French Colony Specimen Essai Pattern Piastre 1879-A SP63 PCGS, Paris mint, KM-E12, Gad-8, Lec-28. As a collaborative effort from three generations of the Barre family, all chief engravers at the Paris mint, this design has come to be recognized for its convincing articulation of French sovereignty over Cochin China. Only two better representatives exist at PCGS, with none yet graded at NGC, making this one of the finest certified Specimens acquirable (and likely one of the finest extant). Die polish lines are still visible across the surfaces to confirm the quality of the dies that have imprinted on the surfaces, the devices facing up crisp and resolute. A soft champagne hue has set in to the flan, punctuated by some concentrated sepia tone on the obverse, and an area of polychromatic patination at 5 o'clock on the reverse. A quality offering for French Colonial collectors. Ex. Stack's Bowers Auction (December 2015, 61023) HID09801242017 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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