Colombia 1699-ARCE 2 escudos
The first specimen was lot 52 in Sedwick Auction 36 (Winter Park, FL, November 2024), where it sold for $7,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, 1699/8 (AR8E), rare. AU with sediment in crevices, bold full date with distinctively retrograde 6 and 9's (the final 9 clearly punched over an 8), assayer not visible but known to be AR8E by obverse die-style, which includes three dots for bottom elements of shield that is off-center enough to also show an 8 for the S at the end of the king's name (ordinal II also visible)." The second specimen was lot 53 in the same sale, where it sold for $5,700. The catalog description[1] noted, "COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, 1699 (ARCE), rare. 6.72 grams. Bold AU with choice full cross, clear bottom half of date, off-center obverse showing choice top of shield (upper half transposed) and most of crown, parts of edge slightly crude (as made), light sediment in crevices." This type was struck 1694-1713 for Charles II and into the reign of Philip V. We show assayer AR8E and ARCE in one page as the assayer's initials aren't actually visible on either specimen.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.77 g, 0.917 fine gold, the first specimen 6.65 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-7819 (assayer R); the first specimen Restrepo-M66.20; S-B24; KM-14.2; Cal-unl (Type 151); Fr-4; the second specimen Restrepo-M66.28; S-B24; KM-14.2; Cal-903; Fr-4.
- 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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.
- Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
- Restrepo, Jorge Emilio, Monedas de Colombia, 1619-2006, Medellin, Colombia, Impresiones Rojo: 2006.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Treasure Auction 36, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Luis R. Ponte collection, the Jorge Becerra Collection and the John M. O'Brien collection, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2024.
Link to: