Peru 1775-L MJ 2 escudos
This specimen was lot 1244 in Sedwick Auction 37 (Winter Park, FL, May 2025), where it sold for $1,920. The catalog description[1] noted, "PERU, Lima, gold bust 2 escudos, Charles III, 1775 MJ, rare, NGC AU details / cleaned, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Almenara. Sharp strike with full rims and much remaining luster, the reverse pristine but the obverse with light hairlines. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection." The "rat nose" bust of the king used 1763-71 was superseded by this bust used from 1772 until the king's death. While this type is scarce compared to Mexican or Colombian two escudos, it is much more available than any previous type. We don't know why this date was omitted from Cayón; there is no reason to think this date rarer than others in the series. Assayer MJ is listed for 1773-80. The implementation of a new bust was the occasion for a slight debasement from 0.917 fine gold to 0.901 fine.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.77 g, 0.901 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Cayón-unlisted, Cal-1526; Fr-34; KM-80.
- 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.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Treasure Auction 37, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Almenara Collection of Colonial Peruvian Gold Coins, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2025.
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