The New York Sale
Auction 43 10 Jan 2018
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
George III (1760-1820), oval countermark upon, Chile silver Eight Reales, Santiago Mint, struck under Charles IV of Spain, 1793 DA. Countermark of cuirassed bust of George III placed centrally on neck of cuirassed bust of Spanish King right, date below, legend .CAROLUS. IIII. DEI. GRATIA. rev. crowned quartered Spanish shield of arms, pillars with ribbon motto either side, incuse letter PLVS VLTRA, Latin legend surrounding.HISPAN. ET. IND. REX. S. 8R. D.A. toothed border around rim both sides, weight 26.95g (Bull 1853 R3; ESC 134; S 3765A; KM 627). Light hairline scratch in obverse field, with one extending onto neck, rim cut at 4 o'clock, otherwise lightly toned with underlying mint brilliance, in PCGS holder graded AU 55, Pop 1; the finest example graded at PCGS, and extremely rare for this mint this nice. Estimated Value $5,500
PCGS certification 34313094. The Latin legends translate on the host coin as "Charles the Fourth by the Grace of God" and on the reverse as "King of Spain and the Indies" with the Santiago mint mark with an S under an o and the denomination as 8R for Eight Reales and the D.A. for the Mint Masters Domingo Eizaguirre and Augustin de Infante y Prado whose master-ship reigned from 1772-99. The "Plus Ultra" motto meaning "further beyond".
These historically interesting countermarked pieces were struck in reaction to a massive shortage of small change and silver coinage in Great Britain as continued campaigns on the continent had drained the precious metal out of the hands of the public. The temporary and hurried solution was provided by the Bank of England, with their vast stocks of Spanish Dollars from the New World, which could be quickly countermarked with the silver hallmark from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths to officiate them at a value of Four Shillings and Ninepence. The vast majority of the stock host coins countermarked were Mexico City Mint Dollars, other more common Mints being Potosi in Bolivia and Lima in Peru. The very rare mints of the New World host coins to be so marked were Santiago in Chile as we have here and Guatemala, just as rare as the fewer Spanish mainland pieces of Seville or Madrid. The superb condition of this countermarked piece would be good for an unmarked host coin only of this issue never mind having the addition of the British countermark.
PCGS certification 34313094. The Latin legends translate on the host coin as "Charles the Fourth by the Grace of God" and on the reverse as "King of Spain and the Indies" with the Santiago mint mark with an S under an o and the denomination as 8R for Eight Reales and the D.A. for the Mint Masters Domingo Eizaguirre and Augustin de Infante y Prado whose master-ship reigned from 1772-99. The "Plus Ultra" motto meaning "further beyond".
These historically interesting countermarked pieces were struck in reaction to a massive shortage of small change and silver coinage in Great Britain as continued campaigns on the continent had drained the precious metal out of the hands of the public. The temporary and hurried solution was provided by the Bank of England, with their vast stocks of Spanish Dollars from the New World, which could be quickly countermarked with the silver hallmark from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths to officiate them at a value of Four Shillings and Ninepence. The vast majority of the stock host coins countermarked were Mexico City Mint Dollars, other more common Mints being Potosi in Bolivia and Lima in Peru. The very rare mints of the New World host coins to be so marked were Santiago in Chile as we have here and Guatemala, just as rare as the fewer Spanish mainland pieces of Seville or Madrid. The superb condition of this countermarked piece would be good for an unmarked host coin only of this issue never mind having the addition of the British countermark.