Heritage World Coin Auctions
CICF Signature Sale 3032 10-12 April 2014
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Venezuela
Caracas imitation cob fantasy date 2 Reales (183), Caracas mint (?), KMC13.1, VF25 NGC. Obviously debased as the typical yellowish tinge has appeared in all parts of the surfaces. The Caracas attribution seems certain based on the punch links that can be made between this (rare!) date and the much commoner 184 issue. Moreover, a few cobs of that 184 date are known overstruck with the China 1819 2 Reales dies of Nueva Granada. Lastly, and this is the most important fact, the operation to overstrike the imitation cobs with the Nueva Granada dies was an official one, following a decree of October 1819, which read as follows: "With this date [of October 5], His Excellency has issued the following decree: given the urgent necessity for funds, I have come to decree that the dies of the India be applied to the caraqueña coinage, even though the obtained coinage will be irregular in its diameter, to avoid the hassle of melting, refining &c..... (signed) Francisco de Paula Santander". The latter is incontrovertible evidence that the imitation cobs with the fantasy (184) date were known as coming from Caracas. In consequence, all other imitation cobs that can be punch-linked to that (184) issue, can also be safely assumed as issues from Caracas. Stohr identified the (183) and (184) dates to 1813 and 1814 respectively, which seems entirely logical. With the growing interest and more detailed analysis of these issues, rare (fantasy!) dates will come to light. The (183) is one of those rare dates, about 10 times rarer than the aforementioned 184 one in the cataloguer's experience.A similar example, a tad inferior in grade, was offered by Ponterio 5 years ago (Ponterio 4/2009, lot 3518 hammered at $1,400).
Estimate: 1200-1500 USD
Caracas imitation cob fantasy date 2 Reales (183), Caracas mint (?), KMC13.1, VF25 NGC. Obviously debased as the typical yellowish tinge has appeared in all parts of the surfaces. The Caracas attribution seems certain based on the punch links that can be made between this (rare!) date and the much commoner 184 issue. Moreover, a few cobs of that 184 date are known overstruck with the China 1819 2 Reales dies of Nueva Granada. Lastly, and this is the most important fact, the operation to overstrike the imitation cobs with the Nueva Granada dies was an official one, following a decree of October 1819, which read as follows: "With this date [of October 5], His Excellency has issued the following decree: given the urgent necessity for funds, I have come to decree that the dies of the India be applied to the caraqueña coinage, even though the obtained coinage will be irregular in its diameter, to avoid the hassle of melting, refining &c..... (signed) Francisco de Paula Santander". The latter is incontrovertible evidence that the imitation cobs with the fantasy (184) date were known as coming from Caracas. In consequence, all other imitation cobs that can be punch-linked to that (184) issue, can also be safely assumed as issues from Caracas. Stohr identified the (183) and (184) dates to 1813 and 1814 respectively, which seems entirely logical. With the growing interest and more detailed analysis of these issues, rare (fantasy!) dates will come to light. The (183) is one of those rare dates, about 10 times rarer than the aforementioned 184 one in the cataloguer's experience.A similar example, a tad inferior in grade, was offered by Ponterio 5 years ago (Ponterio 4/2009, lot 3518 hammered at $1,400).
Estimate: 1200-1500 USD