Quintos - The 1/5 Sols of Peru
1899 JF


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description:
Grade: PF Select
Owner: Forest City
 
Set Category: World Coins
Set Name: Quintos - The 1/5 Sols of Peru
Slot Name: 1899 JF
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

General Comments: The only Proof Pattern 1/5 Sol, struck at the Royal Mint as designed by Leonard C. Wyon. Similar to the future design of 1888, but not exact. Very rare and desirable. See history below. Brief History: Peru was struggling to regroup after the War of the Pacific. The Lima Mint was in dire straits; it's equipment deteriorating, some machinery still in use dated to the Colonial era. Chilean looters likely absconded with the old die punches for the minor coins, and skilled engraver Britten had passed in 1882, leaving the mint without anyone capable of preparing acceptable new coin. With such paltry amounts of new coins exiting the mint, paper money was the circulating medium during this time. The solution for these issues was found in one Leonard C. Wyon, famed engraver since 1851 at the Royal Mint in the UK. Example coins were sent to Wyon, and a contract was made for new dies, punches, and tools. There exists a unique uniface die trial in the Wyon estate for the 1/5 Sol, with assayers initials Y.J. The initials were to be omitted on the pattern proofs. Wyon considered these patterns as "proof of workmanship" only, stating "it is not usual for proof coins to be of exact standard." His coin dies, to the chagrin of the Peruvian mint, were thus prepared at slightly too large a diameter. Because these matrices did not conform to the correct standards, the Peruvian government opted not to use them, except in the case of the Soles of 1888-1892, which are slightly larger than the Soles of 1893, when new hubs were engraved. The Royal Mint was only able to produce 6 sets of pattern coins due to a busy schedule. Christensen reports that nine sets were made, however I am more likely to side with Flatt and Krause, who both report six total sets. While the obverse of the 1886 Proof appears very similar to that of the 1888 1/5 Sol, the reverse features are of different workmanship. It is unclear why the reverse was reworked for the coins of 1888. Population Report (Jan 2015): Two at NGC in 66 The Non-Whittier 66 is now the NGC plate coin. I have not seen this coin on the market. Value Guide: KM lists at 1500 Given that the one auctioned coin (Whittier) brought almost this amount in the 2006 Hertage auction where so many Peru decimal coins floundered, and given that more recent sales of Proof Centavos did very well, I'd say this coin could bring $3000+ if brought to auction today. I'd love to have a crack at it, and it would certainly be a centerpiece to a 1/5 Sol collection. Mintage: 6 Auction Results: Heritage 6/2/2006 $1380 - Corresponding 1/2 and Dinero Proofs sold for similar amounts in that auction. Important Sources: Christensen, William B. "Pattern Coinage of Peru." Article in "The Coinage of El Peru" by William L. Bischoff. American Numismatic Society. pp 177-190. Flatt, H.P., "The Flawed Peruvian Proof Coins of 1886." American Journal of Numismatics (1989-) Vol. 2 (1990), pp. 151-165

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