Guatemala 1778-NG P 4 escudos
This specimen was lot 31111 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $10,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "Charles III gold 4 Escudos 1778 NG-P AU55 NGC, Nueva Guatemala mint. A stunning and important rarity, exhibiting only modest, even wear across the high points and some scattered hairlines, but no real distracting issues or blemishes. An alluring golden-orange tone has developed among the legends, while an underlying luster conveys even greater eye appeal. An exceptional Latin American piece destined to attract a good deal of attention and focus. Selections from the Isaac Rudman Numismatic Cabinet." All Guatemalan gold coins are rare. This type is less rare than its predecessors (being struck 1778, 1781 and 1783) but it is still priced at ten times a similar four escudos from Colombia. The next four escudos would be issued in 1789.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.901 fine gold, .382 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Cayón-12648, KM 39, Fr-11, Cal-265.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
- 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.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, vol. 1, 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Robinson, Charles, The Coins of Central America, 1733-1965, San Benito, TX: 1965.
- Stickney, Brian, A Monetary History of Central America, New York: American Numismatic Society, 2017.
Link to: