Mexico 1823-Mo JM 8 scudos Fr-60
This specimen was lot 1118 in Goldberg sale 46 (Beverly Hills, May 2008), where it sold for $12,500. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Mexico. 8 Escudos, 1823-Mo-JM (Mexico City). Empire of Iturbide. Second portrait type. Bare head of General Augustine Iturbide right. Reverse: Crowned eagle atop cactus in ornate oval escutcheon, Aztec arms below. A better strike, with less weakness at the centers, than is mostly seen in this series that suffered from inferior production technique. Minor faint adjustment lines, and a few light marks that are mostly confined to the devices. 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 3252 in the Eliasberg sale, where it sold for $3,680. The catalog description[2] noted,
"1823 JM 8 escudos. Mexico City mint. EF-40 (NGC). Large head of Augustin Iturbide as Emperor to right, legends, mintmark, date around/crowned standing eagle on cactus arms within shield, legends around. Medium gold with a hint of lustre in the protected areas, central striking weakness on the reverse, some faint hairlines evident on both sides. Lightly cleaned long ago but a very pleasant and evenly toned example. Attractive and desirable. From the John H. Clapp Collection; Clapp estate to Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., 1942."
While all gold coins of Iturbide are rare and expensive, this is the most common of the eight escudos.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.875 fine gold; the Goldberg specimen: 26.99 grams; the Eliasberg specimen: 26.94 grams, 36.70 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-60, Calico Onza-1779, KM 314.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, and Larry Goldberg, Goldberg Sale 46: the Millenia Collection, Beverly Hills, CA: Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers, 2008.
- 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]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.
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