Watch List notes:

CUBA. Copper 20 Centavos Pattern, 1870-P CT. Possibly Potosi Mint. NGC PROOF-63 Brown.
KM-Pn3a. Purported mintage: 40. By engraver C.T. (Clemente Toretti?). This lovely low mintage pattern only issue displays beautiful milk chocolate patina with areas of richer coloration and an iridescent cobalt sheen that complements the crisp design features. This seldom encountered issue, struck in limited quantities, is a real treat for the specialist looking to obtain tough to locate numismatic treasures and is sure to pique the interest of advanced collectors.

Little is known about this series such as where, when and under what circumstances these were produced. According to Thomas Lismore author of "The Coinage of Cuba 1870 to Date" published Miami, Florida 1966 speculates that the engraver for this series was Clemente Toretti, an American engraver active during this time period in South America and Europe using the initials "C.T."; he was the mint-master of the La Paz mint in 1868, presumably transferring the following year in 1869 to the Potosi mint after the closure of La Paz and eventually in 1877 began working at the Brussels mint. Another interesting correlation was the use of the abbreviation "Cents" ("s" in superscript) for "Centavos" on minor denominations for both the Bolivian and Cuban issues. The Cuban Revolutionary Government sent representatives to many major cities in the Americas and Europe including Lima, Paris and New York as well as many other cities seeking support for their Independence movement. Support for Cuban independence was quite strong in many of the former Spanish colonies, so it is possible that these were struck at the Potosi mint. An interesting issue in need of further in-depth scholarly research from the specialist.

Estimate: $1000 - $1500