Mexico 1856/46-Ca RG 8 escudos

photo courtesy Stack's

This specimen was lot 1204 in Stack's "Vermuele, Ward & Mexico Maxico" sale (New York, January 2010), where it sold for $4,312.50. The catalog description^[1] noted, "MEXICO. Republic. 8 Escudos, 1856/46 Ca RG. Chihuahua. Hand inscribing law book with quill and Liberty Cap. Rv. Bold eagle facing r. with snake in beak. A high-grade example that shows a few moderate hairlines in the reflective fields. The edge and surfaces are better than average for this issue. Boldly repunched date, although the 5 could be over a 4, the flag of the 5 shows repunching low as well as the entire 6. Choice About Uncirculated." Many consider the Chihuahua mintmark to be common on pre-decimal issues but that is only true of the eight reales of the period 1874-95. Chihuahua half reals are known only for the years 1844-45 and the reals 1844-45 and 1855. No four reales are known to exist from this mint. The only gold issues are eight escudos 1841-71. This is an early issue for this mint. The date is given a 75% premium over the contemporary Guanajuato mint in the SCWC.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 27.07 g, .875 fine gold, .760 troy oz AGW.

Catalog reference: KM 383.1, Fr-67.

Source:

• ^[1]Kraljevich, John, and Frank Van Valen, The Vermuele, Ward & Mexico Maxico Collections, New York: Stack's, 2009.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Long, Richard A., Gold Coins of the Early Mexican Republic, 1823-1873, North Bend, OR: Wegferd Publications, 2004.
• 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.

Link to:

• Guanajuato 1856 1/4 real
• Jalisco 1856 1/8 real
• 1856-G^O ¼ real
• 1856-D^O ½ real
• 1856-G^A ½ real
• 1856-G^O ½ real
• 1856-P^I ½ real
• 1856-C real
• 1856-G^O 2 reales
• 1856-M^O 2 reales
• 1856-G^A 4 reales
• 1856-G^O 4 reales
• 1856-M^O 4 reales
• 1856-P^I 4 reales
• 1856-C^A 8 reales
• 1856-D^O 8 reales
• 1856-G^A 8 reales
• 1856-M^O 8 reales
• 1856-P^I 8 reales
• 1856-C ½ escudo
• 1856-M^O ½ escudo
• 1856-G^A escudo
• 1856-M^O escudo
• 1856-G^O 4 escudos
• 1856-M^O 4 escudos
• 1856-C 8 escudos
• 1856-D^O 8 escudos
• 1856-G^O 8 escudos
• 1856-M^O 8 escudos
• 1858-Ca 8 escudos
• Coins and currency dated 1856
• return to Mexican imperial and republican coinage, 1822-1905