire state of the mint conspired against its normal functioning, even resulting in its temporary closure on April 1874. Therefore, and since the dies for silver coins engraved by Kullrich bore the 0.835 fineness indication, they were never used to strike circulation issues and the 1872 and 1875 minor silver coins - of 0.750 fineness, as noted previously - were instead struck from dies of the previous arbolito design. The present piece and the aforementioned companion brass patterns were trial strikes produced from the master dies with the unfinished date shortly after their reception by the San Jose mint. A most interesting and extremely rare pattern, as noted.From the Pura Vida Collection, Part I
Estimate: 5000-6000 USD
Republic silver Pattern 50 Centavos ND (1873) MS62 NGC, San Jose mint, KM-unl. Lustrous Mint State with strong subjacent luster and moderate handling marks on the surfaces. A pattern struck in silver with an unfinished 18xx date, the only example in this metal seen by the cataloger, with two similar ones struck in brass from the same pair of dies also noted, one of which was sold by us in 2010 (Heritage Auctions 1/2007, lot 50866 for $9,250). The Decree of April 1, 1871 by the government of Tomas Guardia authorized the striking of gold coins of 0.900 fineness and silver minor coins (of 50 Centavos and lower denominations) of 0.835 fineness. Dies and the corresponding equipment were commissioned to Wilhelm Kullrich of the Berlin mint by a contract dated January 12, 1872 (Murillo, pp. 106). However, the prevailing gold-silver exchange rate at the time resulted in the infeasibility of issuing 0.835 fineness silver minor coins (more debased issues of 0.750 fineness or 9 dineros had been struck starting in 1864, and would be struck again in 1872 and 1875). Moreover, the dire state of the mint conspired against its normal functioning, even resulting in its temporary closure on April 1874. Therefore, and since the dies for silver coins engraved by Kullrich bore the 0.835 fineness indication, they were never used to strike circulation issues and the 1872 and 1875 minor silver coins - of 0.750 fineness, as noted previously - were instead struck from dies of the previous arbolito design. The present piece and the aforementioned companion brass patterns were trial strikes produced from the master dies with the unfinished date shortly after their reception by the San Jose mint. A most interesting and extremely rare pattern, as noted.From the Pura Vida Collection, Part I
Estimate: 5000-6000 USD