I was happy to add this coin to my collection not long ago. I like the design and imagery of the reverse. LIBERIA CU Cent (25.5mm, 5.64g, 12h) Dated 1896. Heaton & Sons mint, Birmingham, UK Obverse: REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA, wreathed bust of Liberty left; small H below bust, star at bottom Reverse: Within dotted border, palm tree flanked by setting sun to left and ship under full sail to right; above ship, dove flying left with scroll in beak; ONE CENT along edge above, * 1896 * below References: Numista 12425 Mintage: 358,000 In NGC encapsulation, graded MS65 RB. From the Globus Collection. The Republic of Liberia was officially founded in 1847, but its earliest beginnings may be traced to 1816, with the creation of the American Colonial Society by Presbyterian minister Robert Finley. The purpose of the ACS was to facilitate and assist the establishment of a free colony of former slaves on the west coast of Africa. Over the following decades, nearly twenty thousand former slaves travelled across the Atlantic to settle in the new colony, and on July 24, 1847, the colony declared its independence and became the Republic of Liberia – the first modern republic in Africa. NGC's photos:
These are lovely. I once owned the top-pop proof example of the 1847 cent. Never had the later types like yours.
Wow. Op's coin is awesome! Love the design. Curious about what the scroll means...the bird should know, right? Where was it minted? Is the "H" a mint mark or a designer's initial?
OP's coin is a nice take on "Liberty's" likeness. @lordmarcovan 's coin...that ugly nose on Liberty that is also seen on U.S. early coins is so ...hmm...not appealing?! Nice coin none the less!
Heaton mint, Birmingham, England. Mintmark also seen on British and Canadian coins. I would bet that bird is carrying the Liberian constitution.
Funny how his coin is later but shows a sailing ship, while mine is earlier but shows a steamship. You'd expect it to be the other way around.
Beautiful! I was bidding on one of these (proof) in the same auction but didn't get it. I like the raised rims with incuse legends.
Thanks! I don't know exactly what the scroll represents - there's a Wikipedia page on Liberia's national coat of arms but all it says is "scroll". @lordmarcovan 's guess is probably accurate. The H is indeed a mintmark, Heaton's, in Birmingham, UK.
This is an animation I made of LordM’s proof. I’ve changed my technique since then, so maybe I could do better now - but I’ve always like the way the waves move under the steamship.
