Peru 1781-L MI escudo
This specimen was lot 25209 in Heritage sale 61487 (Dallas, TX, May 2025), where it sold for $630. The catalog description[1] noted, "Peru. Only Certified 1781 LM-MI Escudo. Charles III gold Escudo 1781 LM-MI XF Details (Obverse Scratched) NGC, Lima mint. Another extremely difficult fractional gold issue of Lima origin from the reign of Charles III, currently ranked as the only certified specimen and first auction appearances seemingly in decades. Sure to interest the specialist and type collector alike. From the Monedero Collection of Peru and Latin American Coins." The "rat nose" bust of the king used 1763-71 was superseded by this bust used from 1772 until the king's death.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 escudos, it is much more available than any previous type. Assayer MI is listed for 1780-87. 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: 3.38 g, 0.901 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Cayón-12309, Fr-35, KM 79, Cal-1347.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2025 May 13 - 14 The Monedero Collection of Peru and Latin American Coins Showcase Auction #61487, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2025.
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