The Lyall Collection of Cut and Countermarked Coins

Guadeloupe, British Administration: Decree of May 1811, Eighty-Two Livres Ten Sols, a Maria I and Peter III, 6,400 Réis, 1786, Rio, obv. countermarked with crowned g raised within an oval indent and 82 10 raised within a rectangular indent, 13.34g/205.9gr (Gordon 20; Prid. 1; VG 32; KM. 28). Coin polished but very fine, countermarks better, of the highest rarity; only two other specimens with these same countermarks recorded £3,000-5,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Lyall Collection of Cut and Countermarked Coins.

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Provenance: H.D. Gibbs Collection, Hans Schulman Auction (New York), 18-19 March 1966, lot 1496; E. Roehrs Collection, Part II, DNW Auction 96, 17 November 2011, lot 478 [from Spink 1987].

Gordon designated these countermarks as Fraud D (modern). The cataloguer wrote to Gordon in 1987, shortly after his book was published, challenging him on this designation and suggesting that these countermarks were at least contemporary counterfeits and not modern at all. Now with the benefit of examination of another specimen (Roehrs Sale, Part I, lot 167) and a photograph of a third specimen, it can be said with confidence that this is the official set of countermarks. While the specimen above has been slightly clipped and re-edged after countermarking the other specimen examined is the required full weight and the style and execution of the countermarks suggest this is rather in keeping with what might be expected at the time and place