Peru 1788-L IJ escudo
This specimen was lot 1286 in Sedwick Auction 37 (Winter Park, FL, May 2025), where it sold for $780. The catalog description[1] noted, "PERU, Lima, gold bust 1 escudo, Charles III, 1788 IJ, ex-Almenara. AU with choice luster and nearly full rims, the bust a bit weak but enhanced by tooling, accompanied by an NGC tag that says "engraved devices" (with no other examples indicated in their census) in addition to the pedigree. 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 The "rat nose" bust of the king used 1763-71 was superseded by this bust used from 1772 until the king's death.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 escudos, it is much more available than any previous type. Assayer IJ is listed for 1788-1802. The implementation of a new bust was the occasion for a slight debasement from 0.917 fine gold to 0.901 fine. In 1785, a second debasement was decreed, lowering the fineness to 875 thousandths.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.38 g, 0.875 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Cayón-12367, Cal-1355; Fr-35; KM-79a.
- 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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