Mexico 1702-MXo L escudo
The first specimen was lot 12 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 26 (Winter Park, FL, November 2019), where it sold for $2,380. The catalog description[1] noted, "Mexico City, Mexico, cob 1 escudo, (17)02(J), very rare, NGC MS 63, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-1715 Fleet / 2013 One Escudo Pile (designated on special label). Very bold 02 of date and oX of mintmark, nearly full crown and shield, off-center cross, highly lustrous for the type, some peripheral flatness, curiously pedigreed to a small hoard of 1E found packed inside a cannon found in 2013. From the 1715 Fleet (Corrigans site), specifically the "2013 One Escudo Pile" (found inside a cannon), as stated on the special slab label, with original Queens Jewels LLC photo-certificate and tag #76455. Auction lot-tag personally signed by John Pullin." The second specimen was lot 22180 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (Newport Beach, CA, January 2021), where it sold for $5,520. The catalog description[2] noted,
"MEXICO. Escudo, 1702-MXo L. Mexico City Mint, Assayer L (Martin Lopez). Philip V. NGC MS-63. Tied for finest certified of the date with one other example on the NGC population report. VERY RARE, only 3 pieces have been certified at NGC, none at PCGS. Crowned arms of Spain, consisting of Castile and Leon, Catalonia - Aragon, Sicily, Granada, Austria, Burgundy, Brabant, Flanders and Tyrol; denomination "I" right (off flan), mintmark and assayers letter "oXML" left; partial legend around; Reverse: Box-tipped cross with fleurs-de-lis in each quadrant all within beaded border, legend around. A decently struck example on a somewhat compact flan with a bold full four-digit date, partial shield and partial shield. An attractive little cob displaying pale yellow gold color with hints of richer patination in crevasses offering a pleasing appearance sure to catch the attention of specialists. From the Las Colinas Collection. Ex: 1715 Plate Fleet."
All Mexican colonial gold may be considered scarce. This type is listed for 1702-12. Most specimens lack dates. Note the "MXo" mintmark used only on the gold of the period.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.38 g, 0.917 fine gold, this specimen 3.4 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-7c; S-M29a; KM-51.1; CT-499, Cal-Type 204 # 1776; Grove-819; Oro Macuquino-161, Cayón-9493 (assayer L).
- 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, 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.
- 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.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia and Cori Sedwick Downing, Treasure Auction 26, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2019.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2021 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Oro del Nuevo Mundo and Matt Orsini Collections, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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