The Roehrs Collection of West Indies Cut and Countermarked Coins (Part I)

Dominica, ——— Two Bitts, SPAIN, Philip V, 2 Réales (Pistareen), 172[–], uncertain mint, with a central hexagonal shaped hole, somewhat crude and irregular, 3.14g/48.5 gr (Prid. Not Attributed 35, this coin; Caldecott, BNJ 1904, pl.ii, 17, this coin; Howland Wood 81, this coin). Fair, rare £100-150

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Cut and Countermarked Coins formed by the late Edward Roehrs.

View
Collection

Provenance: J.B. Caldecott Collection, Sotheby Auction, 11-13 June 1912, lot 442 (part); J.J. Ford Jr Collection, Glendining Auction, 16 October 1989, lot 238; Dr W. Tankersley Collection, Baldwin Auction 18, 12-13 October 1998, lot 160.

This specimen appears to be a crudely made example and accordingly probably a contemporary forgery, as a few specimens are known where the hexagonal shaped hole appears to be well executed and as such a probable authorised issue, perhaps Dominica after 1816, to make a more difficult shape and so deter the relatively easy to produce contemporary forgeries with a circular hole