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Another neat new variety - Mexico 1809 TH/HJ over-assayer *update*

TwoKopeikiTwoKopeiki Posts: 9,920 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited January 24, 2025 8:14AM in World & Ancient Coins Forum

Bought these two from different sources today. Usually not the look or grade I would go for, but both appear to be a new variety undocumented in Yonaka or Calbeto. The example of this reverse die shows the vertical legs of the undertype "H" clearly, pointing to a TH/HJ over-assayer variety. Fired off a note to Brad and will share his thoughts. If we agree, i'll send the MS61 coin back to our hosts to create a new PCGS# and get it properly attributed, upsetting existing variety collectors by introducing yet another new registry slot ;)

What makes this one odd is that it was commonly understood that the assayer progression was TH (Tomas Butron y Miranda & Enrique Buenaventura Azorin) and then HJ (Enrique Buenaventura Azorin & Joaquin Davila Madrid) as can be seen by numerous dates (1809-1811) with HJ/TH over-assayer reverse die(s) used. There haven't been a single TH/HJ documented prior to these two examples. I guess it is possible that in a transition year 1809 when the TH -> HJ switch happened, something required the creation of another TH reverse die while all new dies were already created with the new HJ assayer initials.

Neat.

PCGS MS61:

Second example:


Comments

  • bosoxbosox Posts: 1,591 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Varieties are neat. :)

    Numismatic author & owner of the Uncommon Cents collections. 2011 and 2025 Fred Bowman award winner, 2020 J. Douglas Ferguson award winner, & 2022 Paul Fiocca award winner.

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  • TwoKopeikiTwoKopeiki Posts: 9,920 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Already got a response from Brad:

    Those two examples, in particular the second coin, really do help pin that odd over-assayer down. I had one photo of this die before, but it was not great quality and I wanted another example to back it up. Thanks much for bring those two to my attention.

  • AbueloAbuelo Posts: 1,935 ✭✭✭✭✭

    BTW, cool coins!

  • TwoKopeikiTwoKopeiki Posts: 9,920 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Abuelo said:
    Will wait for the new edition... Thanks for making my brand new book, obsolete :(

    Anytime B)

  • BoosibriBoosibri Posts: 12,471 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Exciting find and two in one day!

  • TwoKopeikiTwoKopeiki Posts: 9,920 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 27, 2021 8:57AM

    @Boosibri said:
    Exciting find and two in one day!

    Thanks! I've often wondered about things like that, too. Sometimes you go years without seeing a particular coin and sometimes you get multiple hits in the same day / week. If you're new to the series, as I was about 10 years ago when i first ran into this phenomenon, this can really skew your understanding of scarcity. Back then I found a couple of examples of a rare variety and, after assuming the documented rarity rating was outdated, ended-up selling both with hopes of finding better examples. Have not seen another example of that particular variety since.

  • JohnnyCacheJohnnyCache Posts: 1,854 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congratulations on your discovery and the acquisition of two examples, very well down.
    Things like this, though they may not occur often, really can add new fire into your "collecting" belly.
    It's also really nice that Brad is so approachable as well. I had reached out to him maybe a year or so ago with a previously unlisted overdate question, he was very helpful and is a generally nice guy.

  • TwoKopeikiTwoKopeiki Posts: 9,920 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @JohnnyCache said:
    Congratulations on your discovery and the acquisition of two examples, very well done.

    Thank you!

    It's also really nice that Brad is so approachable as well. I had reached out to him maybe a year or so ago with a previously unlisted overdate question, he was very helpful and is a generally nice guy.

    Unlisted overdate? Do share!

  • JohnnyCacheJohnnyCache Posts: 1,854 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 27, 2021 5:58PM

    @TwoKopeiki said:

    @JohnnyCache said:
    Congratulations on your discovery and the acquisition of two examples, very well done.

    Thank you!

    It's also really nice that Brad is so approachable as well. I had reached out to him maybe a year or so ago with a previously unlisted overdate question, he was very helpful and is a generally nice guy.

    Unlisted overdate? Do share!

    ......
    ......

    OK, here it is.

    Just please keep in mind that I take pretty bad pictures, so just know that it is much clearer, and easier to see, in hand.

    .

    .


    .


    .

  • JohnnyCacheJohnnyCache Posts: 1,854 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TwoKopeiki

    Here is another example as found searching past auctions.

  • AbueloAbuelo Posts: 1,935 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @JohnnyCache but without the cud on the 5?

  • JohnnyCacheJohnnyCache Posts: 1,854 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Abuelo said:
    @JohnnyCache but without the cud on the 5?

    @Abuelo
    True, but even Brad had not previously seen an example with a cud as he mentioned in our correspondence.
    I, myself, have never come across another, either in person or in pictures, that show a cud.
    So it is a bit strange.
    Would you have any ideas or speculation?

  • TwoKopeikiTwoKopeiki Posts: 9,920 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That definitely looks like a 6/5. Nice find!

  • AbueloAbuelo Posts: 1,935 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @JohnnyCache no clue. But very interesting.

  • TwoKopeikiTwoKopeiki Posts: 9,920 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 15, 2021 6:17PM

    PCGS agreed:

    First one of this variety certified by either service. I mean other than calling it Calico-1309 (which is actually the previously known HJ/TH variety) - kudos to the graders!

  • bidaskbidask Posts: 14,050 ✭✭✭✭✭

    wowee !

    I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
    I give away money. I collect money.
    I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.




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