WEST INDIES. Treble Island Countermark. Martinique-St. Kitts-Tortola. 1/4 Dollar, ND (ca. 1805-24). PCGS GOOD-04 Secure Holder.KM-18(for "TIRTILA" basic type), cf.KM-4(for "S" basic type); KM-25(for crenated edge); cf.Prid-23 for C/M combination. 5.79g. Cut from and countermarked on a Spanish colonial bust type 8 Reales of Charles III of indeterminate mint with the last digit of the date "8" visible. Since the first mutilation of this piece was prior to any possible date ending with an "8" for Charles IV the attribution to Charles III is certain. The original cut by crenated edge occurred in Martinique by authorization of the British Administration in 1797 and valued as 2 Shillings 3 Pence. This piece then traveled to St. Kitts, where it was flipped over and countermarked with four "S" stamps by a decree in 1801, giving it the same circulating value on that island. A final countermark "TIRTILA" (Type III) was then applied on Tortola between 1805-24. The most interesting fact about this piece is the highly unusual presence of a fourth "S" on the reverse. The normal application of the "S" countermarks was to each corner on the cut 1/4 Dollars while the present example has an additional "S" in the center. This is the first example that this cataloger can recall seeing either in reference material or auction catalogs where a cut 1/4 Dollar displayed an additional "S" countermark in the center and as such should be considered <strong>EXTREMELY RARE. </strong>Missing from Pridmore, Roehrs, Gordon, Ford, Gibbs, Patterson, Byrne, Whetmore and Peltzer collections. Though missing from all of these famous old time collections it should be mentioned that Pridmore had a single 1/4 Dollar example where it had the "S" countermarks in their normal locations at the corners with an additional "S" on the reverse in one corner. Pridmore also had a 1/8 Dollar with four "S" countermarks similar to the present example. A real treat for the advanced collector of cut and countermarks or West Indies. VF details on the Tortola countermark, good detail on "S" countermarks, all with dark gray toning. A fascinating, well traveled piece.PCGS GOOD-04 Secure Holder.
