Bolivia 1778-PTS PR 2 escudos
This specimen was lot 41054 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $3,120. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. 2 Escudos, 1778-PTS PR. Potosi Mint. Charles III. PCGS Genuine--Repaired, EF Details. The first year of issue of the type and POTENTIALLY UNIQUE, with no other examples appearing in our searches of auction archives since 2000 or in PCGS or NGC population reports. Repaired through the whole of the obverse fields, perhaps in an attempt to remove the planchet lamination, but with unquestionable legibility to the date. From the Richard August Collection. Ex: Jim Shipley Collection." This type was minted 1779-89 and is rare, tho less so than the four escudos. The assayer PR appears for 1776-95. In 1785, the alloy was debased from 0.901 to 0.875 fine gold.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.77 g, 0.901 fine gold, 23 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Cayón-limonite, Fr-4; KM-57 (Rare); Cal-1654.
- 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.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, vol. 1, 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2025 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Richard August Collection and the Richard Margolis Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
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