Hannibal Head Holey Dollar facts for kids
The Hannibal Head Holey Dollar is a very special and unique coin. It's a type of Holey Dollar, which means it was made from a regular coin that had its center punched out. This particular coin started as a Spanish eight Reale coin. What makes it extra special is that it had a picture of Joseph Bonaparte on it, who was a king of Spain. In 2018, this rare coin was sold to a private collector for a huge amount of money: $500,000!
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The Story Behind the Coin
Where Did It Come From?
The original Spanish coin that became the Hannibal Head Holey Dollar was made in 1810. It was created in Lima, Peru, a city in South America. At that time, the king of Spain was Joseph I of Spain. He was the older brother of the famous French leader, Napoleon Bonaparte.
Why "Hannibal Head"?
Many Spanish people and those in their colonies didn't like being ruled by the French. They strongly disagreed with Joseph I being their king. Because of this, a mint in Peru made coins with a picture of Joseph I that wasn't very flattering. People thought his portrait looked a bit like the ancient general Hannibal, which is how the coin got its "Hannibal Head" nickname.
How Holey Dollars Were Made
In 1812, the colony of New South Wales in Australia had a big problem. Most of their money was leaving the colony because of trade. This meant there weren't enough coins for people to use every day. To fix this, Governor Lachlan Macquarie came up with a clever plan. He wanted to create coins that could only be used within New South Wales.
He brought 40,000 Spanish silver eight Reale coins to the colony. Then, he hired a skilled craftsman named William Henshall to help. Henshall's job was to punch out the center of each coin. He also stamped new markings on them. This made sure the coins couldn't be used anywhere else.
The outer ring of the coin was called the "Holey Dollar." It was worth five shillings. The small center piece, which was punched out, was called the "Dump." It was worth fifteen pence. Today, only about 300 of these special Holey Dollars are still known to exist. Most of them are owned by private collectors.
The Hannibal Head Holey Dollar's Discovery
The unique Hannibal Head Holey Dollar was found in 1881. It was discovered in Tasmania, an island south of Australia. People believed it was part of a hidden collection of valuables, possibly left by a "Bushranger" (an old term for an outlaw).
This coin is the only known Holey Dollar that has the "Hannibal Head" portrait. Experts have rated its quality as "nearly extremely fine," meaning it's in excellent condition for its age.
Recent Sale of the Coin
In 2018, the Hannibal Head Holey Dollar was put up for auction. It was expected to sell for around $450,000. However, it ended up selling for even more! A private collector bought it for $500,000, showing just how rare and valuable this piece of history is.
