By Mike Byers for Mint Error News ……
These uncanceled obverse and reverse dies was made at the United States Mint in Philadelphia and used to strike Costa Rica 1897 10 Colones and 20 Colones gold coins. These dies were just authenticated and certified by NGC and are unique in private hands. Uncanceled Costa Rica dies produced at the Philadelphia Mint are extremely rare.
The Costa Rica Central Bank Museum lists two 1897 20 Colones dies and four undated 10 Colones dies in their collection. No dies or coins for the extremely rare Proof 1897 2 Colones are listed in their collection! It is amazing that these 125-year-old uncanceled dies survived. They are in excellent condition considering their age and the fact that they were working dies. The only other uncanceled die known in private hands is a unique Proof obverse die for the extremely rare 1897 2 Colones.
The U.S. Mint in Philadelphia exclusively struck gold coinage for only six foreign countries including Costa Rica – the others were Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Syria, and Venezuela. In 1906, the Philadelphia Mint also struck the Mexico Gold 5 Pesos, but the dies were made in Mexico and the coins were struck both in the U.S. and Mexico. Mint Error News published an extensive 69-page PDF on foreign coins struck at the U.S. Mint.
These uncanceled Costa Rica 1897 10 Colones and 20 Colones dies are historic numismatic treasures and worthy of display in a coin museum or the finest coin collection.
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It would be nice to know the history of the dies. How did they get into private hands? When? Where have they been all these years? Has their private ownership been challenged?