Ancient, British and World Coins and Banknotes

Java, Holland, gold Ducat, 1693, obv. countermarked b (Batavia) in shield by knight’s elbow, 3.49g/12h (Scholten 9; cf. Codrington p.130; KM –; F 5). Coin slightly crimped, otherwise good very fine, countermark about extremely fine, extremely rare (£2,000-2,500)

Only the third example of this countermark to appear at public auction, the others being the R.J. Ford specimen (Taisei-Baldwin-Gillio, 23 February 1995, lot 4, $7,800) and the coin of Gelderland sold earlier this year (DNW 62, 30 June 2004, lot 1122, £2,000)