St. James's Auctions
Auction 74 12-13 Apr 2023
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Tortola [Virgin Islands], Black Doggs (25), so-called "Hodge Doggs", Cayenne two sous, counterstamped with an incuse capital "H" within a diamond or square (cf. Prid. 19 vars.; Lyall 7a, 9; Prid. Sale, lots 203-206), coins worn, countermarks crude, fair to fine (25)
Lots 445 – 456 - The remaining coins from the "Withdrawal Hoard" of Tortola Black Doggs. The hoard was published by Bob Lyall in Spink's Numismatic Circular, October 1983, pp. 267-268, "A Hoard of Tortola Black Dogs", and at that time extended to 340 coins. The hoard comprised the coins that were "called in" in 1889 and subsequently sold. The 'host' coins are for the most part well-worn, or even counterfeit, French colonial Cayenne 2-sous, that have been counterstamped with either a capital "T" [for Tortola] or with an "H" inset within a diamond – the so-called "Hodge Doggs", believed issued by the despotic plantation owner Arthur William Hodge (1763-1811) or possibly Bezaliel Hodge who, whilst he owned 20 plantations had, however, died before 1798. Arthur William Hodge was a member of the Executive Council and Legislative Assembly on Tortola and slave owner, who was hanged on 8 May 1811, having been found guilty of the murder of one of his slaves. It is believed he was the only British West Indian slave owner to be executed for the murder of a slave. It would seem that the hoard has been "cherry-picked" over the years and that the coins now offered are probably all contemporary forgeries, mostly struck on genuine Cayenne 2-sous from forged punches, others, however, from forged punches on false hosts. As the genuine counterstamped coins and forgeries circulated freely along-side each other all should be considered an important part on the numismatic history of Tortola without discrimination. The "Hodge Doggs" offered seem all together a much cruder selection of coins and the cataloguers feel that it is probable that all were struck from forged punches and many on forged "host" coins, some of which were struck in Birmingham. Bob Lyall's "Black Doggs" were sold by in September 2018.
Estimate: 250 - 300 GBP
Lots 445 – 456 - The remaining coins from the "Withdrawal Hoard" of Tortola Black Doggs. The hoard was published by Bob Lyall in Spink's Numismatic Circular, October 1983, pp. 267-268, "A Hoard of Tortola Black Dogs", and at that time extended to 340 coins. The hoard comprised the coins that were "called in" in 1889 and subsequently sold. The 'host' coins are for the most part well-worn, or even counterfeit, French colonial Cayenne 2-sous, that have been counterstamped with either a capital "T" [for Tortola] or with an "H" inset within a diamond – the so-called "Hodge Doggs", believed issued by the despotic plantation owner Arthur William Hodge (1763-1811) or possibly Bezaliel Hodge who, whilst he owned 20 plantations had, however, died before 1798. Arthur William Hodge was a member of the Executive Council and Legislative Assembly on Tortola and slave owner, who was hanged on 8 May 1811, having been found guilty of the murder of one of his slaves. It is believed he was the only British West Indian slave owner to be executed for the murder of a slave. It would seem that the hoard has been "cherry-picked" over the years and that the coins now offered are probably all contemporary forgeries, mostly struck on genuine Cayenne 2-sous from forged punches, others, however, from forged punches on false hosts. As the genuine counterstamped coins and forgeries circulated freely along-side each other all should be considered an important part on the numismatic history of Tortola without discrimination. The "Hodge Doggs" offered seem all together a much cruder selection of coins and the cataloguers feel that it is probable that all were struck from forged punches and many on forged "host" coins, some of which were struck in Birmingham. Bob Lyall's "Black Doggs" were sold by in September 2018.
Estimate: 250 - 300 GBP