Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
August 2020 Auction 5-6 Aug 2020
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ETHIOPIA. Gold Mule Presentation Werk, EE 1921 (1928). Addis Ababa Mint. Haile Selassie I (Ras Tafari Makonnen). NGC Unc Details--Edge Damage.
cf. Fr-26; KM-Pn8; Gill-RT8. Plain edge. A RARE presentation issue struck using the obverse pattern die for the silver 1/8 Birr and the reverse die for the Menelik 1/32 Birr (Besa). A charmingly crude issue with lots of character struck using rusty dies with a wide weight variance (4.18-8.35 gms). Several areas near the rim show evidence of file marks, but upon close inspection they appear to have been done at the minting facility with small upset portions on the rim. The plain edge appears to have oblique file marks, but is unclear if these were part of the manufacturing process or occurred after leaving the mint. The details designation of "Edge Damage" is unclear exactly what caught the graders attention, but seeing as this was not actually a currency issue or pattern and struck from severally degradated dies it is quite difficult to pinpoint the noted defect. Despite its shortcomings a handsome survivor displaying attractive even honey-gold tone.
cf. Fr-26; KM-Pn8; Gill-RT8. Plain edge. A RARE presentation issue struck using the obverse pattern die for the silver 1/8 Birr and the reverse die for the Menelik 1/32 Birr (Besa). A charmingly crude issue with lots of character struck using rusty dies with a wide weight variance (4.18-8.35 gms). Several areas near the rim show evidence of file marks, but upon close inspection they appear to have been done at the minting facility with small upset portions on the rim. The plain edge appears to have oblique file marks, but is unclear if these were part of the manufacturing process or occurred after leaving the mint. The details designation of "Edge Damage" is unclear exactly what caught the graders attention, but seeing as this was not actually a currency issue or pattern and struck from severally degradated dies it is quite difficult to pinpoint the noted defect. Despite its shortcomings a handsome survivor displaying attractive even honey-gold tone.
According to Denis Gill author of the standard reference "The Coinage of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Italian Somalia" published 1991 these issues were most likely struck after 1930 when Haile Selassie I was elevated to Emperor. During his travels abroad he would hand these out to friends and dignitaries as gifts or tokens of remembrance. Since the dies used for these issues were in such severe state it make sense that they were struck later then the indicated date on the coins.
Estimate: $900.00- $1200.00