Watch List notes:

Argentina (occupation in Paraguay after the War of the Triple Alliance), copper 20 centavos, "D.O" (Departamento Occidental) and arms counterstamp (1874-78) on a Paraguay 4 centesimos of 1870, very rare, PCGS VF30, c/m XF detail. Janson-5.1; Pratt-MO2 (under Paraguay). Full peripheral detail on host, bold countermark in center consisting of script "D.O" above denomination "20" on one side and incuse Argentine arms within wreath on other side, dark brown all over. This very rare issue (and the next lot) stems from the conflict with Paraguay starting in 1865, in which that country suffered total defeat against a "Triple Alliance" of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, resulting in occupation of Paraguay until 1878. The portion occupied by Argentina was in the sparsely inhabited western ("occidental") area of Paraguay known as the Chaco, which Argentina held from 1874 until the U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes negotiated its return in 1878 (memorialized by the fact that both a Department [Departamento President Hayes] and capital city [Villa Hayes] are now so named). (See lot #1724 in this auction for a 1733 map of this region.) PCGS #36247184.
(5000 - 10000 USD)