Posted 08/07/2010 9:51 pm
The "Souvenir" Peso coin of 1897 was authorized by a New York Cuban Revolutionary Party that was established in 1892. There are three original types one with a wide spaced date (like yours) which is the Type I and a narrow spaced date Type II and III. They are all known in silver and bronze.
The type I silver version was struck at Dunn Air-Brake company in Philadelphia from Gorham dies on Gorham planchets. 858 silver pieces were made and 30 of those were destroyed as defective. The type II mintage was 4,286 struck at Providence, RI. Type III also struck at RI had a mintage of 4,856. An added issue of 1000 was struck dated 1898. They were sold to raise funds for the movement.
Starting in 1965 similar issues were produced by Cuban Exile groups.
Yours is a VERY IMPORTANT and RARE issue - if it is real. This coin has been copied many times in both silver and bronze and high quality Numismatic forgeries are a real problem. The value of each variety of Type I in MS exceeds $2000.
To be sure, it is essential that this coin be professionally authenticated.
The quality of the photos is not adequate for anything more than a preliminary review. I am bothered by the reverse which seems to have a collar seam and which also appears to be struck slightly eccentrically. I have seen many coins of this type over the past 30 years or so and NOT ONE HAS BEEN REAL.
Good Luck.
The type I silver version was struck at Dunn Air-Brake company in Philadelphia from Gorham dies on Gorham planchets. 858 silver pieces were made and 30 of those were destroyed as defective. The type II mintage was 4,286 struck at Providence, RI. Type III also struck at RI had a mintage of 4,856. An added issue of 1000 was struck dated 1898. They were sold to raise funds for the movement.
Starting in 1965 similar issues were produced by Cuban Exile groups.
Yours is a VERY IMPORTANT and RARE issue - if it is real. This coin has been copied many times in both silver and bronze and high quality Numismatic forgeries are a real problem. The value of each variety of Type I in MS exceeds $2000.
To be sure, it is essential that this coin be professionally authenticated.
The quality of the photos is not adequate for anything more than a preliminary review. I am bothered by the reverse which seems to have a collar seam and which also appears to be struck slightly eccentrically. I have seen many coins of this type over the past 30 years or so and NOT ONE HAS BEEN REAL.
Good Luck.
