The full pedigree of the Costa Rica 50 Centavos 1889

The Long Beach Convention Auction Sale of August 8, 1975 (Paramount International Coin Corporation), sold the collection of the estate of a mintmaster that consisted of 492 specimens from around the world. This mintmaster is considered to have been the one of the Heaton Birmingham Mint in England. The proof specimens sold at this sale, looked like they had been put away the day they had been struck and this is exactly what happened. The catalogue of this sale confirmed this when it said that "The present owners are heirs to the estate of a mintmaster. In the 19th and early 20th centuries it was common practice for mints to strike proofs and specimen coins to exchange with the masters of other mints as samples of their work". Among these specimens was lot 107, "Costa Rica 50 Centavos 1889". This coin was never released for circulation and that offering was important because it documented for the first time the existence of this date.

This specific coin (lot 107) was purchased for the Norweb Collection. The Honorable and Mrs. Henry Norweb, had a reputation that preceded them. They not only possessed one of the finest cabinets of United States and world coins ever assembled, but equally important, were true connoisseurs and studied and appreciated what they owned. After Mrs. Norweb died in March of 1984, the extensive collection of Latin American coins of the Norweb Collection was auctioned in May of 1985 (Christie's). Among this collection, was lot 522, which was the same "Costa Rica 50 Centavos 1889" from the Paramount sale.

This specimen (lot 522) was later purchased for the collection of Mr. Frederick R. Mayer, who was widely known as a consummate collector of art, coins, currency and stamps. In each of these collecting disciplines he built collections that are truly remarkable, all considered world class by anyone's standards. After Mr. Mayer passed away in February of 2007, his collection was sold by Spink Smythe on October 23, 2008, in what has been known as the Greatest Collection of Costa Rican coins ever auctioned. One of the coins sold, was lot 1148 "Costa Rica 50 Centavos 1889" that was described as "An outstanding Gem proof with iridescent steel-blue toning and flawless surfaces (Ex Paramount and Ex Norweb)"

This "Costa Rica 50 Centavos 1889" has its full pedigree accounted for since it was minted over 125 years ago. From its mint date in 1889 through 1975 it was with the estate of the Mintmaster of the Heaton Mint, where it sold in 1975 to the Norweb Collection. Then, during the Norweb auction in 1985, this coin was acquired by Mr. Frederick Mayer. When his collection was finally auctioned in October 2008, I had the privilege of acquiring it for my personal collection. This coin that has been graded SP 67 by NGC in its slab and has its pedigree as being part of both the Norweb and Mayer auctions.

Piefort

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