Included in the immensely strong offering of Latin American-related coins in our upcoming auction held in conjunction with the New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC), a standout is a rare 1875 5 Venezolanos Pattern striking in gold. It features the iconic bust of Simón Bolívar, the South American “libertador” (liberator), as sculpted by the celebrated chief engraver of the Paris mint, Albert Désiré Barre. This colossal rarity will assuredly serve as a mighty coup for an advanced collector of Venezuelan issues.
With a reported mintage of just 10 examples (only half of which are believed to be held privately), this stunning and truly remarkable gem—graded PCGS SPECIMEN-65—is the finest that money can buy. It easily surpasses its other publicly traded brethren, such as an NGC PROOF-62 Cameo in November 2022 (realizing $78,000), the Clapp-Eliasberg-Millennia specimen (last sold in 2008 and also NGC PROOF-62 Cameo), and the Farouk-Pittman example (last sold in 1999). The pristine surfaces are majestically brilliant, while the details are expertly engraved and incised, with Bolívar’s portrait offering a near-lifelike gaze and countenance. Barre’s name is prominently displayed under the neckline, proudly laying claim to the design that would become synonymous with Venezuela’s coinage during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In fact, Bolívar himself would lend his name to the country’s unit of currency following the minting of this stunning Venezolano-denominated pattern issue. Due to its history, artistry, and rarity, we expect this unrivaled essai to be one of the stars of our January sale. Its pre-sale estimate of $100,000-$150,000 is indicative of how well we expect it to be received by an eager collecting community.
Look for this tremendous rarity, along with all of January’s great offerings, under the various sessions of the NYINC auction (both live and internet) at StacksBowers.com. For more background on Bolívar, his role in liberating various countries in South America, and his later role in the coinage of some of those countries, please see one of our prior blog posts on this topic.
To view our upcoming auction schedule and future offerings, please visit our Stack’s Bowers website where you may register and participate in this and other forthcoming sales.
We are always seeking coins, medals, and paper money for our future auctions, and are currently accepting submissions for our Hong Kong auction next spring and our 2023 Global Showcase auction next August. Additionally, we are continuously accepting submissions for our Collectors Choice Online (CCO) auctions, the next of which will be held in February 2023, and the next for which we are accepting submissions will be in May 2023. If you would like to learn more about consigning, whether a singular item or an entire collection, please contact one of our consignment directors today and we will assist you in achieving the best possible return on your material.
