Spain 1796-M MF 1/2 escudo
This specimen was lot 322 in Áureo y Calicó sale 347 (Barcelona, March 2020), where it sold for €3,200 (about US$4,223 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"1796. Carlos IV. Madrid. MF. 1/2 escudo. Bellísima. Pleno brillo original. Muy rara y más así. S/C-. (kingdom of Spain, Charles IV, half escudo of 1796, Madrid mint. Exquisite, full original luster, very rare in this quality, about uncirculated."
This type was struck in Madrid 1788-97 and is rather rare in comparison to the half escudos of the previous reign. Half escudos were struck in metropolitan Spain 1738-97 in considerable numbers and are quite a bit more common than their silver equals, the eight reales. This is opposite from Latin America, where silver pesos were minted in vast quantities but half escudos would not be minted until the reign of Ferdinand VII. Assayer MF is listed for 1788-99.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.69 g, 0.875 fine gold, .047 troy oz AGW, this specimen 1,76 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-13996, KM 433, AC. 1075.
- 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.
- 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.
- [1]Sisó, Teresa, Eduard Domingo and Lluís Lalana, Subasta Publica 347: Seleccion de 500 Monedas, Medallas y Billetes, Barcelona: Áureo y Calicó, 2020.
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