Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3037 Sess. 2-4 5 January 2015
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Venezuela
Republic 1/2 Bolivar 1879 AU55 NGC, Brussels mint, KM-Y21, Stohr-40. About Uncirculated with slight friction evidence on the higher points and partially lustrous surfaces with the scattered handling marks anticipated for the designation. A one-year subtype since the only date of this issue struck at the Brussels mint. Venezuela officially adopted the Bolivar monetary unit (in conformity with the Latin monetary standard) by the law of March 31, 1879. The first coins under this new unit were struck by the Brussels mint in 1879 using master dies originally engraved by French engraver Albert Barre in previous years. While struck in fairly large amounts (200,000 pieces for the present denomination), most if not all of those 1879-dated coins entered circulation and are thus rarely encountered in higher grades. The present coin is the finest certified of the date by NGC (the next one being XF45) and could possibly represent the finest specimen available. It certainly is the finest offered for public consideration in the past years that the cataloguer can recall. Higher grade pieces most probably exist but they have simply not been available for a significant time. Note for example that the little known sale of the Charles de l'Ecluse collection offered a Specimen or Proof set of the 1879 strikings (M. C. Van Peteghem, Paris 6/1887, lot 263), among several delicacies in the Venezuelan series including other specimen sets for the 1858 and 1873-1874 series. A significant condition rarity in the Venezuelan Bolivar series, sure to elicit strong attention.
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD
Republic 1/2 Bolivar 1879 AU55 NGC, Brussels mint, KM-Y21, Stohr-40. About Uncirculated with slight friction evidence on the higher points and partially lustrous surfaces with the scattered handling marks anticipated for the designation. A one-year subtype since the only date of this issue struck at the Brussels mint. Venezuela officially adopted the Bolivar monetary unit (in conformity with the Latin monetary standard) by the law of March 31, 1879. The first coins under this new unit were struck by the Brussels mint in 1879 using master dies originally engraved by French engraver Albert Barre in previous years. While struck in fairly large amounts (200,000 pieces for the present denomination), most if not all of those 1879-dated coins entered circulation and are thus rarely encountered in higher grades. The present coin is the finest certified of the date by NGC (the next one being XF45) and could possibly represent the finest specimen available. It certainly is the finest offered for public consideration in the past years that the cataloguer can recall. Higher grade pieces most probably exist but they have simply not been available for a significant time. Note for example that the little known sale of the Charles de l'Ecluse collection offered a Specimen or Proof set of the 1879 strikings (M. C. Van Peteghem, Paris 6/1887, lot 263), among several delicacies in the Venezuelan series including other specimen sets for the 1858 and 1873-1874 series. A significant condition rarity in the Venezuelan Bolivar series, sure to elicit strong attention.
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD