anyone familiar with Peruvian Sols? (2 scans)

DennisH

Hello everyone!

I'm looking for any basic information about this 1869 Peru 1 Sol, which I bought for $5 several years ago only because it was a big silver coin and had pretty toning (violet and aqua) and nice lustre. The scans are horrible compared to how pretty the coin is in person, especially on the obverse.

If it was a Morgan dollar I'd grade it AU55/58, except for that darm rim nick.

The obverse countermark says Guatemala 1/2 Real. The reverse countermark is dated 1894.

Are these as common as dirt?

Any help would be most appreciated.

tbirde56

From Krause's Standard Catalog of World Coins:
"By 1894, foreign coins had become so prevalent that on August 10 the government authorized their counterstamping at the mint, with the official 1/2 Real dies of 1894, to legitimize their circulation".
Countries whose many coins were counterstamped included Brazil, Chile, Honduras, Peru, and Salvador as well as Guatemala's. Counterstamping had also previously been used 1815-41.
The '96 Krause lists the counterstamped 1869 Peruvian Sol at $20 F, $30 VF and $40 XF. Some of the other dates of the same type are worth more.

DennisH

Thank you Brad!

All of the information you provide is new to me, and I appreciate you taking the time to look it up and share it with me.

-- Dennis

1jester

Dennis, I just have to say that that coin is one of the nicest I've ever seen. Well, that's hard to say, but I absolutely love the design of the donor coin, and the counterstamp is beautiful too. Guatemala and Peru both produced some luscious coins. And I like counterstamped coins anyway. Thanks for sharing!