Mexico 1715-Mo J 8 escudos
The first specimen was lot 22293 in Heritage sale 3021 (New York, January 2013), where it sold for $7,637.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Felipe V gold Cob 8 Escudos 1715 Mo-J, AU55 NGC, bold mintmark and assayer's initial, most of the date is very clear although the 5 is only partially readable. Nicely centered details, the surfaces are slightly dulled from salt water immersion. A very collectible example of this highly popular type." The second specimen was lot 31277 in Heritage sale 3089 (Dallas, TX, January 2021), where it sold for $234,000. The catalog description[2] noted,
"Mexico. Philip V gold "Royal" 8 Escudos 1715 Mo-J MS63 NGC, Mexico City mint, Variety with large rosettes in the reverse legend. By José Eustaquio de León. An enormously popular date in the series, not least for its strong ties to the famed 1715 Plate Fleet, with even the by comparison more common cob 8 Escudos from this year bringing marked premiums. For this historic association, however, this specimen bears no evidence whatsoever of any time spent underwater, the strike fresh and gleaming with perhaps only the most minor evidence of die rust or stippling in the center of the royal Spanish shield. Moreover executed to a standard and level of craftsmanship that is plainly only imaginable within this redondo series, hardly a flaw existing anywhere to bound its glorious choice grade--currently the finest for this subvariety. While surrounding dates for this coinage are known to exist in finer technical states, this becomes almost a moot point when considering the rarity of the particular selection presented here--Calico recording only one example of this "large rosettes" variety known in his book La Onza as of 2004 (from different dies), while the date itself was entirely missing from the Norweb, Karon, and Millennia collections. As such quite possibly only the second known example, and a numismatic centerpiece of the entire Mexican colonial series worthy of the utmost place of prominence in its future owner's cabinet. Ex. Isaac Rudman Collection."
This type was issued at Mexico in 1714-32 for Philip V of Spain. All specimens with legible dates are rare and hotly pursued.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.917 fine gold, .810 troy oz AGW, the first specimen 26.8 grams, the second specimen 27.00 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-9950, KM-R57.3 (Rare), KM 57.2, Fr-7, Cay-9950, Cal-92, Onza-401 (one known), cf. Sedwick-M30.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3021, featuring the Cecil Webster, Richard P. Ariagno and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collection, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.
- [2]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage Auction 3089: NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum & Signature Auction - Dallas, featuring the Cape Coral Collection of European Crowns and the Penn Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2020.
- 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.
- 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.
- Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
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