Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 122 15-16 Jun 2021
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Costa Rica. ½ Escudo,1855-JB. Fr-10; KM-97. Weight 0.0450 ounce. Indian woman leaning against column. Reverse; Coat of arms. PCGS graded MS-63. In special PCGS Ship of Gold holder which contains One Pinch of Gold Dust recovered from the S.S. Central America treasure.
Special PCGS number 674279.63/35474739. Estimated Value $500 - UP
In 1855, the Republic of Costa Rica was led by the conservative president Juan Rafael Mora, who was two years into his second term. This was a particularly dangerous year for Costa Rica, because a civil war broke out in neighboring Nicaragua between members of the Legitimist and Democratic political parties. Although Mora managed to avoid becoming immediately entangled in the Nicaraguan conflict, the situation changed drastically when the failing Democratic cause sought private American military assistance. Francisco Castellón, the embattled Democratic president of Nicaragua, awarded a contract to the San Francisco-based soldier of fortune William Walker to sail to Nicaragua with 300 "colonists." Upon his arrival in early summer of 1855, Walker crushed the Legitimists with a force of 160 Americans and 170 Nicaraguan Democrats, thereby paving the way to become the de facto ruler of Nicaragua. These developments were cause for great alarm in Costa Rica as Walker made no secret of his desire to conquer all of the states of Central America and annex them to the United States. These tensions, combined with Juan Rafael Mora's staunch opposition to Walker's interference in the region, resulted in the outbreak of the Filibuster War (1856-1857). The Filibuster War ultimately saw Costa Rica and a coalition formed by Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala drive Walker and his mercenaries out of Central America although they caused great damage to Nicaragua before they left.
Special PCGS number 674279.63/35474739. Estimated Value $500 - UP
In 1855, the Republic of Costa Rica was led by the conservative president Juan Rafael Mora, who was two years into his second term. This was a particularly dangerous year for Costa Rica, because a civil war broke out in neighboring Nicaragua between members of the Legitimist and Democratic political parties. Although Mora managed to avoid becoming immediately entangled in the Nicaraguan conflict, the situation changed drastically when the failing Democratic cause sought private American military assistance. Francisco Castellón, the embattled Democratic president of Nicaragua, awarded a contract to the San Francisco-based soldier of fortune William Walker to sail to Nicaragua with 300 "colonists." Upon his arrival in early summer of 1855, Walker crushed the Legitimists with a force of 160 Americans and 170 Nicaraguan Democrats, thereby paving the way to become the de facto ruler of Nicaragua. These developments were cause for great alarm in Costa Rica as Walker made no secret of his desire to conquer all of the states of Central America and annex them to the United States. These tensions, combined with Juan Rafael Mora's staunch opposition to Walker's interference in the region, resulted in the outbreak of the Filibuster War (1856-1857). The Filibuster War ultimately saw Costa Rica and a coalition formed by Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala drive Walker and his mercenaries out of Central America although they caused great damage to Nicaragua before they left.