Mexico 1748-Mo MF 4 escudos

Eliasberg lot 3121

This specimen was lot 3121 in the Eliasberg sale, where it sold for $14,950. The catalog description^[1] noted, "1748 MF 4 escudos. AU-55 (NGC). Types as above. Lustrous medium gold with some peripheral reflectivity, small dark toning spot on point of bust, positively choice. A really exceptional specimen of the date or type. From the John H. Clapp Collection; Clapp estate to Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., 1942."

All Mexican colonial gold coinage may be considered scarce. This very rare type was struck 1748-51. It was superseded by KM 138, issued 1752-56, with a smaller bust of the king and no "4 S" on the reverse.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 13.54 grams, .917 fine gold, .399 troy oz AGW. This specimen: 13.48 grams, 30.20 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: Cayón-10790, KM 137, Fr-18.

Source:

• 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.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• ^[1]Kraljevich, John, John Pack, Elizabeth O. Piper and Frank Van Valen, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., Collection of World Gold Coins and Medals, Wolfboro, NH: American Numismatic Rarities, 2005.
• 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:

• 1740/39 4 escudos
• 1748 real
• 1748 2 reales
• 1748 4 reales
• 1748 8 reales
• 1748 2 escudos
• Spain 1748-M JB 4 escudos
• 1748 8 escudos
• 1749 4 escudos
• Coins and currency dated 1748
• other specimens in The Eliasberg Collection
• return to Mexican colonial coinage, 1536-1822