Please help. A Guatemala counterstamp on a Peru 1 sol. 1894 counterstamp on a Peru 1 sol from 1869. Any ideas of rarity? Value?
Can't help you out...... but I know someone who would be thrilled to find that under the tree on Christmas Day..... I'll add that I've been a very good boy this year!
uh, okay, I ask Santa for advice and your address. Sorry, but I don't know why this thread is so wide.
Greg Brunk lists only about a dozen Guatemal counterstamps, mostly because they've been poorly cataloged. The few known are either private, merchant, or hacienda brand issues. Your piece is probably rare, but I can't help you with a value Treashunt. I'll send a copy of your pic to Brunk and see if he has seen this before. Yeah, I'd like to see it under my Christmas tree too..... but I haven't been a good boy. Looks like ikandiggit has the edge here. Nice counterstamp. Where did you get it? Bruce
Three on eBay... Here ... Here ... and Here. Completed listings on eBay show they sell for about $30. edit: However, the two most recent listings completed did not sell at around $80. Go fig.
Yes, I have to agree. The Guatemala C/S on Peru Sols are not rare or even scarce. The only exception being if the host coin is an 1864 with the "Derteano" initials, or the 1893/1393 date.
Thanks for the info Eduard, now I know something about these pieces. Do you have any history on these counterstamps such as the reason for them being stamped on Peru Sols? Also what exactly does the c/s represent, it looks like an official seal of some kind. Any info would be appreciated. Bruce
Hi Bruce, I have found this link which goes into exhaustive into the reasons why the government of Guatemala resorted in 1894 to the practice of countermarking foreign coins. It is in Spanish however. It highlights 4 reasons, among which 1) the fact that local Guatemalan coinage was rapidly being exported and dissapearing due to the fact it contained 2 1/2 % more silver than equivalent Peruvian or Chilean coins (the Sol and the Peso). and 2) the inadequate facilities and physical limitations of the Guatamala City mint. I hope this helps you some. http://www.numismatica.cl/cronica9.html
