541

(1798) Tobago Countermark on an earlier Sous Marques. Vlack 441. Rarity-8 for variety, UNLISTED wi

Currency:CAD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:150.00 CAD Estimated At:400.00 - 450.00 CAD
(1798) Tobago Countermark on an earlier Sous Marques.  Vlack 441.  Rarity-8 for variety, UNLISTED wi
SOLD
250.00CAD+ buyer's premium (50.00)
This item SOLD at 2019 May 02 @ 20:58UTC-4 : AST/EDT

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.

(1798) Tobago Countermark on an earlier Sous Marques. Vlack 441. Rarity-8 for variety, UNLISTED with an additional rosette countermark, purpose unknown. Fine, holed. Enough traces of the underlying Sous Marques can be seen around the peripheries to be sure of the host type, though the date or mintmark is not visible. Light olive, the surfaces clean for a well-used coin. The countermark was applied twice, most noticeable at the B where half of another B can be seen below it. There is a large hole, exactly where the “o” design would be below the TB, and this appears to have been purposely done in this spot. On the side opposite the TB countermark there is another countermark, a rosette that is at the base of where the later T mark is – its meaning unknown, but likely something that had relevance to the West Indies. This is an exceedingly rare type, with the TB countermark within a rectangular frame that loops itself at the bottom making a small “o” there. Vlack considers this the earliest of the Tobago countermarks, though the point could likely be argued – countermarks tended to go from crude to better in an effort to deal with counterfeiters, and the more ornate design seen on this mark would have been far more difficult to counterfeit than two simple letter punches – indeed, counterfeits of the various TB stamps are known, but none are known of this type within the rectangular frame. Part of Vlack’s claim is that this variety is the ONLY countermark that comes over earlier Sous Marques, and one would assume those host coins would be the first ones used – but see the following lot for something that contradicts this theory! It seems at least as likely that this countermark was the final one used in Tobago instead of the first – and maybe some intrepid researcher will be able to figure this out. Regardless, this is an exceedingly rare type that is almost never seen. Vlack had one, which brought US $6,325, one of the highest prices in the auction of his collection. This example is from the legendary Edward Roehrs sale, and was one of the prizes of that collection.