Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 46

The Millennia Collection

Guatemala

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1050		Guatemala. 8 Reales, 1764-G.P (Nueva Guatemala). WR-4; KM-221. Pillar coinage. Charles III, 1759-1788. Crowned Bourbon arms. Reverse: Crowned globes between pillars. A few light marks, otherwise fields with prooflike luster; the devices struck in unusually bold relief. Lightly toned. Among the finest Pillar dollars of Guatemala. NGC graded MS-63. Pillar Dollars of Guatemala were minted at Nueva Guatemala. This was a small Spanish colonial city at the time. The capital of Guatemala was Antigua Guatemala. Antigua was badly dmamged by an earthquake in 1775, and the capital was moved then to Nueva Guatemala. Nueva Guatemala, is technically named La Nueva Guatemala de la Ascuncion, and called Guatemala City, or Guatemala today. Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $10,925
Lot 1051		Guatemala. 8 Reales, 1768 G-P (Nueva Guatemala). Eliz-20; WR-4; KM-27.1.27.04 grams. Charles III, 1759-1788. Pillar coinage. Crowned Bourbon arms. Reverse: Crowned globes flanked by crowned and bannered pillars, over water. Bold, exceptionally even strike, with crisp devices on reflective fields. A few faint adjustment marks on reverse. Very lightly toned. Certainly among the finest Pillar coins of Guatemala. NGC graded MS-64. Nueva Guatemala grew up around an important ancient Mayan city named Kaminaljuyu. This ancient city has archaelogical remains dating back 9,000 years, and was one of the most important pre-Colombian cities of the New World. There were several hundred ancient temple mounds, but unfortunately, many were destroyed as the modern city expanded. Today, the remaining archaeolgical sites are protected. Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $12,650
Lot 1052		Guatemala. 8 Reales, 1787 NG-M. (Nueva Guatemala). Eliz-41; WR-6; KM-36.2A. 26.88 grams. Charles III, 1759-1788. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Charles III right. Reverse: Reverse: Crowned Bourbon arms, flanked by bannered pillars. The is strike extraordinarily complete. Devices matte to glossy, on mirrored fields. Rare, even more so in this state of preservation. Considered possibly the finest known. NGC graded MS-64 Prooflike. Guatemala was the hub of the Mayan civilization. The main temple area, Tikal is one of the ancient wonders of the world. Located less than 60 miles from the border with Belize, it is a major tourist attraction. It has also become a national park of Guatemala and a UNESCO world heritage site. Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,500. Ex Calbeto plate coin; Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 159. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $20,125
Lot 1053		Guatemala. 8 Reales, 1790/89-NG-M (Nueva Guatemala). WR-7; KM-45. Charles IV, 1788-1808. "Imaginary" bust of Charles IV right. Reverse: Crowned arms between pillars. The devices boldly struck up. Very lustrous, with faint toning. Very handsome; probably the finest of this overdate. NGC graded AU-55. Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,140
Lot 1054		Guatemala. 8 Reales, 1796-NG-M. Eliz-53; KM-53. Charles IV. Fully prooflike with a hint of lovely golden peripheral toning. Finest from Hoard. NGC graded MS-64 Prooflike. Guatemala is the most populous nation of Central America with 13 million inhabitiants. Interestingly enough, it held this same honor in the early pre-Colombian period over 2,000 years ago. At that time, the state of El Mirador was the most populous area in all of the Americas, and had a pyramid that was the largest in the world, with a cubic volume greater than the Great Pyramid of Giza, in Egypt. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $6,900
Lot 1055		Guatemala. 8 Reales, 1797-NG-M (Nueva Guatemala). Eliz-54; WR-8; KM-53. Charles IV, 1788-1808. Cuirassed bust of Charles IV right. Reverse: Crowned arms between pillars. An astounding strike, devices bold and complete. With gorgeous prooflike surfaces. Light smokey-gold toning at the peripheries. NGC graded MS-64 Prooflike. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,475
Lot 1056		Guatemala. 8 Escudos, 1817-NG-M (Nueva Guatemala). Fr-22; KM-71. 27.00 grams. Ferdinand VII, 1808-1833. Bust right. Reverse: Crowned arms, Order of Golden Fleece around. The centers boldly struck up. Minor coining mark at neck, otherwise an extraordinary specimen. Very lustrous and prooflike. Extremely Rare in this grade - probably the finest known. NGC graded MS-62 Prooflike. Assayers' initials have appeared on Latin coins of gold and silver since the first part of the 18th century. Normally there are two letters, such as "FM" or JJ". Guatemala has always had just one initial (at this time, "M"), and is the only colonial nation of Spain with just the one initial. Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $40,250
Lot 1057		Guatemala. 8 Reales, 1821 NG-M. Eliz-82 Large draped and laureate bust of Ferdinand right. Reverse: Crowned Bourbon arms. NGC graded MS-63. Estimated Value $1,250 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,910
