Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature Sale 3035 3-5 September 2014
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British Virgin Islands
Montserrat & Tortola Countermarked 2 Bits AG3 NGC, Prid-46 (this specimen). A cut 1/4 segment of a Spanish Colonial 8 Reales countermarked with "M" stamp on obv. and three couped cross stamps on rev. (for Montserrat, ca. 1788-1801) and with "Tirtila" type II stamp (for Tortola, ca. 1805-1824) on obv. almost obliterating the earlier "M" stamp. The Montserrat countermark on the 1/4 Dollar deserves a special mention, since all of the other specimens seen by the cataloguer show the combination of three "M" stamps on one side (to prevent clipping) and the couped crossed stamp on the other (obviously as a validation mark, and usually applied only once on cut segments, see next lot description): the present specimen shows the opposite combination of three couped crosses and one "M" stamp. The fact that the stamp normally used to hinder clipping was the "M" one is also proven by the cut half milled 2 Reales countermarked with said stamp near the cut (Prid-6). An extremely rare variety of this elusive double island issue, also with an important pedigree. Base coin About Good, countermarks Fine, 5.57 grams.Note that Pridmore assigned the period of 1785-1805 to the Montserrat couped cross stamps based on the latest date on the Spanish Colonial 2 Reales countermarked with the couped cross design known to him, and on several specimens of the "Tirtila" stamp (assigned to 1805-1824 period) applied over earlier Montserrat cross stamps. However, the Roehrs collection contained a Spanish pistareen dated 1788 with such a stamp (DNW 9/2010, lot 152) and the Patterson collection (Bonhams 7/1996, lot 692) contained a specimen of the official "Tortola" type I stamp (ca. 1801) over a contemporary imitation of the three "M" stamps. These two pieces thus allow to narrow the period of the Montserrat issue to 1788-1801 instead.The Pridmore plate specimen, Ex. Lingford, Pridmore and Roehrs collections.
Estimate: 1500-2000 USD
Montserrat & Tortola Countermarked 2 Bits AG3 NGC, Prid-46 (this specimen). A cut 1/4 segment of a Spanish Colonial 8 Reales countermarked with "M" stamp on obv. and three couped cross stamps on rev. (for Montserrat, ca. 1788-1801) and with "Tirtila" type II stamp (for Tortola, ca. 1805-1824) on obv. almost obliterating the earlier "M" stamp. The Montserrat countermark on the 1/4 Dollar deserves a special mention, since all of the other specimens seen by the cataloguer show the combination of three "M" stamps on one side (to prevent clipping) and the couped crossed stamp on the other (obviously as a validation mark, and usually applied only once on cut segments, see next lot description): the present specimen shows the opposite combination of three couped crosses and one "M" stamp. The fact that the stamp normally used to hinder clipping was the "M" one is also proven by the cut half milled 2 Reales countermarked with said stamp near the cut (Prid-6). An extremely rare variety of this elusive double island issue, also with an important pedigree. Base coin About Good, countermarks Fine, 5.57 grams.Note that Pridmore assigned the period of 1785-1805 to the Montserrat couped cross stamps based on the latest date on the Spanish Colonial 2 Reales countermarked with the couped cross design known to him, and on several specimens of the "Tirtila" stamp (assigned to 1805-1824 period) applied over earlier Montserrat cross stamps. However, the Roehrs collection contained a Spanish pistareen dated 1788 with such a stamp (DNW 9/2010, lot 152) and the Patterson collection (Bonhams 7/1996, lot 692) contained a specimen of the official "Tortola" type I stamp (ca. 1801) over a contemporary imitation of the three "M" stamps. These two pieces thus allow to narrow the period of the Montserrat issue to 1788-1801 instead.The Pridmore plate specimen, Ex. Lingford, Pridmore and Roehrs collections.
Estimate: 1500-2000 USD