The Lyall Collection of Cut and Countermarked Coins

Martinique, Authority not traced, presumed c. 1813-1816, Charles IIII, a cut quarter-segment of a Spanish-American 8 Réales, cut edges crenated, rev. countermarked three times crown/g eagle c/cinquefoil, 6.23g/96.1gr (Lyall, SNC April 1995, p.91, this coin; Prid. –). Coin very fine, countermarks extremely fine, of the highest rarity; the only recorded specimen £1,000-1,500

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

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Provenance: Bt Baldwin 1982.

The initials gc suggest a Martinique silversmith, G. Costet (regrettably it has not been possible to trace a Christian name for this individual) and this may be a measure taken to address lightweight mocos, much the same as the action taken in Guadeloupe in 1813 where a minimum weight standard of one-and-a-half gros (88.5g French/90.0g British) was established