Lot 898
Greenland. Dollar (Piastre), 1771 (struck in 1774). Dav-411a; Salv-51; Hede 21, Schou 6; KM-411.2. Copenhagen mint. "ISLAND' variety, with small central crown. Struck by the Danish Asia Company in imitation of the Pillar Dollar design. Crowned arms of Denmark. Reverse: Between two crowned pillars, the arms of Denmark and Norway under royal crown; below, three islands surrounded by sea, and the names: ISLAND, GRÕNLAND, and FERÕ; date between to spiral-shaped florals. Specimen Strike, thus superbly sharp with 99% of the detail present. Nicely toned, lightly iridescent. Extremely Rare. Among the finest known examples. NGC graded MS-66.
Of this issue only 543 pieces were struck in 1771, with the bulk of the issue being restruck in 1774. Discerning between the two emissions by die combination analyses, it has has been determined that only 5 of the 1771 strikes are known. Of 1774 mintage, which comprised some 44,900 pieces, only 20 pices are known to have survived. Of these, half are in museum collections. Truly one of the ultimate classic numismatic rarities. This self same coin being used to illustrate the issue in the website by Niels J. Jensen & M. Skjoldager, Dansk Mønt ("Danish Coins") at www.gladsaxegymnasium.dk.
Estimated Value $60,000 - 70,000.
Formerly in the collection of the noted Danish numismatist, and director of the State Collections, Peter Christian Hauberg (1844-1928), auctioned off in 1929; Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 156.
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| Realized $178,250 |
