![British Empire, Essequibo & Demerara, Cut & CM 3 Gulden [WC-611] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WC-611-2.jpg)
![British Empire, Essequibo & Demerara, Cut & CM 3 Gulden [WC-611] - Image 3](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WC-611-3.jpg)
Description
British Empire, the West Indies, British-controlled Dutch Colonies of Essequibo and Demerara, time of King George III (1760-1820 AD), Silver Three Gulden of Twelve Bits (21.91g, 40mm), by Court of Policy on 9th December 1808 AD raised by Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Ross (Acting Deputy Governor 24 Jun 1808 – 3 Apr 1809), during the tenure of Governor Henry William Bentinck (10 May 1806 – April 1812), an emergency issue by process of cutting a nineteen notched “plug” (Three Bits ‘plug’) and counter-marking with “E.&·D 3.G.L” on a Spanish Empire Eight Reales of King Charles IV, dated 1806 Mo TH, Mexico City mint, Viceroyalty of New Spain (KM-109). Obverse of Host: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of King Charles IV facing right, date below, legend surrounds; countermarked with “E.&·D 3.G.L” within beaded border on top margin and a nineteen-notched plug cut from lower margin. Reverse of Host: Royal Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Spain, Pillars of Hercules type (1700-1868), legend surrounds with mintmark, denomination and assayer toward the end; nineteen-notched plug cut from lower margin. KM-2; Pridmoore-2 (rare); Scholten-1441 (RRR). The illustrious and exceedingly rare Essequibo and Demerara Dollar, some typical light marks certainly overlooked, nicely toned with an even cabinet grey and exceptionally splendid in hand, furthermore with a pedigree to the collection of Mr Whetmore, Esq. C.B.E., 1961; a sensational coin and of the utmost rarity, Very Fine, countermark the same. Appears as good if not better than the most recent example sold by Stacks Bowers Galleries in a VF20 PCGS holder for USD 36,000.
Provenance:
• Collection of Samuel Arthur Henry (S.A.H.) Whetmore, Esq., C.B.E., sold by Glendining & Co., Auction, 14th July 1961, Lot 277 (sold with corresponding 3 bits ‘plug’) – note, reverse image of this coin in Glendining’s catalogue is mistakenly a different coin of the same type.
• Bought from Ray A. Byrne, May 1966 (Private Treaty).
• Collection of Edward Roehrs, Part One, sold by Dix Noonan Webb, 28th September 2010, Lot 322.
