Watch List notes:

Colombia, copper pattern 1/8 real, 1825-dated, first pattern of Colombia, unique and unlisted, NGC MS 63 BN.Restrepo-unl; KM-unl.Lustrous bronze color with dark contrast around details, circular polish lines (as made) evident in fields. The precedent for this piece was set by order of Colombia's Congress, specifically in Article 2 passed by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Colombia on May 31, 1823: "Art. 2º.- Las monedas de cobre tendrán por el anverso el busto de la libertad con la inscripción: REPUBLICA DE COLOMBIA. Por el reverso una orla de laurel, y en el centro en letras, un cuarto, o un octavo de real, año de tantos." (Tomado de Monedas Venezolanas, by Mercedes Carlota De Pardo [1973], pp. 60-61.) This law was repealed by Congress on March 14, 1826, hence the prescribed 1/4 and 1/8 reales were never minted; however, it appears at least one pattern was made in 1825 (or at least with that date), which is what we see here. As such, to our knowledge it is officially the first pattern struck for the newly formed Republic of Colombia, which included modern-day Venezuela and Ecuador and Panama.Pedigreed to the Esmeralda Collection (stated on special label).
($5000-10000)