The Roehrs Collection of West Indies Cut and Countermarked Coins (Part I)

St. Lucia, ——— Six Escalins, previously Four Escalins, Charles III, a lightweight cut half segment of a Spanish-American 8 Réales, obv. and rev. countermarked with a large incuse annulet (for a valuation of 4 Escalins), then obv. unofficially countermarked with sl monogram thrice raised within a rectangular indent with serrated edges (to unoffically raise the value to 6 Escalins), the central sl countermark placed to obliterate the incuse annulet on the obv., 10.16g/156.8 gr (cf. Prid. 15; Lyall, SNC April 1984, p.76, this coin illustrated; cf. KM. 3-4). Coin fair to fine, countermarks better, extremely rare £900-1,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Cut and Countermarked Coins formed by the late Edward Roehrs.

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Provenance: H.D. Gibbs Collection, Hans Schulman Auction (New York), 18-19 March 1966, lot 1768; Hans Schulman/Abner Kreisberg Auction (New York), 18 June 1972, lot 260; gift of I. Rudman 1976.

An extremely interesting specimen in that the original valuation of four escalins was easily advanced to six escalins with the application of the unofficial sl monogram countermarks. Several specimens exist with this double stamping having taken place, which confirms the remarks made by Bob Lyall in his article, ‘The St Lucia “SL” Countermarked Coins – A Reappraisal’ (SNC April 1984, p.76). Fred Pridmore identified the four escalin piece as a cut third segment of an 8 réales countermarked with the sl monogram three times. However, every specimen of the cut third dollar segment has proved to be modern and accordingly a concoction