Colombia 1744-FS M 8 escudos
The first specimen was lot 12691 in Heritage sale 339 (Orlando, FL, January 2004), where it sold for $5,462.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Felipe V gold Cob 8 Escudos 1744-FS, crude VF-XF with a perfectly centered, full date in the reverse legend! A very rare type in any condition, this example is certainly among the most desirable due to the incredibly prominent date. The obverse is quite bold on the shield and the S to the right is clear. A true prize for the advanced collector of Latin America." The second specimen was lot 44067 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $28,800. The catalog description[2] noted,
"Extremely Rare and Enchanting Colombian Cob 8 Escudos, COLOMBIA. Cob 8 Escudos, 1744-SF S. Bogota Mint. Philip V. PCGS EF-45. An EXTREMELY RARE issue that features a bold full four-digit date and cross and a strong nearly complete shield. This handsome survivor glistens with olive-yellow opulence and alluring brilliance. Some peripheral areas exhibit some rather typical striking weakness, but the tantalizing, problem-free nature allows an incredible opportunity for the advanced collector of the series or World gold rarities more broadly, as this piece stands as the only representative for the date in the PCGS census. From the S.P. Rutherford Collection. Privately purchased from Richard Ponterio. Ex: Morris Geiger Collection."
This type is listed for 1736-46 with all dates marked as rare. The SCWC states the assayer for 1744 is M; the second specimen is alleged to have assayer S and Cayón lists this date as assayer E. The two specimens shown here don't have legible assayer initials. Milled coinage of gold commenced in 1756.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.917 fine gold, .798 troy oz ASW. The second specimen is 26.77 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-6; Cayón-10075 (assayer E), KM 24, Cal-2256; Restrepo/Lasser-M84S.4; Ponterio/Pedraza-SF-C8-PV-44#7 (second coin illustrated).
- 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.
- Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
- 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.
- Restrepo, Jorge Emilio, Monedas de Colombia, 1619-2006, Medellin, Colombia: Impresiones Rojo, 2006.
- [1]Tucker, Warren, and Scott Cordry, Heritage Signature Auction 440: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2007.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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