Owner Comments:
(1542) Dominican Republic Santo Domingo 4 Maravedis; Charles & Johanna
F SP Calico-35
KM-45; Cal-Type-134 # 208
PCGS VF30 (three others graded VF25, VF30, and VF35) - [2/27/2024]
The other VF30 and the VF35 are nice, but show slight signs of environmental impact. (see photos on PCGS site).
This nicely preserved example displays rich chocolate brown patina with richer coloration amongst the devices.
Exceptional with no corrosion or piercing.
Composition: Copper
Santo Domingo mint, assayer “F” (Francisco Rodríguez)
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic and one of the Caribbean's oldest cities.
Santo Domingo Mint coins of Charles and Joanna are much rarer than those struck at the Mexico City Mint, although they are often more crude in their construction, according to Cori Sedwick Downing, who cataloged the Santo Domingo coins. She also authored an essay about the coins of Santo Domingo and compiled a census of auction appearances, both of which are included in the auction catalog.
The Santo Domingo Mint began operating about six years after the Mexico City Mint and produced silver coins from 1542 to 1552. The paucity of coins (compared to the thousands known from the Mexico City Mint over the same time period) may be due to lack of native silver and demand, according to Downing.