Owner Comments:
General Comments:
1893 ushers in a new type: a slightly revamped design, engraved in the style of (but not identical to) the Soles of 1893, lasting through the year 1900. The initials "JR" (the engraver Juan Rodriguez) now often appear to the left of the shield on the obverse, and "LIBERTAD" is now incuse. On the reverse, a differently textured and shaped wreath appears, and the dot following "LIMA" is now absent.
1893 TF-JR is a Key Date which, along with the 1895, is rare in all grades. The mintage was a paltry 49,000, which includes the mintage of 1895 dated 1/5 Sols. In circulated grades, the 1893 might be more difficult to find than the 1895. At the high end though, I have seen a few more UNC 1893's than I have 1895's. Despite this, mint state 1893's rarely appear on the market, and Gems, bar one graded example, are unheard of. All coins of this date feature the initials "JR" in the rock base to the left of the shield. Striking quality, while not exceptional, is better than for 1895 dated coins.
Minor varieites:
1. o/o superscript o
2. 1893/893 Whittier coin
A diagnostic I have seen on just about every 1893 is a "U/U" in UNION. This over-lettering can serve to help verify genuine coins.
Availability:
G-XF: Rare
AU-MS-62: Very Rare
MS 63-65: Extremely Rare
Population Report:
NGC: Two in 62, One in 65
PCGS: One in 62 (Not listed as "JR")
Total at both services, 4; 4 in Uncirculated; 1 in Gem
Plus One in UNC Details.
Value Guide:
1972 Almanzar/Seppa: F: 6 VF: 10 XF: 17.50
2009 KM: VF: 13 XF: 20 UNC: 75
Current KM: VF: 27.50 XF: 47.50 UNC: 155
The recent price increase is justified, and perhaps did not go far enough. Almanzar/Seppa had the 1893 at under 50 percent the UNC value of the 1895. Krause has them closer, but still more premium for the 1895. In reality, both dates are quite rare in all grades. Like the 1895, auction data is scarce. Low end coins seem to slip by at much less than the catalog value, reflecting the few collectors working on circulated sets. My pricing for problem free coins is as follows: G/VG: $10-15, F/VF: $15-$30, XF/AU: $30-$70 Third Party MS 61/62: $100-$200, MS 63/64: $250-$400, MS 65: $400-$600.
Mintage: 49,000 including 1895 dated coins.
Auction Results:
Heritage 6/2/2006 NGC MS 65 $195.50 (The Whittier coin, and finest known by three grade points. Most every coin in this sale is now worth at least double the 2006 hammered value.)
Sedwick 4/9/2010 "Lustrous UNC, very lightly cleaned, starting to tone. Pedigreed to the Flatt collection." $109.25
Ebay 4/10/2015 Fine, cleaned, small pit on reverse $4.48. (I won this from Meridian Coin on ebay.)
Ebay 11/18/2015 Good, cleaned $3 - Another that sold very cheap, I unfortunately missed this auction.
Peru Numismatic Society Private Auction October 2017 Raw, perhaps MS 63, with some foreign residue $540
The Flatt plate coin is Uncirculated. I'm not sure if this is the same coin as the Flatt coin in the Sedwick sale 2010.
Set Specimen:
While I understand why NGC gave a "Details" designation to this coin, in reality, the coin has not been cleaned, but features quite severe die polish lines on the obverse (and to a lessor extent on the reverse). Add to this reflective fields, and the coin really does look like it's been polished, yet the lines do not show on the devices.
The obverse does have three small spots of foreign residue (one other high grade raw 1893 I've seen also had similar residue). Still an attractive coin with a very strong impression of the dies, and rare in this state of preservation. Four better at PCGS/NGC. U/U in Union.