Summary

Australia New South Wales Sydney
Holey Dollar, 1813 - Five Shillings
Struck from an 8 Real piece from the mint at Mexico dated 1800 with the counterstamp dies combination I/ worn off
Spalding 93

In 1813 Governor Lachlan Macquarie overcame an acute shortage of currency by arranging for the purchase of Spanish silver dollars, having the centres punched out and therein creating two new coins - the 'Holey Dollar' (valued at five shillings) and the 'Dump' (valued at one shilling and three pence). This doubled the number of coins in circulation and increased their total worth by 25 per cent. The work was carried out by William Hanshall, a convict transported for forgery.

Physical Description

A ring shaped silver coin (40 mm diameter) manufactured by cutting a circular 'dump' from the centre of a Mexico mint 8 real piece of 1800 and counterstamping the words NEW SOUTH WALES 1813 around the central hole on one side (the obverse) the words [FIVE SHILLINGS] and a spray of leaves with the engraver's initial, all completely worn away on this example, on the other (the reverse). Around the rim of the obverse of the original coin CAROLUS . IIII . DEI . GRATIA . 1800 . (worn) ; the host coin featured a laureate bust of Charles IIII (mostly removed with the central 'dump') facing right. Around the rim of the reverse of the original coin M.[....] HISPAN . ET IND . REX . much worn ; and featuring a crowned shield between pillars. Most of the shield has been removed by the holing for the 'dump' and the counterstamping.

Obverse Description

A ring shaped silver coin (40 mm diameter) manufactured by cutting a circular 'dump' from the centre of a Mexico mint 8 real piece of 1800 and counterstamping the words NEW SOUTH WALES 1813 around the central hole. Around the rim of the original coin M.[....] HISPAN . ET IND . REX . much worn ; and featuring a crowned shield between pillars. Most of the shield has been removed by the holing for the 'dump' and the counterstamping.

Reverse Description

Worn around the central hole - the words FIVE SHILLINGS and a spray of leaves with the engraver's initial, all completely missing. Around the rim of the original coin CAROLUS . IIII . DEI . GRATIA . 1800 . (worn) ; the host coin featured a laureate bust of Charles IIII (mostly removed with the central 'dump') facing right.

Edge Description

worn

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