Bolivia 1849-PTS M 8 scudos
This specimen was lot 44327 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"An Exceptionally Rare and Unlisted 8 Scudos from 1849, BOLIVIA. 8 Scudos, 1849-PTS M. Potosi Mint. NGC AU-50. This remarkable 8 Scudos bears a date which is apparently unknown in the standard references and does not appear in auction records (aside from a previous sale of this particular coin). As such, this piece can be considered EXTREMELY RARE at a minimum, or even possibly UNIQUE. The coin itself is quite attractive, bearing little evidence of wear with no problems or distractions. A slight reddish hue surrounds the peripheral legends, making this an alluring specimen all around. This is an exceptional opportunity for a specialist to acquire this ordinarily unobtainable date.
This is evidently the only known issue in gold from 1849, across all denominations. There was however a regular issuance of the silver 8 Soles from 1849 with assayer FM, as well as another from 1848 with assayer M. There also appears to exist a mule 8 Soles which combines the date 1849 with assayer M. The final digit of this 8 Scudos suggests it may be an 1849/8 overdate, which may give some clues as to how it came to exist. The KM number listed on the NGC holder is actually for the aforementioned 8 Soles. This mystifying coin merits further research which could answer more questions. From the Marcos Urrutia Collection."
This type is listed for 1841-47 and is not rare but usually found impaired.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27 g, 0.875 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-Unlisted; KM-108.2 (Unlisted date); Onza-Unlisted.
- Almanzar, Alcedo, and Dale Seppa, Coins of Bolivia, 1820-1970, San Antonio, TX: 1970.
- 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, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The August 2021 ANA sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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