La Rioja 1845-B 8 escudos
The first specimen was lot 1014 in the Eliasberg sale, where it sold for $16,100. The catalog description[1] noted,
"1845 RB 8 escudos. Rioja mint. AU-55 (NGC). Arms at center, legends and date around/shield in wreath, legends around. Highly lustrous light yellow gold with deep toning highlights in the protected areas. Die broken atop sunface. A very sharp specimen of this rare issue, the last issued in the name of General Rosas. This date called 'muy rara' (very rare) in Calico. From the John H. Clapp Collection; Clapp estate to Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., 1942."
"Charles Darwin's Voyage of the Beagle was published in 1845, and in it he described meeting General Rosas while traveling in South America:
"'General Rosas intimated a wish to see me; a circumstance which I was afterwards very glad of. He is a man of an extraordinary character, and has a most predominant influence in the country, which it seems he will use to its prosperity and advancement. He is said to be the owner of seventy-four square leagues of land, and to have about three hundred thousand head of cattle. His estates are admirably managed, and are far more productive of corn than those of others. He first gained his celebrity by his laws for his own estancias, and by disciplining several hundred men, so as to resist with success the attacks of the Indians. There are many stories current about the rigid manner in which his laws were enforced. One of these was, that no man, on penalty of being put into the stocks, should carry his knife on a Sunday: this being the principal day for gambling and drinking, many quarrels arose, which from the general manner of fighting with the knife often proved fatal. One Sunday the Governor came in great form to pay the estancia a visit, and General Rosas, in his hurry, walked out to receive him with his knife, as usual, stuck in his belt. The steward touched his arm, and reminded him of the law; upon which turning to the Governor, he said he was extremely sorry, but that he must go into the stocks, and that till let out, he possessed no power even in his own house. After a little time the steward was persuaded to open the stocks, and to let him out, but no sooner was this done, than he turned to the steward and said, 'You now have broken the laws, so you must take my place in the stocks.' Such actions as these delighted the Gauchos, who all possess high notions of their own equality and dignity.
"'General Rosas is also a perfect horseman -- an accomplishment of no small consequence In a country where an assembled army elected its general by the following trial: A troop of unbroken horses being driven into a corral, were let out through a gateway, above which was a cross-bar: it was agreed whoever should drop from the bar on one of these wild animals, as it rushed out, and should be able, without saddle or bridle, not only to ride it, but also to bring it back to the door of the corral, should be their general. The person who succeeded was accordingly elected; and doubtless made a fit general for such an army. This extraordinary feat has also been performed by Rosas."
The second specimen was lot 20182 in Heritage sale 3010 (Boston, August 2010), where it sold for $4,025. The catalog description[2] noted, "La Rioja. Gold 8 Escudos 1845B, KM19, VF35 PCGS, a nice original coin with light patina and evenly worn details. Rare one-year type with the revised coat of arms for the province. This was the final gold type struck during the provincial period until the united Republic coinage appeared in 1881. Only the second example we have offered at auction, and the first since 2004."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 17 g, 0.875 fine gold, .759 troy oz AGW; this specimen: 27.00 grams, 34.50 mm.
Catalog reference: Fr-13, Calico Onza-1576, KM 19 (filed under La Rioja).
- [1]Kraljevich, John, John Pack, Elizabeth O. Piper and Frank Van Valen, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins and Medals, Wolfboro, NH: American Numismatic Rarities, 2005.
- 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.
- [2]Tucker, Warren, Scott Cordry and John Kraljevich, Heritage Sale 3010: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2010.
Link to:
- Coins and currency dated 1845
- other specimens in The Eliasberg Collection
- return to coins of Argentina, La Rioja