BRITISH HONDURAS. British Honduras - Mexico. Dollar (6 Shillings 1 Penny), ND (1810-20). PCGS Genuine--Damage, EF Details Gold Shield.

BRITISH HONDURAS. British Honduras - Mexico. Dollar (6 Shillings 1 Penny), ND (1810-20). PCGS Genuine--Damage, EF Details Gold Shield.

KM-stamp not listed; Prid-stamp not listed; Roehrs Collection Pt.1-Lot # 6(same stamp); Byrne Collection-Lot # 1379(same stamp); Medina-Pg.224(same stamp). Incuse crowned block letter's "GR" countermark on an 1818-MoJJ Mexico 8 Reales of Ferdinand VII. SCARCE countermark variety. Countermark somewhat crude in style and slightly unevenly applied to the obverse. The "Damage" indicated by the PCGS insert appears to be several small old scratches on the reverse from long ago now toned over matching the rest of the coin. Despite its shortcomings a handsome and attractively toned example with a good look sure to excite even the most advanced collectors of cut and countermarked issues. Countermark: EXTREMELY FINE.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of official contemporary documentation the attribution to British Honduras is uncertain. Famous collector and author Major Fred Pridmore speculates that the merchants of the settlement applied the various crowned "GR" countermarks to dollars for trade with the indigenous Indian tribes between 1810-1818. Prior to 1810 the primary barter item with the Indians were cutlass blades stamped with "GR" in an attempt to continue trade, it is believed that a similar mark was applied to dollars mark to dollars continuing the accustomed unit of value. Stamping coins in this manner would not require official authority since it wouldn't have affected their currency value in the settlement.

Estimate: $700 - $1,000.

Provenance: From the BKingdom Collection.

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