Description
1967 Anguilla Liberty Dollar, Counterstamped on 1908-S Philippines Peso, KM X#5
When the people of Anguilla voted to secede from Saint Kitts and Nevis, Scott Newhall, the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, sensed an opportunity to cash in by producing a provisional coinage which he planned to sell to collectors for a profit. He had 11,600 dollar sized coins counterstamped in the basement of the Chronicle Building and gave 2,000 – 3,000 coins to the Anguilla government. The Anguillans didn’t trust him and the coins sent to the island were never used. Newhall ended up selling the coins to a California coin dealer for their silver value and, having been recorded, the coins did eventually find their way to the market and the Krause World Coins catalogue.
Of the 11,600 host coins just 320 were Philippines pesos, this one being a 1908 San Francisco issue. The host is worn but reasonably well detailed and the counterstamp is bold with strong ink.
I would grade the host coin Fine (Sheldon VF25) and the counterstamp Very Fine (Sheldon AU50). I have provided high-resolution close up photos so you can decide on a grade for yourself.
