Mexico 1822-Mo JM 8 scudos

Goldberg sale 46, lot 1113

photo courtesy Ira & Larry Goldberg

Eliasberg lot 3251

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 44428

The first specimen was lot 1113 in Goldberg sale 46 (Beverly Hills, May 2008), where it sold for $25,000. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Mexico - 8 Escudos, 1822-Mo-JM (Mexico City). Empire of Iturbide. First portrait type. Bare head of General Augustine Iturbide right. Reverse: Crowned eagle atop cactus, Aztec arms around. Weakness at eagle, otherwise excellent strike for series. A few light marks. Very lustrous, with reflective fields. Very rare, particularly in this grade. One of the finest known examples. NGC graded MS-62." The second specimen was lot 3251 in the Eliasberg sale, where it sold for $20,700. The catalog description^[2] noted,

"1822 JM 8 escudos. Mexico City mint. MS-62 (NGC). Bust of Augustin Iturbide as Emperor to right, legends, mintmark, date around/crowned standing eagle on cactus, wings spread, legends around. Bright and lustrous reflective medium gold, some central reverse planchet adjustment marks on the eagle's tail, a few light hairlines on both sides, tiny rim nick at the base of the reverse. Among the finest known specimens of this famous and avidly-sought issue, a coin that is marvelous to examine and deserves just about any superlative someone would care to lavish upon it. Nicely struck, with a bold portrait and far more detail on the eagle than usually seen. The only year of this type and popularly collected as the last issue by colonial enthusiasts and the first issue by Republic collectors though it belongs in a category by itself. Simply superb. From the John H. Clapp Collection; Clapp estate to Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., 1942."

The third specimen was lot 44428 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $22,800. The catalog description^[3] noted,

"High Grade 'AUGSTINUS' Spelling Error MEXICO. 8 Escudos, 1822-Mo JM. Mexico City Mint. Agustin I Iturbide. NGC MS-62. Variety with 'AUGSTINUS' spelling error. The single finest certified of the variety on either the NGC or PCGS population reports. This handsome and nicely preserved example boasts a bold portrait with plenty of remaining luster in the protected areas. The fields displays a pale gold coloration while a light orange patination is noticed in the legends and crevasses. Pleasing to the eye, this lovely example offers much originality with a good look. From the Murcia Collection of Mexican Gold Coinage."

All gold coinage of Iturbide is rare and expensive. This type is priced lower than KM 313.2 of 1822 but higher than KM 314 of 1823.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 27.07 g, 0.875 fine gold, the Goldberg specimen was 26.99 grams; the Eliasberg specimen was 27.01 grams, 36.80 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: Fr-59, Calico Onza-1778, Cr-188; KM 313.1. The third specimen is KM-313.2.

Source:

Bailey, Don and Lois, Whitman Encyclopedia of Mexican Money, Volume 1, An Illustrated History of Mexican Coins and Currency, Atlanta: Whitman Publishing, 2014.
^[1]Goldberg, Ira, and Larry Goldberg, Goldberg Sale 46: the Millenia Collection, Beverly Hills, CA: Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers, 2008.
Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
^[2]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.
^[3]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.

Link to:

Mexico 1822-Mo JM 8 scudos

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