Summary

Australia New South Wales Sydney
Holey Dollar, 1813
Struck from an 8 Real piece from the mint at Mexico dated 1805 with the counterstamp dies combination B/II
Spalding 149
Neatly engraved graffitti "NATTY" inverted below CAROLUS IIII opposite the plugged hole.

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 1805 and counterstamping the words NEW SOUTH [WALES 1813 worn away] around the central hole on one side (the obverse) and the words FIVE SHILLINGS on the other (the reverse) and a spray of leaves (the usual engraver's initial H at the centre is missing, worn away). Around the rim of the obverse of the original coin CAROLUS . IIII . DEI . GRATIA . 1805. ; 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 (monogram) . 8R . T . H. HISPAN . ET IND . REX . ; 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 manufactured by cutting a circular 'dump' from the centre of a Lima mint 8 real piece of 1805 and counterstamping the words, NEW SOUTH [WALES 1813] around the central hole. Around the rim of the host coin M . 8R . T . H. HISPAN . ET IND . REX . (the first M is the mint mark and has a small letter 'o' above it); and featuring a crowned shield between pillars. Most of the shield has been removed by the holing and counterstamping. The word WALES and the date 1813 are worn off on this example.

Reverse Description

Around the central hole cut in the host coin, FIVE SHILLINGS together with a spray of leaves (without the usual engraver's initial H at the centre). Around the rim of the host coin, CAROLUS . IIII . DEI . GRATIA . 1805. ; the host coin featured a laureate bust of Charles IIII facing right, mostly removed by the holing and counterstamping.

Edge Description

Circle & rectangle pattern

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