Mexico 1823-Mo JM 8 escudos
The first specimen was lot 3256 in the Eliasberg sale, where it sold for $55,200. The catalog description[1] noted,
"1823 JM 8 escudos. Mexico City mint. MS-61 (NGC). Hand with Liberty cap and pole on book of laws, legends, denomination, date, assayer's letters around/famous profile or "hookneck" eagle to left on cactus, wreath below, REPUBLICA MEXICANA above. Type I obverse, cap points to A, Type I reverse, curled tail, moderately scarcer than its Type II counterpart. Satiny medium gold with some orange highlights in the recessed areas, faint marks above the hand on the obverse, tiny digs near the eagle's tail on the reverse, minor planchet adjustment marks in the eagle's plumage, tiny rim nick at 7:00 on reverse. Remarkably well struck, with full text on the book and excellent feather detail on the reverse. An exceptional specimen of this famous and popular issue, one whose supply can never keep up with demand—especially in this remarkable grade. Calico states that only a few examples are known. This example is far finer and far better struck than the Norweb coin, and it at least rivals and perhaps surpasses the beautiful and well struck Gerber specimen. Off the market for more than six decades, this piece may set a new standard for quality. In cataloguing the 1921 John Story Jenks sale, a sale that long functioned as a world coin reference work despite being a swan song in his illustrious career, Henry Chapman noted that the 'hookneck' 8 escudos therein was 'excessively rare, the only example I have seen in 45 years in this business.' While more specimens have apparently appeared on the market since then, a comment such as this offers a glimpse of the state of the art in collectiong Mexican gold coins in the era that John Clapp and Waldo Newcomer were forming their illustrious cabinets. Of course, the 1823 Mexico 8 escudos still ranks as a great rarity, a famous one year type, and a favorite of collectors. From the John H. Clapp Collection; Clapp estate to Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., 1942."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.875 fine gold. The first specimen: 26.97 grams, 36.70 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 382.1, Fr-63, Calico Onza-1994.
- [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.
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