Bolivia 1780-PTS PR escudo
This specimen was lot 851 in Sedwick Auction 37 (Winter Park, FL, May 2025), where it sold for $2,040. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, gold bust 1 escudo, Charles III, 1780 PR, very rare, NGC XF 40, finest known in NGC census, ex-Almenara. Full rims with faint luster in legends, honest wear in centers, possible trace of overdate 0/9. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection." While silver coins from Bolivia exist in vast quantities, gold from Bolivia is scarce. For the colonial period, Colombia may be regarded as the most prolific issuer, followed by Mexico, followed by Peru. Bolivia, Chile and Guatemala are minor sources. This type was minted 1778-87 and is rare. In 1785, the alloy was debased from 0.901 to 0.875 fine gold. The assayer PR appears for 1776-95.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.38 g, 0.901 fine gold, .098 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Cayón-12306, Janson-71.3; Cal-1438; Fr-5; KM-56.
- 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 Felipe VI, 1474 a 2020, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2019.
- 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.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Treasure Auction 37, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Almenara Collection of Colonial Peruvian Gold Coins, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2025.
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