JAMAICA. Jamaica - Peru. 5 Pence, ND (1758). George II. PCGS AU-55 Gold Shield. KM-3.1; Prid-8. "GR" counterstamp type on a Lima (Peru) 1755-LM JM 1/2 Real (KM-51). Issued by local Act of November 18, 1758, this example showcases impressively bold and complete stamps on both sides. The surrounding surfaces maintain absolute originality, with rich gold and green tone intermingled with moderate gray. The underlying host coin, which counterstamps rightly or wrongly certified by, displays nearly full detail with no noteworthy marks. When technical quality and eye-appeal are accounted for, theres little doubt that this is among the finest that survive.According to author Fred Pridmore, who painstakingly compiled his research on the coinage of a number of British colonial regions, the above stated act, which raised the value of dollars to 6 Shillings 8 Pence, was a futile one. The local populace passed all silver dollars, stamped or unstamped, at the prevailing rate. The act called for the amount of £100,000 to be stamped, but only £12,000 were re-validated before abandoning the project in 1759. When the home authorities received copies of the act, it was immediately repealed and for exceeding his powers for the approval of the act, the Governor of Jamaica was censured.</em> From the Matthew Orsini Collection.