Lot 1058		Guatemala - Central American Republic. 8 Escudos, 1824-NG-M (Nueva Guatemala). Fr-26; KM-8. 26.96 grams. Radiant sun face over row of volcanoes. Reverse: Tree on foliate ground, value on either side. Exceptional detailed strike, with only slight adjustment marks remaining. Minor faint random hairlines at centers, otherwise glittering to proof-like luster overall. Probably the finest known example of this rarity. NGC graded MS-63 Prooflike. The Central Americam Republic was centered in Guatemala. It was totally ineffectual and dissolved betwwen 1838 and 1840 after each state opted for independence. At this time, an illiterate highwayman named Rafael Carrera pledged a vendetta against the Guatemalan president of the Central American Republic, Francisco Morazon. Carrera was backed by the conservatives in Guatemala as well as the powerful Catholic Church. He succeeeded in dominating Guatemalan politics and was named president for life. He actually did a relatively good job as president given the chaotic times. Despite his humble background, he is known as the founder of modern Guatemala (El Fundador). Estimated Value $100,000 - 125,000. Ex Superior ANA Sale (August 19-23, 1975), lot 2585, where it realized a hammer price of $20,000 against a $5,000 estimate (this one of the highest prices paid for a foreign coin in that sale). Ex F.C.C. Boyd Collection, acquired by Charles Wormser & John Ford, a.k.a. New Netherlands Coin Company; thence personally consigned to the ANA Sale by Wormser; Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 166. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $166,750
Lot 1059		Guatemala - Central American Republic. Pattern 8 Reales, 1824-NG-M (Nueva Guatemala). WR--; Eliz--; KM--. 22.09 grams. Radiant sun face over row of volcanoes. Reverse: Tree on foliate ground, value on either side. Milled edge. Superbly detailed strike, the softly lustrous devices on mirror fields. Choice deep toning -- the gray is comprised of a base color having an almost steely gold, tinted over considerably with violet, lavender, and mixed blues and greens. An impressive coin, and Excessively Rare. NGC graded Proof 64. Estimated Value $12,500 - 15,000. Ex Peltzer Collection (Glendining sale of June 1927, lot no. 490, with no subsequent auction record). This coin as a pattern appears to be unlisted. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $33,350
Lot 1060		Guatemala - Central American Republic. 8 Reales, 1824-NG-M (Nueva Guatemala). WR-11; Eliz-84; KM-4. 26.88 grams. Radiant sun face over row of volcanoes. Reverse: Tree on foliate ground, value on either side. Fine crisp strike. The devices lustrous, with fields reflective to proof-like. Pleasing smoky toning of medium depth - the colors tending to gold, coppers, and greens. NGC graded MS-62. On the coins of the Central American Republic is found the Ceiba tree. This is no accident. The Ceiba tree appears in the New World from Mexico to South America and can reach a height of over 200 feet. It was a very important symbol in Mayan culture where the concept of a central world tree is often depicted as a Ceiba tree, which connected the Underworld, the skies, and the central realm. Estimated Value $1,250 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,140
Lot 1061		Guatemala / Peru. Necessity Peso. Host coin: Peru Republic, 8 Reales, 1839-MB (Lima). WR-22; KM-118.1 Countermarked Coinage. (type III stamps). 25.60 grams. Tripartite shield, wreath at sides, and crowned above by smaller wreath; star, bow & arrows stamp. Reverse: Liberty as Pallas Athene, stands frontal supporting cap on spear, while one hand rests on shield; sun & volcanoes stamp. Much residual luster remains, under a gray that is colorfully warm to strongly violet or deep copper in coloring. NGC graded EF-45. The collapse of the Central American Republic between 1838 and 1840 produced certain problems with coinage. The old member nations continued to produce confederation coinage up to 1850, yet only in small amounts. Countermarked coinage was also produced using available host coins from the area as well. These are all scarce. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $633
Lot 1062		Guatemala - Republic. 16 Pesos, 1863-R. Fr-31; KM-183. 26.95 grams. Head of Rafael Carrera right. Reverse: Arms wreathed by sugar cane, sun above. The centers showing only the trifling weakness. Slight planchet flaw and die break on reverse. Very lustrous, almost prooflike. Extremely Rare, more so in this grade. NGC graded AU-55. The 16 Peso apparently was a not too popular issue, it being struck only from 1863-1869. It was instituted as a substitute for the venerable Spanish 8 Escudos. Except for the last year of issue, its mintages only seemed to have numbered in the hundreds, rather than thousands. At 3,465 pieces struck, 1869 was the denomination's most prolific year. This same year a 20 Peso version was begun, with a minting of 16,000 coins. With so much foreign currency serving as day-to-day coinage in the country, authorities saw it as necessary to align its largest gold coin along the U.S. twenty dollar gold standard, against which other countries, such as Mexico and Peru, had already done so in the name of commercial and economic compatibility. Estimated Value $15,000 - 17,500. Ex Casterline Collection, Superior 5/89, lot 8089. Another few specimens of this date were found in a box that was exposed in its hiding place by the large Guatemala earthquake of 1977. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $24,150
