^Lot 938 ARGENTINA - PATAGONIA and ARAUCANIA (New France), bronze proof essai 2 centavos, King Orélie-Antoine

ARGENTINA - PATAGONIA and ARAUCANIA (New France), bronze proof essai 2 centavos, King Orélie-Antoine de Tounens, 1874, open 4 variety, NGC PF 64 BN (Colección Val y Mexía Label). KM-X1; VG-3859. Deep indigo toning in centers with bright original copper color in legends, some speckling but no marks or wear, scarce die variety and overall a bit scarcer than the only other denomination made (1 peso) in this odd but clearly professionally produced fantasy coinage for a "kingdom" that never existed. In effect these 1874 issues were propaganda, struck for Frenchman Orélie-Antoine de Tounens (misspelled as ORLLIE on the coins) for his self-proclaimed Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia, where he had formed an alliance with the local Mapuche natives, who agreed to his stature under the promise of French arms and assistance against the Chilean army, which soon arrested and deported him to France. Pedigreed to the Val y Mexía Collection.
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