According to famed author and collector Major Fred Pridmore, the above stated decree ordered 2,000 dollars to be cut and stamped for 6 Bitts. There were two persons employed by the initials "GS" and "TR" to prepare this coinage. Currently the names and origins are unknown of these two individuals.
Prior to the discovery of the present example, the "GS" 6 Bitts was unknown to the collecting community. It is quite peculiar in that the style of the denomination stamp, the incuse 6, falls out of the norm for the majority of the Grenada series for both the "GS" and "TR" issues which usually appear as raised numbers within a square or rectangular indent. The only other examples that we are aware of from this series where the denomination stamp is incuse are the 1 Bitt, also in this sale, and a 1 Bitt from the Ray Byrne Collection Lot # 541 Ex: Howard D. Gibbs collection Lot # 1454 (cross style Pistareen). Both of these examples are "GS" issues sharing the same punch showing degradation which is also shared by examples from the Lyall collection Lot # 5238 and the Pridmore Collection Lot # 365, both 1 Bitts except with raised "1" within rectangular indent. All four of these examples share the same incuse "G" stamp. When comparing the "GS" stamp on the present example to the above sited pieces it is a perfect match with a singular die crack as noted above as well as a sharp pointed spur at the base of the "G" pointing towards the "S" and horizontal points extending from the top of the arm of the "G". Punch linking of the present example to other known genuine pieces shows the complexity of this series as well as dismisses the question of authenticity.
From an old South African Collection of a British Colonial Family.
Estimate: $3000.00- $4000.00