GUATEMALA. 16 Pesos, 1863-R. Nueva Guatemala Mint. NGC AU-55. KM-183; Fr-31. Mintage: 459. Three-year type. A VERY RARE type, with coins thought to have been struck with the 1864 and 1865 dates, but none presently known to the numismatic community. Of the 1863 date, only seven pieces have been accounted for, with examples appearing in such famous collections as Farouk, Norweb and Millennia. This example, once part of the immense Caballero de Las Yndias Collection, matches virtually all others seen, all displaying very light wear over the designs (of the six graded, all are AU-55 or AU-58). Attractive copper-orange tone, which is especially vibrant on the reverse, accents the designs as well, with pleasing gleam in the fields that borders on prooflike in places. Without question, one of the most important rarities of post-colonial Guatemala and as such, an offering of immense importance for the specialist!The </em>Standard Catalog of World Coins notes that a small handful of this date were found in a box after the 1977 Guatemalan earthquake. Of those known today, five were from this find, while only two were known beforehand, one of which includes the Farouk specimen that was sold as lot 103 in Sothebys 1954 offering of his collection.</em> From the Oro del Nuevo Mundo Collection.Ex: Caballero de Las Yndias (Aureo & Calico 4/2009) Lot # 311.
