Spain 1638-S R 8 escudos
This specimen was lot 31076 in Heritage sale 3094 (Chicago, August 2021), where it sold for $16,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "Spain: Philip IV gold 8 Escudos 1638/7 S-R MS61 NGC, Seville mint. A firmly brilliant example for a type that is more often seen with flat features and muted surface luster, revealing a pleasing degree of centeredness to the strike on both sides. Though the mint letter and assayer's initial have been largely obscured by an area of unevenness, the denomination and, more notably, the final digits of the date can still be discerned with little difficulty, the latter appearing around 3 o'clock on the reverse (based on holder orientation). We would note that this is one of the only firmly dateable specimens we have been able to locate coming to market in recent years, with NGC recording just 7 firmly dateable 8 Escudos of Philip IV total in their census, clearly pointing to the offering's recognized outlier status. From the WTR Collection." This type is listed for 1627-34, 1637-68. All dates are rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 grams, 0.917 fine gold, this specimen 26.97 g.
Catalog reference: KM 59.2, Cal-1959, Oro Macuquino-67, Cayón-6781, Oro Macuquino-54.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, ANA WFOM World & Ancient Coins Platinum Night Signature Auction #3094, featuring the Cape Coral Collection, the WTR Collection and the Monaco Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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