Bolivia 1786-PTS PR escudo
This specimen was lot 852 in Sedwick Auction 37 (Winter Park, FL, May 2025), where it sold for $960. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, gold bust 1 escudo, Charles III, 1786 PR, very rare, NGC AU details / cleaned, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Almenara. Bold strike with high points a bit flat, hint of luster and toning around letters, light marks in field in front of chin, low mintage of just 932 coins. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection." While silver coins from Bolivia exist in vast quantities, gold from Bolivia is scarce. For the colonial period, Colombia may be regarded as the most prolific issuer, followed by Mexico, followed by Peru. Bolivia, Chile and Guatemala are minor sources. This type was minted 1778-87 and is rare. In 1785, the alloy was debased from 0.901 to 0.875 fine gold. The assayer PR appears for 1776-95.
Recorded mintage: 932.
Specification: 3.38 g, 0.875 fine gold, .095 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Cayón-12355, Janson-71.9; Cal-1444; Fr-5; KM-56.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, 2 volumes, Madrid: Cayón-Jano S.L., 2005.
- Calicó, Xavier, Numismática Española: Catálogo General con Precios de Todas las Monedas Españolas Acuñadas desde Los Reyes Católicos Hasta Felipe VI, 1474 a 2020, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2019.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Treasure Auction 37, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Almenara Collection of Colonial Peruvian Gold Coins, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2025.
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