Lot 2686

Description

Canada, Prince Edward Island, holey dollar of 1813, silver five shillings, a centrally pierced and countermarked with sun and rays on a Spanish American eight reales of Charles IIII, of Mexico City mint issued in 1793, (KM.2). Very fine, host coin fine.

The issue is always difficult to determine if original or one of the many counterfeits made at the time or afterwards. Graham, Kennedy & Becker in the book "The Currency and Medals of Prince Edward Island", 1988, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada, p.24-5 show illustrations of eight holey dollars with assorted countermarks and state "It is quite possible that none of the above photographs represent a genuine treasury issue holey dollar.. It may be that none of the genuine pieces survived and in any case, no infallible means of identification of such pieces has been discovered".