File:Colombia SB118-12305o.jpg

This specimen was lot 12305 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2018), where it sold for $8,400. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Extremely Rare 1878 Popayán 20 Pesos COLOMBIA. 1878 20 Pesos. Popayán mint. Restrepo M339.16. UNC Detail — Scratch (PCGS). An historic rarity, the last date of this largest 19th century Colombian gold denomination and the final issue of any Colombian gold until the rare emission of 1886. According to Restrepo, just one or two are known. This date has been missing from all the major sales and is rated RRRR by Sedwick. This piece is lustrous and frosty, medium yellow gold, struck with all of the crudity expected of a Popayán 20 Pesos. The planchet is cracked, seen between PESOS and the fineness on the reverse rim, and through ES of ESTADOS to the chin on the obverse. Amidst that obverse planchet crack, a batch of scratches were left in an attempt to remove a lamination. Otherwise, this coin shows few flaws it didn't already have when it left the mint. A rare and exciting piece, a highlight bound for a superb collection. From the Eldorado Collection of Colombian and Ecuadorian Coins. From Hans M.F. Schulman, August 1969."