Guatemala 1781-NG P 8 escudos
This specimen was lot 30291 in Heritage sale 3097 (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $12,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Guatemala: Charles III gold 8 Escudos 1781 NG-P XF45 NGC, Nueva Guatemala mint. A superb rarity to say the least, and only the second year that this type was struck, with most major Latin American collections not containing an example. Indeed, we have only come across one other representative coming to market in recent decades, certified AU55 by NGC. Perhaps a bit conservatively graded, the offering still retains an appreciable level of detail throughout, Charles' bust and the reverse shield affected more by a soft strike than serious circulation wear, all while a watery finish grips the peripheries. The first in a run of 3 very challenging dates we are excited to present in this sale, and quite possibly the only opportunity most Guatemalan collectors will have to obtain an example."
All Guatemalan gold coins are rare. This type is less rare than its predecessors (being struck 1778, 1781, 1783 and 1785) but it is still priced at ten times a similar eight escudos from Colombia.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.901 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Cayón-12926, KM 40, VQR-Unl., Chaves-30, Cal-1910, Onza-670 (Extremely Rare).
- 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.
- 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.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, NYINC World Coins Platinum Night Auction 3097, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
- 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.
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