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EspaiWat de la Mota, Francd§ce IMNo- 1912 ANS Corres po RADA ($+ Thomas, Nanigh West Indies, a Barrang vi la, Colombial BA Pele tera ee : Sa as foto - ee ACC Ct = a Jeet tae Cet ie es 22te Ae ae eZ De! life (ee Beh Veet QL el oe Sf conta ie z Ctter sy ps yf ae ECPPE ee ai eS pg ee ‘ SO Re eae | Y 5 pf : we ELE E fe eed os pit CET ACO Be oe 4 Tepe e~ Eee ete ote pe se Tog We Maes 7a es deca Dee Gy if agi bye. ft ag oo / , ; LT ee od Lee PF Lua ete COLE ope OC e7t- 42702 A oe ate er a COBLS a Vice ee eke PATTI CE ; / ae ess <2 — (Ve-ze.. 7 SA O5 Ve sige i ge as ABT oe a ae of J U &o Se forcbe Sf gph eget, ene Ee ccc © 2 Wee a aa awe Un coed ode, ve es a ee AEE Se af eee ; ee Lee lye Kitt: pone be \o 65 os dat g tet ELOISE AGT GAT OM MOTT. : VA SO. dh dile ce? 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Se de a RRs Se Rg as peep eis — St. Thomas, Danish West Indies. the American Numismatic Society, August 29, 1910 New York. oe Dear Sirs: ‘The present letter has for its object to bring to your knowledge the fact that I possess a little silver coin of great numismatic value, not from its antiquity, but from its rarity. It is clear to me that the said little coin is the only copy known in the world today, and that in consequence it ought to have a great value among collectors or public museums that would desire to complete a collection. _ T have received an infinity of offers, but no one has satisfied me, since I am not disposed to sell it for less than $10,009, American gold, And it has not only the merit of being the only copy (ejemplar unico), but that of bearing a date which is not in accord with history: a fact which gives it an aspect markedly mysterious. This little coin was found in the ruins of La Vega Real, Dominican Republic, : On one side it has the shield and the bars of Aragon, and says: - DEI GT PHILIPPUS II 2c and, on the other hand, it has a circle with a cross, four heads, and the following inscriptions: - - ARAGONUM REX ITOI The date is sufficiently clear, but the zero may have been originally a 6 or a 9, and besides reading it (the date) either preceded by the cross, or with this at the end, a doubt arises among the following dates:- 1101, 1191, 1011, 1611. What must be the true date of this coin? It ought not to be 1011, 1101, or 1191, since, although the kingdom of Aragon existed at those dates as an pipe eh soho state, no king named Philip II was living. Neither should it be 1611, since, on the other hand, at that date Philip II had existed, but the kingdom of Aragon had disappeared, becoming the province of Spain. If, in spite of all, we admit as true this last date, the said coin must then have been issued during the reign of Philip III, since his predecessor died in | 1595, and, as I have understood, coins bear always the inscriptions of the reigning monarch, and not that of his predecessor? The little coin, in agreement with history, ought to say Philip III, King of Spain, 1611, and not Philip II, King of Aragon, 1611. An intelligent Spaniard, residing in this locality, and to whom I showed the little coin, thinks that the true date is 1011, since the history of the Kingdom of Aragon is very nebulous, without its being known with sure knowledge how the said realm was formed, (he) not doubting that there existed in Aragon two kings called Philip I and Philip II, predecessors of Ramero I reigning in 1035, © ie Finally, you will take exact account of the importance of this little coin when you examine the great collections of