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 Replies: 6 / Views: 2,457 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1152 Posts |
Hey all! I just picked up this French Colonial Sol (1693-1705) and I have a few questions about it. PGCS had graded it "damaged" but to my eye it looks like the damage comes from a fleur de lis counterstamp. I have seen this counterstamp on other coins of this issue, so is it possible that PCGS is just unaware that the counterstamp is typical of these coins and not "damage", per se? Also, it looks to me like a fairly clear dated 1699 (Obverse, top left corner) with a "B" mint mark on the center of the reverse (Rouen mint). What do you guys think? Has PCGS made a goof?  If so, would it be worth cracking out for re-submission to NGC (my preferred world coin TPG)? Obviously having the coin graded is a personal choice (and personally, I do prefer graded coins as I often sell/trade and in my personal opinion it makes them more liquid), I'm just wondering if they might be able to identify it better and get rid of that ugly word "details". As always, your opinions appreciated, thanks!      |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
Interesting coin, but I'm no expert. It looks like a worn-out 1500's fractional ecu which has been counterstruck, probably for colonial circulation. The coin is in very poor condition to start with - worn and probably clipped - so I can't see that getting it reslabbed would improve much. It sells on its own merits and it's pretty obscure anyway.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
I'm not an expert on French coins (actually, I don't know almost anything about them), but I definitely see two separate sets of lettering (especially at 9 hours on the obverse and at 7 hours on the reverse, where they intersect).
And if the date is the one at ~11 hours on the obverse, it definitely starts 15 not 16 (I'm not confident enough to certainly suggest the next two digits, but - not knowing what it could realistically be - 1590 seems likely).
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
1152 Posts |
Fair, perhaps I'm the one who is lacking knowledge here. I do know, however, that these guys are hard to find :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
731 Posts |
I,believe PCGS is referring to the environmental damage(scratches, stains,etc.), which is quite common on many of these pieces,which were counterstamped by an Edict of 1640,on French douzains, for use in Nouvelle France, including French Canada and the Louisianna Territory. I have pictured one of mine below. I do not think it would be cost effective to re-slab it.   |
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Valued Member
United States
309 Posts |
It looks like to me that three reverses are prominent. The eight "L's" reverse with mint mark "B" for Rouen looks to be the last overstrike done between 1704 and 1709. The shield on the opposite side is also a reverse of Louis XIII, with three large lis' in the shield, from 1643 to 1660. The lis in beaded circle counterstamp by Edict of 1640, probably was impressed on an earlier coin design, and then the counterstamped coin was fully overstruck twice again, in the mid 17th and early 18th century. The third shield reverse under the eight L's, must predate the 1640 counterstamp. I think the date may actually read "1590" of the original coin which would be a posthumous Henry III issue. It would be amazing for such a well-circulated and overstruck coin not to exhibit "damage" but this coin also looks to have been darkly toned and recently cleaned. Maybe that is what they mean?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Replies: 6 / Views: 2,457 |
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Posted 10/18/2015 2:47 pm
