Honduras in Heritage Long Beach Sale

Patterns, Essais and Scarce Honduras Types

There are just 19 lots of Honduars material in the Heritage Wold Coin Auction set for tomorrow at the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo, but most of them are precious patterns, essais and very scarce type coins. To my thinking this makes them well worth noting here for collectors of Central American coinage.

For those interested only in circulating types, this group presents three examples of the scarce one year type KM#44 50 Centavos of 1879. Each of these grades VF and each offers different areas of wear and eye appeal. Estimates are quite reasonable at just $500-$600 and lower starting bids may afford some good opportunites for a coupe lucky bidders.

Several of the patterns and essais will provide new value levels for the upcoming 19th Century edition of the Standard Catalog of World Coins, updates since the last edition of which can be found on NumisMaster, our live website.

Of special interest in this Heritage offer are two patterns which were in need of confirmation. Lots 21362 and 21363 are both coins that had come into question back in 2001 when we produced the 3rd edition of the 19th Century SCWC. At the time a contributor expressed concern over the true nature of these coins. It was thought that perhaps the 1871 5 and 10 Pesos patterns were simply off metal strikes of the 5 and 10 Centavos 1871 circulation issues. A note was added to these listings in that book and they were changed to R, NC or reported, not confirmed in hopes of gaining a confirmation from a catalog user, researcher, contributor or any numismatist. By the time the fifth edition of the 19th Century book was completed, one of the catalog editors decided it was time to remove all R, NC listings. The reasoning being that if no one had come forward by then, the coins may not exist. Of course, time is a nebulous thing to numismatics and not everyone participates so well in their hobbies accumulation of knowledge.

So here we are, looking at two auction lots which confirm these patterns. As illustrated in the Heritage catalog and now here, they are clearly denominated as 5 Ps and 10 Ps. Both will find new collections to call home and I will reinstate their pattern status and listings in NumisMaster and for the 6th edition of the 19th Century SCWC, along wiht assigning new values based on this sale.