Bolivia 1789-PTS PR 4 escudos

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from Sedwick Auction 37, lot 836
Sed37-0836r.jpg

This specimen was lot 836 in Sedwick Auction 37 (Winter Park, FL, May 2025), where it sold for $19,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, gold bust 4 escudos, Charles IV transitional (bust of Charles III, ordinal IV), 1789 PR, extremely rare, NGC XF 45, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Almenara, ex-Norweb, ex-Sotheby's (Plate). Rich gold color with strong rims and luster, natural flan-crack from nose to rim (through the letter H), a famously pedigreed coin from a very rare type and date of which we can trace only one other example (the other sold by UBS in 2001 and plated in Janson), significantly missing in Eliasberg and other major collections, mintage unknown but undoubtedly very small. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label) and to the Norweb Collection (Spink America auction of March 1997, lot 18), also to the Sotheby's (Geneva) Gold Coins of the Hispanic World auction of May 1990, lot 20, illustrated in color photo plate in front of catalog." 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 1789-91 and is rare. Charles III died in December 1788 but the news traveled slowly to Latin America and punches for the new king took even longer. In the interim, the old king's bust was used with the new king's name. In 1789, silver coinage was struck for Charles III and IV but the gold coinage was struck only for Charles IV. The assayer PR appears for 1776-95.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 13.53 g, 0.875 fine gold, .380 troy oz AGW.

Catalog reference: Cayón-unlisted, Janson-73.1; Cal-1519; Fr-unl (7 for type); KM-67.

Source:

  • 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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