1029

COLOMBIA, copper pattern ¼ real, 1825-dated, first pattern of Colombia, unique and unlisted, NGC UNC

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / World Coins By Country Start Price:4,500.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
COLOMBIA, copper pattern ¼ real, 1825-dated, first pattern of Colombia, unique and unlisted, NGC UNC
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COLOMBIA, copper pattern ¼ real, 1825-dated, first pattern of Colombia, unique and unlisted, NGC UNC details / environmental damage. Restrepo-unl; KM-unl. 25 mm. Darkly toned, with proof-level definition of details and smoothness of fields, glossy surfaces with mild granularity on bust.

The precedent for this remarkable pattern, whose portrait of Liberty somewhat resembles the famous “draped bust” design (albeit right-facing) of U.S. silver dollars from 1795-1803, was established by order of the Congress of Colombia in Article 2, enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Colombia on May 31, 1823 (Monedas Venezolanas, by Mercedes Carlota De Pardo [1973], pp. 60 to 61):

"Art. 2º. Las monedas de cobre tendrán por el anverso el busto de la libertad con la inscripción: REPUBLICA DE COLOMBIA. Por el reverso una orla de laurel, y en el centro en letras, un cuarto, o un octavo de real, año de tantos."

Note that the order called for 1/8 real pieces as well. However, the Colombian Congress repealed it on March 14, 1826, before the coins could enter production, but not before at least one of each denomination dated 1825 was made. We sold the unique 1/8 real in Sedwick Auction 29 (lot 865), hammering for $7500. To our knowledge, the current ¼ real piece is also unique. Together these two pieces comprise what we believe is the earliest known pattern issue struck for the newly established Republic of Colombia, which at the time encompassed present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. The opportunity to acquire such a great rarity of Colombian numismatics is unlikely to be repeated.
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