Peru 1749-L R 4 escudos
This specimen was lot 2132 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $14,400. The catalog description[1] noted, "Interesting Die Pa[i]ring; Dated For Ferdinand VI, But In The Name of Philip V, PERU. Cob 4 Escudos, 1749-L R. Lima Mint. Ferdinand VI. NGC AU-53. This EXTREMELY RARE and highly interesting minor gold coin offers characteristics not normally encountered for this issue. The date corresponds to the reign of Ferdinand VI, but the reverse is clearly that of Philip V. We notice that this occasionally occurs on 8 Escudos, but this is the only 4 Escudos that we are aware of with this combination. Struck on a somewhat compact flan, the date is complete and full with a bold cross and castles and lions. Most of the legends are off the flan with the exception of "PVS" which clearly indicates Philip V rather than the normally seen 'FERDINANDVS'. This charming survivor displaying attractive pale orange gold tone with brighter coloration atop of the devices. A real treat for the specialist seeking strange and unusual numismatic treasures to add depth and complement their collections. From the Pat Johnson Collection." Gold coins from colonial Peru are much scarcer than those from Colombian mints. No four escudos are listed in Cayón between 1740 and 1750. Assayer R is listed for 1748-50. The Mexico City mint was converted to milled coinage in 1732-34 but Lima would not follow suit until 1751.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.917 fine gold, this specimen 13.47 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-not listed; KM-unlisted; Cal-not listed, Cayón-unlisted.
- 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, 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 Juan Carlos I, 1474 a 2001, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 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.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 NYINC Sale: World and Ancient Coins, featuring the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection and the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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