Spain (1535-37) escudo Fr-36a
This specimen was lot 52606 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $4,560. The catalog description[1] noted, "SPAIN. Cob Escudo, ND (ca. 1535-7). Barcelona Mint. Carlos I. PCGS MS-62. Struck to commemorate the conquest of Tunis. Obverse: Coat-of-arms over imperial double eagle; Reverse: Cross fleuree, with K in two angles. A RARE and seldom seen issue, this celebratory striking is undoubtedly one of the finest extant, offering a sharp strike, great golden-yellow color, and intense brilliance shimmering throughout." The Spanish conquered Tunis in 1535, lost it to the Turks in 1569, retook it in 1573 but held it only briefly before losing it for good to the Turks in 1574. The Turks installed autonomous beys, who funded their rule by raiding shipping throughout the Mediterranean. Cayón notes that this commemorative escudo also comes without the "K's" on the reverse (Cayón-3239) and is scarcer thus. Altho struck in Barcelona, we are listing this under Spain as it was struck by the direct order of Charles V.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.38 g, 0.917 fine gold, the specimen 3.37 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-36a; Cal-122, Cayón-3238.
- 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.
- Krause, Chester L., and Colin R. Bruce II, Standard Catalog of World Coins: Spain, Portugal and the New World, Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2002.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
Link to:
- (1535-37) 3 reales, Barcelona mint, for the capture of Tunis
- (1535-55)-B escudo, Burgos mint
- (1535-56)-G R escudo, Granada mint
- (1535-56)-A escudo, Segovia mint
- (1535-56)-D escudo, Segovia mint
- (1535-50)-P escudo, Segovia mint
- (1535-56)-S escudo, Seville mint
- (1535-56)-D S escudo, Seville mint
- (1535-56)-S D escudo, Seville mint
- (1535-56)-T M escudo, Toledo mint
- Catalonia (1536-37) ducat Fr-36a
- Coins and currency dated 1535