Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature Sale 3035 Online Sess. 9-10 September 2014
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Costa Rica
Unique 1875 Half Dollar Variety Set, KM112. The Ceiba tree centavo series began in 1864 with issuance of some of the silver and gold denominations. Most of the common silver issues were produced in 1864 -1866 whereas all issues dated 1867 -1872 were sporadic and remain scarce to rare. After no coins were made in 1873 -1874, suddenly in 1875 the local mint issued a relatively large number of pieces in all four denominations. That 1875 issue was the final one for the series and no other silver pieces were issued prior to one half dollar emission in 1880 followed by much silver coinage in 1885-87. This history review might be pertinent as one tries to unravel the numismatic mystery of the primary coin in this unique trio. Included for comparison is a F-VF example of the very common horizontal axis standard emission. It weighs 12.53 grams which fits with the Latin Monetary System weight goal but such should not have been pertinent for an issue with only 3/4 silver purity (0.750 fineness) rather than 9/10th's purity (0.900). The second piece, the only one located over about 20 years by the specialist assembling this set, has a perfectly vertical axis which is not normal for San Jose silver coinage. Its weight is 12.65 grams which happens to be the weight specified by whatever reference that Whitman Publishing Company followed in compiling their weight and fineness standards. Although being typically lightly struck, this piece is at least Very Fine with very attractive reddish and blue toning which expose its relatively low silver content (and thus more copper which can easily tone over time). The third piece, believed to be unique and which is numismatically important well beyond the scope of our current research effort, weights just 12.04 grams ( 4% below the standard) and has a horizontal axis which is rotated about 20 degrees counterclockwise. The dies for both sides are obviously genuine for 1875 and the wear pattern is typical for the series; grade might be AVF /Fine. What is so fascinating, since no other related overstrikes of any CR item post 1831 have ever been reported, is that a Guatemala 4 Reales was used as a host flan !! The undercoin is boldly evident, not just a figment of imagination, under the CR national shield. The Seated Liberty type 4 Reales of Guatemala began in 1873 and was produced in 0.900 fineness; its pillar of justice placed alongside the Liberty figure can easily be read to show "30 de Junio de 1871". Well over half of Liberty's body can easily be spotted along with some unclear peripheral lettering. The reverse shows only a bit of the host coin, notably beside the value "50". Whether this was just a "trial strike" of a type that had been produced as early as 1865 is not known to us but such seems unlikely. More believable is that the San Jose mint was contemplating issuance of coinage to Latin Monetary standards and wanted to test if their mint machinery could withstand the additional force of striking the harder planchets. Such a test might have been done in 1875 but could have been done in 1876 - 1880 prior to the isolated 1880 issuance. An intriguing trio sure to create a buzz in the rather advanced numismatic society in San Jose and surrounding cities.
Estimate: 1500-2500 USD
Unique 1875 Half Dollar Variety Set, KM112. The Ceiba tree centavo series began in 1864 with issuance of some of the silver and gold denominations. Most of the common silver issues were produced in 1864 -1866 whereas all issues dated 1867 -1872 were sporadic and remain scarce to rare. After no coins were made in 1873 -1874, suddenly in 1875 the local mint issued a relatively large number of pieces in all four denominations. That 1875 issue was the final one for the series and no other silver pieces were issued prior to one half dollar emission in 1880 followed by much silver coinage in 1885-87. This history review might be pertinent as one tries to unravel the numismatic mystery of the primary coin in this unique trio. Included for comparison is a F-VF example of the very common horizontal axis standard emission. It weighs 12.53 grams which fits with the Latin Monetary System weight goal but such should not have been pertinent for an issue with only 3/4 silver purity (0.750 fineness) rather than 9/10th's purity (0.900). The second piece, the only one located over about 20 years by the specialist assembling this set, has a perfectly vertical axis which is not normal for San Jose silver coinage. Its weight is 12.65 grams which happens to be the weight specified by whatever reference that Whitman Publishing Company followed in compiling their weight and fineness standards. Although being typically lightly struck, this piece is at least Very Fine with very attractive reddish and blue toning which expose its relatively low silver content (and thus more copper which can easily tone over time). The third piece, believed to be unique and which is numismatically important well beyond the scope of our current research effort, weights just 12.04 grams ( 4% below the standard) and has a horizontal axis which is rotated about 20 degrees counterclockwise. The dies for both sides are obviously genuine for 1875 and the wear pattern is typical for the series; grade might be AVF /Fine. What is so fascinating, since no other related overstrikes of any CR item post 1831 have ever been reported, is that a Guatemala 4 Reales was used as a host flan !! The undercoin is boldly evident, not just a figment of imagination, under the CR national shield. The Seated Liberty type 4 Reales of Guatemala began in 1873 and was produced in 0.900 fineness; its pillar of justice placed alongside the Liberty figure can easily be read to show "30 de Junio de 1871". Well over half of Liberty's body can easily be spotted along with some unclear peripheral lettering. The reverse shows only a bit of the host coin, notably beside the value "50". Whether this was just a "trial strike" of a type that had been produced as early as 1865 is not known to us but such seems unlikely. More believable is that the San Jose mint was contemplating issuance of coinage to Latin Monetary standards and wanted to test if their mint machinery could withstand the additional force of striking the harder planchets. Such a test might have been done in 1875 but could have been done in 1876 - 1880 prior to the isolated 1880 issuance. An intriguing trio sure to create a buzz in the rather advanced numismatic society in San Jose and surrounding cities.
Estimate: 1500-2500 USD