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1745-Cow Billon Sous Marques. Vlack 287. Rarity-7.

Currency:CAD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:350.00 CAD Estimated At:900.00 - 1,000.00 CAD
1745-Cow Billon Sous Marques.  Vlack 287. Rarity-7.

Buyer’s Premiums will be added on all items as per the Terms & Conditions of the sale. Invoices will be emailed out after The Toronto Coin Expo.

Cow – Pau Mint - 1745-Cow Billon Sous Marques. Vlack 287. Rarity-7. Nearly Very Fine, this is the Bob Vlack specimen and appeared as Lot 5296 of the Stack’s January, 2008 sale of his collection where it was described as: “Fine/Very Good. Dark in color with a few areas somewhat lighter. A rare date but given its remarkably low mintage (22,745) the date is probably rarer than its current R-7 rating.” We agree with the last part of the Stack’s cataloguer’s statement, but note that we consider the coin severely undergraded in that auction. The strike is about as strong as a Pau mint issue comes, the obverse especially so, with the legend full (just the last two letters weaker than the rest but visible) and the cow mintmark as strong as any we have seen – and for the collector pursuing a type set by mints, this is exactly what is wanted. The reverse is a trifle weaker, with just the T of ET and N of NA weak, the rest mostly strong, including the unusual monogram at the end of the legend, and the different of a tulip at the base. The coin is a dark russet, with a fair amount of silvering around the devices and legends, the planchet a little out of round at the right side, as made, but without any real damage from circulation other than the light, even wear. There was no Pau mint piece in the Ford collection, and only a couple have turned up at auction in the last few decades. Other than this specimen we have seen no example of this date at auction, though we do know of at least one other in a private collection. Extremely rare, and a most pleasing example from a mint that is never found choice, and a great coin to end this offering of Sous Marques on. Accompanied by Vlack’s original typed envelope and the lot ticket from the sale of his collection.