Portugal (1458-81) 1/2 espadim

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Stack's Bowers 2024 NYINC sale, lot 54275
SB124-54275 rev.jpg

This specimen was lot 54275 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2024), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "PORTUGAL. 1/2 Espadim, ND (1458-81). Lisbon Mint. Afonso V. PCGS Genuine--Environmental Damage, EF Details. Obverse: Shield; Reverse: Hand holding sword downward; Λ to left; all within quatrefoil. Though exhibiting a bit of shortness to the flan as well as the noted environmental damage, this specimen stands as an EXCEEDINGLY RARE representative of a type that is virtually unobtainable. Deep gray in hue, with some green aspects sprinkled throughout, this hammered issue should absolutely excite the advanced collectors of the series, and is an opportunity that will not likely present itself again anytime soon." This type, struck 1458-81, commemorates the conquest of Ceuta in Morocco in 1415. Espadim means small sword and refers to the sword on the obverse; there are also half espadims, shown here. Alfonso died in 1481, aged 49 years; the gothic "A" on the reverse (referenced as a "Λ" by the auctioneers) is his initial. It can be more clearly seen on this cotrim or this chinfrao from his reign. The Portuguese held Ceuta until the union with Spain in 1580; Ceuta remained Spanish when Portugal regained her independence in 1640.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 0.9 g, 0.218 fine silver, this specimen 0.75 g.

Catalog reference: Gomes-A5-19.01 (listed as "muito rara").

Source:

  • Alberto Gomes and Francisco Antonio Magro, Moedas Portuguesas e do Território Que Hoje é Portugal: Catálogo das Moedas Cunhadas para o Continentes e Ilhas Adjacentes, para os Territórios do Ultramar e Grão-Mestres Portugueses da Ordem de Malta, 6ª Edição, Lisbon: Associação Numismática de Portugal, 2013.
  • [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2024 NYINC Auction, featuring the Emilio M Ortiz Collection and a Symphony of Russian Rarities, the Rothschild-Piatigorsky Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.

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