Feels like winning the lottery!

Today was one of those days when one just finds a coin of a lifetime, in no other place than eBay. This is the crown jewel of the medals coined in Central America (back then part of the Mexican Empire) to commemorate the coronation of Emperor Agustin. According to Carlos Jara (Mexican Coin Company Newsletter September/October 2014): "On October 31, (1822), the mayor of Guatemala City indicated that the amount of coins (medals) to be minted for that purpose (proclamation of Agustin I) should be of 400 pesos (or 3200 medals of 1 Real). On November 21, the ceremony for distributing the medals was fixed for December 26, and on December 14, it was reported that: "striking of medals would start the following day, including 4 gold pieces -- two for the Emperor, and one each for the Archbishop and General Captain Gabino Gainza". Surviving specimens in gold (a single specimen) and silver (scarce) are known according to Jara. Additionally, a few specimens of a mule striking in gold using the obverse of the Leon de Nicaragua medal and the reverse of this one are also known" (two ex-Eliasberg, one recently sold by Heritage). Therefore, as this is not the mule Nicaragua-Guatemala, it has a 50% possibility to be one of the medals presented to (and owned by) the Emperor. This is (despite the scratches on the bust of the Emperor) a very rare, possibly unique (or near unique likely R9 or R10!), medal. According to Buttrey (T. Buttrey, Jr "Central America under the Mexican Empire: 1822-1823" Museum Notes, American Numismatic Society 13:231-250;1967) an example of the Guatemala piece struck in gold was sold in the Jenks sale (Henry Chapman, Philadelphia, December 7, 1921), 7081. While very likely, it is unknown if this is the same specimen.

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