Montserrat-Bank of England, Issues of c. 1785-1801, Quarter-Dollar, a Charles III, 2 Réales, 1774fm, Mexico City, obv. initially countermarked with Montserrat design raised within a shaped indent and later countermarked in 1797 with the Bank of England oval countermark, 6.44g/99.4gr (Lyall, SNC November 1994, p.403, this coin; cf. Prid. 2; cf. KM. 12). Coin and countermarks very fine but a test mark on the edge at 3 o’clock, of the highest rarity and the only known specimen
£1,500-2,000

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

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Provenance: Bt P. Davies 1985.

The November 1994 article by Bob Lyall first examines this coin. It provoked a reply from Harrington Manville (SNC May 1995, pp.143-4) discussing the application of Bank of England countermarks on 2 réales. The latter stamp on this piece has the definition and detail of an official punch