SAINT VINCENT. St. Vincent - Peru. 4-1/2 Bits (3 Shilling 9 Pence), ND (1814-18). NGC VG-8.KM-9.1 (same punch); Prid-13 (same punch); Wood-68 (same punch); ANS Collection-1916.192.873 (same punch). Approved by council minutes 25 April 1814. Raised "S IV ./2 B" within cruciform indent countermark with a dot above the "/2" which presumably means "1/2" applied to the obverse of an 1807-LM JP Peru bust 2 Reales of Charles IIII (IV). strongVERY /strongstrongRARE/strong host bust type with only 5 examples including the present survivor and a total of only 16 confirmed pieces as a general type for all host coins. The countermark is boldly applied though a hair uneven with well defined characters. The host exhibits nice honest wear consistent for being in circulation for a prolonged period of time with no major impairments to speak of. Attractive light golden-argent color grace the smooth surfaces with light grey in the open fields and nice slate patina in the protected areas. A lovely and wholesome problem free example of a type that seldom appears on the market.When famed author and collector Major Fred Pridmore published his outstanding book on the British West Indies series in 1966 he was only aware of three different examples of this denomination. Since that time several others have come to light raising the population from three to sixteen plus at least 1 contemporary counterfeit; hosts observed are: Ferdinand VI (1), Charles III(11) and Charles IV(5) from various mints, Bolivia (1), Mexico (8); Peru (5); Spain (1) and Spanish Colonial unknown mint (1). This unusual countermark type is a must for the collector of Caribbean cut and countermarked coinage, and is sure to bring spirited bidding.
