While we have talked about several different coins on Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest Modern World Coins series, we have yet to cover one that was an error of this caliber. While all the coins in the series, error or not, are rare, this next coin sticks out as being the rarest of the rare. Authors Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker help us revisit the coins from the Central American country and give us insight as to why it is impossible to narrow down the coin’s mintage.
#89 – Honduras 1907/888/897 Overdate Gold 20 Pesos
According to authors Morgan and Walker, Honduran gold is scarce to rare no matter the denomination. Between 1871 and the ending of 1925, gold coins from the Central American country were stuck sporadically in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 20 pesos. Despite the idea of owning one of these coins being quite challenging, the rarity of them only makes collectors flock to them more.
Of the rarities is a coin that was struck with not one, but two underdates. The 1908 20-peso gold coin features one from 1888 and on top of that, one from 1897. While it is said that you can see this error with the naked eye, fine details are best seen with a magnifying glass. The reverse features a portrait of Liberty overpowered by the date of September 15, 1821. The date symbolizes when Honduras and some of its Central American neighbors began their struggle to rid themselves of Spanish colonialism and claim their independence. Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Guatemala joined them. The obverse showcases the national coat of arms, the errored date, and the gold coin’s purity (.900 fine).
Morgan and Walker state that it is impossible to grasp the number of known examples of the blunder. One very well-known example was owned by a collector out of New York who had assembled an impressive and nearly complete collection of 19th and 20th century gold coins. His collection was offered for sale by Stack’s on September 15th and 16th, 1982 and included the rare Honduran Overdate Gold 20 Pesos. His example was “weakly struck but rare.” There is one example certified by NGC in a MS61.