This
week’s highlight from the May Collectors Choice Online (CCO) auction is a
scarce one-year type from Colombia – an 1863 2 Pesos from the Medellin mint. Between 1861 and 1886 the mints in production included
the Bogota, Popayan and Medellin mints, with the last producing far more
different types than the other two. This is not to say that Medellin mint
issues are more common than the others. Quite the contrary, each mint has its
fair share of rarities. Even with
standard designs, each mint made the coinage distinctly its own. The present
example, however, with a mintage of only 2,996 pieces, is scarce in any grade
and very rare when in Mint State. Famed
numismatist and author, Dr. Frank Sedwick, published several standard references
still in use today including “The Gold Coinage of Gran Colombia” and “The
Practical Book of Cobs.” Also an avid collector and specialist of the
Republican gold coinage of Colombia, he was only able to obtain an example in
Almost Uncirculated with signs of mount removal on the edge. In terms of quality and eye appeal, it is
hard to imagine a better example than that we offer in our May Collectors
Choice Online auction. The minute details are well defined and lustrous with
just a hint of tone in the peripheries.
The provenance also attests to the outstanding quality of this example,
as it hails from the collection of quality-conscious Richard L. Lissner. This piece has everything a collector could
want: quality, rarity and provenance.
Be
sure to view this and other rare and interesting items offered in our May CCO
auction at StacksBowers.com. We are currently accepting consignments of Chinese
and other Asian coins and currency for our August 2017 Hong Kong Showcase
Auction and consignments of world and ancient coins and world paper money for
our August 2017 ANA Auction. In addition we are always looking forward to our
other future sales, so if you are interested in consigning your coins and paper
currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one
of our consignment directors.
