The renowned Pittman-Krause 1936 Canadian Dot Cent, the most famous coin in Canadian numismatics and one of just three known to exist realized $248,750 during Heritage Auction's 10.43+ million World & Ancient Coins Signature® Auction at the Chicago International Coin Fair, April 18-23. The auction sold 92.8% by value and 90.9% by lot.
The George V 1936 Dot Cent, MS63 Red PCGS, Ex: John Jay Pittman Collection, is far and away the most famous of the three known Dot cents, having been stolen from the Pittman home in 1964 and later returned (with scratches in the right obverse field) in an envelope with other coins.
In early 1936, George V passed away and was succeeded by his son King Edward VIII. As was common practice, for the remainder of 1936 the coinage continued to have the effigy of King George V. Toward the end of the year, models were made and dies produced with the effigy of King Edward VIII, but upon Edward's abdication the dies were no longer valid and a severe shortage of Canadian 1, 10, and 25 cent pieces arose in early 1937. Because of the shortage, Canada was forced to continue producing coins dated 1936 with the portrait of King George V. Canadian authorities felt a need to distinguish this 1937 mintage from the 1936 production, and a small Dot was placed on the reverse of the 1, 10, and 25 cent coins. The Dot is below the date of the 1 cent coin, and under the bow on the wreath of the 10 and 25 cent coins. History tells us that only the 25 cent piece was placed in circulation and that three pieces of the Dot cents are the only surviving examples.
On 4 January 2010, a 1936 dot cent auctioned by Heritage Auction Galleries in New York for a record price USD$402,500. You can read about it here; Rare Canadian Penny sold in Auction.
Source: Heritage Auction.
Source: Heritage Auction.
