Does this float any of you South American Collectors Boat?

amwldcoin

Mentioned this awhile back and finally had it graded.

mkman123

Is that half dollar in size? wow

amwldcoin

Yes,Look that puppy up in KM!

TwoKopeiki

Nice Leper Colony issue. Definitely a cool numismatic item with lots of history - what's not to like!?

Here's some more info taken from CoinWeek: http://www.coinweek.com/world-coins/offbeat-numismatics-leper-colony-coins-colombia/

Between 1900 and 1930, Colombia made special coins for leprosy colonies. In this epoch, leprosy cases had reached an all >time high. While statistics may have been exaggerated about the actual number of people with leprosy, the country was still left >with the problem of keeping its citizens free from the deadly disease and adjusting to the modern world. So, in an attempt to keep >leprosy from spreading, the country started developing currency specifically for the the colonies. While this phenomenon started >in Columbia, it would spread to many other countries and regions around the world.

Background on the Sanatoriums and Leprosy

The sanatoriums, referred to as colonies, would normally surround a hospital for contagious diseases which were usually named after Saint Lazarus, the patron saint of lepers. From this came the name for which the colonies are better known: “Lazaretos.” >Early-twentieth-century Colombia had three leprosy colonies: Agua de Dios, Caño de Loro and Contratación. Colombia, >however, was not the only country to have specialized money for leper colonies. The Philippines, Japan, and Panama all issued >this type of money in the early twentieth century and at some point in time it even existed in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Korea, >Nigeria, Thailand and Venezuela. Leprosy, now known as Hansen’s disease, is treatable by a combination of antibiotics.

Colony Coins

Colombia

The Colombian government was troubled by the rapid spread of leprosy so much that they began to make distinct currency for >their three colonies. There were only four series of colony coins issued, but each was under four separate administrations. >Leprosy coins were discontinued in Colombia after 1930.

The first issue of coinage started in March of 1901. Colombian president José Manuel Marroquín decreed that separate coinage
was to be made for the leper colonies in the denominations of 2 ½, 5, 10, 20, and 50 centavos, or cents. This series bore the
cross of Saint Lazarus on the reverse while its respective denomination and a laurel wreath appeared on the obverse. They were
mainly made of bronze and bronze alloys.

The coins were minted with the following diameters:

2 ½ cents = 15 mm (about .59 in.)
5 cents = 18 mm (about .71 in.)
10 cents = 20.4 mm (about .8 in.)
20 cents = 23 mm (about .91 in.)
50 cents = 30.3 mm (about 1.19 in.)

While the exact mintage in any given series isn’t known, historians estimate that the total face value of this series is equal to >about 20,000 Colombian pesos.

The second issue of coins was under President Rafael Reyes and was equivalent in face value to 30,000 pesos.

This series of coins would include 1, 5 and 10 pesos bearing a “PM” imprint for papel moneda, or paper money, to show the equivalency of the coins to Colombian notes. This series did not bear the cross of St. Lazarus, however. All of these colony coins had the same face value as Colombian notes and were considered legal tender within the colonies; however, it was strictly prohibited to use them anywhere outside the colonies as it was widely believed that leprosy was a highly communicable disease. Many people of this era believed that using the same money as leprosy victims could expose them to the illness. Reyes was so adamant about reducing the cases of leprosy that he even went so far as to order the incineration of all paper money in >circulation, replacing them with newly printed notes.

The penultimate series of coins to circulate was during the administration of Marco Fidel Suárez. In 1918, cupro-nickel coins >were minted in denominations of 1, 2 and 5 cents, followed by 10- and 50-cent denominations in 1919. These coins were no >longer etched with the “PM” mark, but were still equal to regular Colombian currency and also featured the Lazarus cross. The >total face value of these was estimated to be approximately 100,000 pesos.

The fourth and final issue of coins was authorized by president Miguel Abadía Méndez. The entire series was struck in only 50- >cent denominations and was composed of bronze alloy, often identified as red copper. The coins featured the 50-cent >denomination, omitted the Lazarus cross on the obverse, and read, “República de Colombia. Lazareto.” The coin acquired the >nickname coscoja, roughly meaning “little thing” in colloquial Spanish.

amwldcoin

That's an excellent write up!

1Bustcollector

Wow! A very interesting story and a nicely designed 50c piece. I like it. So, is there a relative amount of these still seen?

amwldcoin

They are around in Brass....not sure how many at this grade level....but in Copper according to Krause there are only 2 known! From what I have seen of these over the years almost make me wonder if the copper might be a trial or pattern piece. The many pieces I have seen in Brass are crude and weakly struck.

Tookybandit

That is Sa'weet! Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed reading about it too.

worldcoinguy

Fascinating piece and great history. A most excellent thread!