Lot 1063		Guatemala - Republic. 20 Pesos, 1869-R. Fr-38; KM-194. 32.24 grams. Head of Rafael Carrera right. Reverse: Arms wreathed by sugar cane. Fully struck up and very lustrous. Rare in this grade. NGC graded MS-63. The new "regular issue" 20 Pesos could now circulate on virtually equal footing with the U.S. 20 Dollars gold. The fineness of the metal was now at .90, rather than the older Escudo's .875. At a weight of 32.258 grams, it was only a whisker lighter than the U.S. coin, at 33.436 grams, probably to make the coin a less attractive candidate for "gold flight" from Guatemala. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,600
Lot 1064		Guatemala. 20 Pesos, 1878 F. Fr-44; KM-199. 32.18 grams. Wreathed head of Liberty left, with flowing hair. Reverse: Quetzal atop scroll, crossed arms with wreath around. Excellent strike, with bright, lustrous fields. Little actual wear, but handling marks apparent on obverse. Rare two year issue. Especially rare in this state of preservation - one of the finest known. NGC graded MS-61. The Quetzal bird pictured here is the national bird of Guatemala. Its colorful plumage causes many to call this bird the most beautiful in all of the New World. It was sacred to the Mayans as well, and legend has it that when the Spanish conquistador, Alvarado, killed the Mayan chieftain, Tecum Uman, the accompanying Quetzal fell silent and plummeted to Earth, covereing the chieftain with its plumage, and maintained a death watch all night. Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000. Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 175. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $41,400
Lot 1065		Guatemala. Republic. Peso, 1893 R.G. Eliz-130; WR-19; KM-201. 24.68 grams. Decimal coinage. Full Spray design. Female personification seated left, holding scales and cornucopia, arm resting on inscribed pillar. Reverse: Contstitution surmounted by quetzal, wreath and crossed weapons around. Remarkable, full strike. Devices softly lustrous on reflective to mirrored fields. Light die clash evident in obverse field. Rare date, of exceptional quality. Probably the finest known. NGC graded MS-64. Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,188
Lot 1066		Guatemala. Essai 5 Pesos, 1894. Fr-47; KM-Pn10. Reportedly only 10 pieces struck. Small head. Head of Liberty left with coiled hair, legends around and value below. Reverse Arms of the Republic, Fineness, EASSI and date below. A stunning example. Very Rare. NGC graded Proof 65. Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,500. Ex: Eliasberg ().* View details and enlarged photos	Realized $15,525
Lot 1067		Guatemala. Republic. Silver Specimen Proof Peso, 1894-H (Heaton mint). Eliz-137; WR-20; KM-210. 24.69 grams. Decimal coinage, modified designs. Female personification seated left, holding scales and cornucopia, arm resting on inscribed pillar. Reverse: Constitution surmounted by quetzal, wreath and crossed weapons around. Fine milled edge. Superb strike. Devices lustrous and fields very reflective. Faint gold toning and very attractive. Limited issue and rare. NGC graded Specimen 65. The Heaton mint, located in Birmingjam England, served as a special mint for many nations' coins. Originally established as a private mint in 1850, the Heaton mint cooperated with the Royal Mint in London, but was an independent entity. Owned by Ralph Heaton and Sons, its independent status enabled the mint to take many overseas orders. The first of these were for Commonwealth issues (Canada, South Africa, and India), but later nations such as Guatemala were availing themselves of the mint as well. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $6,325
Lot 1068		Guatemala. Republic. Silver Pattern Proof Peso, 1895-H (Heaton mint). KM-Pn16. 25.00 grams. Decimal coinage. Contstitution surmounted by quetzal, wreath and crossed weapons around. Reverse: Laureate head of Liberty left. Fine milled edge. Superb strike. Devices softly lustrous and fields mirrored to reflective. Lightly toned, the obverse a rainbow of wonderful softly irridescent coloring. Very Rare. Considered to be the finest known. A classic rarity. NGC graded Specimen 66. Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,500. Ex Cabinet Birmingham Mint. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $24,150
Lot 1069		Guatemala. Quetzal, 1925. Eliz-143. Decimal coinage. Contstitution surmounted by quetzal. Reverse: Quetzal atop inscribed short pillar. Lovely original example and thus very rare. NGC graded MS-63. This type proved very unpopular with the Guatemalan people. They disliked its large size. So of the original mintage of 10,000 more than 7,000 were recalled and melted. Those remaining are tough to find. Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $10,925