Owner Comments:
General Comments:
1895 TF-JR is one of the Key Dates of the series with a mintage of only 49,000 which includes 1893 date coins. Although difficult to find in low grades, they do show up on occasion. Problem free XF/AU coins are very challenging, and mint state coins are rare. Only the 1869 is more challenging to find in mint state. I only know of four mint state coins: The NGC MS 62, the NGC MS 64 (sold on Sedwick in 2012), a low end raw coin sold at the Peru Numismatic Society auction in 2017, and the coin in the 2006 Whittier sale lot (likely not above a 62/63, was apparently not nice enough to be graded). Gems may not exist.
All coins of this date feature the initials "JR" in the rock base to the left of the shield. Most coins of this date have very weak strikes, especially on Liberty's right arm, leg and knee, and cheek. Only on the NGC MS 64 coin have I seen a full strike. I have identified two die types, see below. Type 1 is more scarce by perhaps 3 to 1.
Die Types:
1. 5 in Date is high - base of 5 slightly above base of 9 (FC) *
2. 5 in Date is lower and slightly tilted - base of 5 slightly below base of 9 - Center of "O" in SOL has boxy appearance (FC) **
*All coins of this type I have seen have very weak strikes. Superscript o is thicker on the right side. On my raw coin re-punching is seen on REPUB: PERUANA, 1895 and TF. One example I have seen has a very short "1" in the date. I'm not sure if it's an optical illusion in the photo. If not, this could be it's own variety.
**Two coins I've seen have a U/U in UNION. There is slight indent in the bottom of the superscript o.
Type 1 is the more scarce variety.
Availability:
G-VF: Scarce
XF: Very Scarce
AU: Rare
60-62: Very Rare
63-64: Extremely Rare
Population Report (January 2018):
NGC: One in 45; One in 64
PCGS: One in 62
Total at both services, 3; 2 in Uncirculated
There is also a PCGS VF Details Cleaned, making 4 total coins graded.
Value Guide:
1972 Almanzar/Seppa: F: 14 VF: 20 XF: 37.50
2009 KM: VF: 19 XF: 30 UNC: 90
Current KM: VF: 40.50 XF: 60 UNC: 190
The Krause price increase in Uncirculated seems reasonable. Notice how prices were lower for this date in 2009 than 1972 - Almanzar/Seppa priced 1895 at $37.50 in XF versus $17.50 in XF for the 1893. The fact is 1/5 Sols with wear usually have trouble finding buyers, and the elevated prices for circulated 1895 1/5 Sols do not reflect the market with mid-grade examples sometimes bringing well under $50.
Both price guides value the 1895 higher than the 1893. While the 1893 seems to come to market equally infrequently, there are a couple more graded examples.
Pricing is difficult with few coins crossing the market. The NGC MS 64 coin inexplicably tanked at Sedwick back in 2012, but a lower-end raw UNC did very well at a Peru auction in 2017 (see "Auction Results"). My pricing is as follows for problem free coins: VF/XF: $25-$40 AU: $50-$100 MS 61-62: $125-$200 Certified MS 63/64: $300-$500
Mintage: 49,000 including 1893 dated coins.
Auction Results:
Sedwick 6/28/2012 NGC MS 64 $106.20 Comments: Easily the nicest 1895 1/5 Sol I've seen with a superb strike.
Despite the lower catalog values at the time, this price is a shocker. Even more confusing is that other 1/5 Sols in the same auction did well: 1897 VN in NGC 63 went for $70.80 (high); a colorful 1900 in NGC 65 went for $67.26 (a normal price); and a 1901 in NGC 64 brought $57.82 (strong).
Ebay 8/18/2014 VF/XF Harshly Cleaned 13.70 Meridian (WP)
Ebay 11/16/2014 VGish $7
Ebay 5/7/16 Choice VF Lightly Cleaned $20.45 (I bought)
Ebay 8/2/2016 XF/AU Lightly Cleaned, light scratches in field $20 (I bought)
Peru Numismatic Society Private Auction October 2017 Low-end raw UNC (probably a 61/62, 63 max, chance at 58) $420
Set Specimen:
An unusual coin for the grade. A flat strike gives the impression of a lower grade, while luster at the rim over mauve toning gives the impression of a higher designation. Two better, one in 62 at PCGS, one in 64 at NGC. Variety 2.