coins, and note the want of one like that ee. possessed by myself. | . If your honourable Society desires to make a detailed study of ds puoriant and historic a question, please inform me, that I may have prepared a Bhotographio Pia’ copy of the little coin, and send it to you by the next post. ‘ In the hops of an answer from you, I an, Yours very truly, D. Francisco Espaillat de ts Mota September <a, 1910 My Dear Sir: 3 | l have read with interest your letter of August 29 megarding the little Spanish coin. Z The werters of this Society who have given most attention 40 Spanien history and numismatics are now absent, and when they shall be here J ‘can give no cuarantee that a willingness to pay $10,000 will dive a numismatie test or the degree of their interest; but If you should choose to send a photograph of the coin I shall with pleasure show it, and return it tO you 1f you wish. Very truly yours, | 2 Director. menor D, Vrancisco ¥spaillat: de la Mota, Danish Yeest Indies. Espa lat de le Note, ep eae ho eee ae "Stathonas, Sa es Ses, : ee SS al Syne “Panishiest Indies. ae a Bass Ui ke Say dear Sti Ser a ee i SSS, ae Ge eae "EES Sd oop A eee ee iy 3 Nene roeeived your letter of Ochober 18th with the rubbings of = Sltttie. oi oo. oe re a : Re et SERS: ‘rubbtags. to. ther oe = telr erinoin ¢ resoriins the cain. aah tumor eee eee. ee Cs awe oe Hae aah Miset fossil: ‘ Peles TA a ’ a ; fat . SF ‘ ate = ¥ 4 - 7 Ore ~ 2 < " a y her: . ~ . 3 : i “ ’ “= 7 < : ‘ " : n ‘ me S eS ; “ ‘ e ! zc » cee * > ~ e ~~ ~ _— Pa _ < ~ ~ - “< ee ¥ ~ + : = \ re +? Se ee ig) y >. J me 2. if ~i The 4 ae é a f, r. ot iad % t 7% me >” } * “i, $ ms ig < é ; K « < ; a . Z e re ‘ e ~ | | oy Be ' — - ox % 3 1 s3 2 an a < : > , Fe, é Ni ~— . _ - i ’ Shi ms % f = : Zz 1 ae 2 r 7 £ Cats + - a\ - s pes, 2 a = - , x - = ’ ae * . hn - _ x m - : ra j = . - a a * ee < “* ? + 7 st x - ‘ .* 2 ee = ; =f ~ S . P ~ a -. 4 7 s ~ fia aint a ok \ Te Di kty ia + ; PA. : i | EEDA wa why: “f (a G So EAs os | aa cole ruts ope Lae Ata /Lidieca Co sentient Aivergo rz “Cevedo - ge ont be Ata 2 LTO ee Crt a ie a . Pcp pe exe eae ri ee ato ie eye A111 & ptagenel HC feces, o ale UA CIM ELME | aes | Lagase Spay tyes andy emer at a aL heat lado : toes “ at 7 F se plrd aL 3 ee oy as : / eee lee ve Beem: Pelee io. eres = Le oy as Fe vi 9 ar enous paved I, “ 8 uv Gt Phil d Are Soa gee 5 Pee 4 ST. THOMAS Mr. Bauman L. Belden, Director, The American Numismatic Society, New York. My dear Sir: . I have the pleasure of acknowledging your favour of September sth, I send you herewith a simple copy of the obverse and reverse of the little Spanish coin referrei to in my letter of August 29th, since in this city I have not found a person capable of sketching it properly. As this question will be, without doubt, the object of a discussion in the bosom of the Society that you worthily direct, I beg you to transmit to me the opinions of its members regarding the matter, as well as the resolution of the Society to acquire or not from my hands for the price indicated the said little coin, 7 Thanking you in advance, and in the hope of your favourable answer, I aw Your obedient servant, RCO. ESPAILLAT DE. LA moTa | | Baransuiila, Colonbia;. january 12th, 1912. fhe Awerican Numismatic Society, New York. Vy dear Sirsr- f which you can direc you to be so good as to sive me a definite answer 29th of Augast, 1910, directed frow Saint Thomas. iad myseif residing in this city of Baraasuilla, to am t your answer. Thanking you ig advance, I am, Very truly yours, Francisco Espaillat de la Mota.