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Philip IV (1621-1665)
Philip V (1700-1746)
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COLOMBIAN GOLD COBS
C11. Santa Fe de Bogota, 1633 NRA two escudos. Very rare, the only fully dated 1633 and a unique example of an experimental redesign of the two escudos as a four escudos size (26 mm) coin. Restropo Plate coin M50-11. Struck on a huge 26 mm planchet but at normal weight 6.7 gm. ex Lasser Collection. PCGS AU 58.
At first sight this is one of the most puzzling issues of assayer Anuncibay's (A) long tenure (1627- 41) at Bogotá. It does not resemble stylistically anything that comes before it or after it. It is not an accidentally oversized striking, but a deliberate experiment with a larger, thinner planchet such as were favored on some Spanish peninsular issues. A special 16 mm shield punch was prepared (13 mm is the normal depth of a Bogotá shield of this period). A novel cross design was used with short thick bars and crossbars. A more compact tressure allowed more space for legends, which were never visible on Bogotá escudos of this period. No doubt that was the intent of this redesign: to make the legends PHILIPPUS IIII D.G. HISPANIARUM REX 1633 legible. Well, you can see for yourself the results of this experiment. Unless large, thin planchets are very well prepared with uniform thickness, you will get the problems you see here. The planchet becomes irregular as the gold spreads unevenly and flat spots appear especially along the edge were too little gold is present. The Bogotá mint in this period had nowhere near the technical skills to prepare a uniform planchet that would strike to a round 26 mm diameter.
Somewhere in the Archives of the Indies there is no doubt a letter to the Governor-President of the Audiencia of Bogotá saying that Philip IV would like to be able to read his name on the gold coins of Bogotá. The Governor promptly instructed Anuncibay to try to do this. Anuncibay tried and here is the result. Bogotá simply could not strike acceptable quality 26 mm two escudos. A few of these trials were probably sent to Philip IV with a very polite "sorry, but no can do" letter. Bogota returned forever more to striking its familiar no-legend 19-20 mm two escudos. Only one other (but undated) example of this experimental issue is reported to exist.
Available. Price on request.
terravitan@aol.com or 480-595-1293
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C3. From the 1715 Fleet
Santa Fe de Bogota, two escudos, a rare & boldly dated 1705. SOLD A choice mint state specimen from a group found in the 1960's by Real 8 on Douglas Beach, the wrecksite of the 1715 Fleet patache NIEVES. From the legendary CABALLEROS Collection, Part I, lot 136.
This is a beautiful mint state 1705 Bogie with a bold 705 date and a well-struck shield & cross. Notice the letter A to the right of the shield. This is from the legend CAROLUS. Almost all Bogies from 1700 to 1714 were struck in the name of Carlos II, the Hapsburg monarch who died in 1700. The authorities at Bogota were apparently unwilling to anticipate a victory by the new Bourbon king Philip V in the war over succession to the Spanish throne.
For some reason 1705 is a heavily faceted issue with flat areas that often obscure most of the shield and cross. This is example is far better than average. Most of the cross and shield are boldly struck on this coin. The coin is as lustrous as when it was struck 304 years ago! No one has ever ventured an explanation of why the NIEVES should contain a small hoard of mint state 1705 Bogies among its treasures, but it did. Perhaps a Colombian merchant was returning to Spain with his savings. The manifest and passenger list for the NIEVES has not yet surfaced. Weight: 6.75 gms. Diameter: 21.5 mm.
SOLD terravitan@aol.com or 480-595-1293
C4. From the 1715 Fleet (with Mel Fisher certificate) Santa Fe de Bogota, two escudo, 1707/6. Reign of Philip V. NGC "MS 61 1715 Plate Fleet"
This very rare date, unknown before the Fleet, has only 3 known collectible specimens, of which this is the only the mint state coin. Certainly it is unique as an overdate: No other 1707/6 two escudos is known to exist. Notice the large 7 very clearly repunched low over the final 6.
For some reason the 1707 is a substantially rarer Fleet date than the issues 1705-06 that immediately precede it and many of those that follow it. The few 1707's recovered from the Fleet were clearly private property and not a mint shipment. The other 1707 Bogotas that we have examined, including the Florida State specimen (#1690) pictured in Craig (Pl.15), show slight signs of actual circulation This mint state coin is the fortunate exception and the sole survivor of the earliest 1707/6 coinage of that year.
This Bogie was a favorite of my friend Joe Lasser, who especially liked clear overdates. Many Fleet-era Bogota issues show overdates. Joe believed that this was clear evidence that Bogota was perennially short of dies in this period and constantly needed to rework outdated but still serviceable dies.
Available. Price on request. terravitan@aol.com or 480-595-1293
C5. Santa Fe de Bogota, two escudos (1729), [SOLD] Second Reign of Philip V (1700-1746). Beautifully struck, mint state, very rare late style issue of assayer Sanchez de la Torre (S) Restropo type M80-8. PCGS calls it an AU-58! !
SOLD terravitan@aol or 480-595-1293
C6. From the famous 1636 MESUNO Shipwreck Santa Fe de Bogota, mint state two escudos (1636). NGC graded "Mesuno Treasure MS 61". [SOLD]
El Mesuno is a treacherous bend in the Magdelena River about 67 miles downriver from Bogota. In late 1636 a dispatch boat carrying a fresh shipment of two escudos from the Bogota mint came to grief on one of El Mesuno's shoals. The entire shipment of about 1400 gold pieces disappeared into river and could not be recovered. Exactly three hundred years later, in August of 1936, a group of workmen dredging the river stumbled upon a remarkable hoard of gold coins and artifacts, which became known as the Mesuno Hoard.
The Colombian Banco de la Republica acquired the hoard and by the mid-50's began to disperse some of it through several well-established numismatic firms. In America Stack's (Coin Galleries) was the outlet, and for nearly 20 years sold several hundred Mesuno coins. Pictured below is a copy of their very rare inaugural 1959 sale of Mesuno coins, featuring articles on the Mesuno wreck & coins by C.S.Wilcox and others. The present coin almost certainly came from one of those early Stack's sale.
This coin is a far above average Mesuno two escudos, with a almost complete and well struck shield and cross. The coin in mint state with no sign of circulation or mishandling. Many Mesunos were overcleaned or immediately put into jewelry. Original as-they came out-of -the-Magdalena Mesunis are very hard to find these days. This coin is is undated, but it die-matches perfectly with the few Mesuno coins that do bear a 1636 date. The coin weighs 6.64 gms, its diameter is 21 mm, and the reference number in the Lasser and the Restropo texts is M50S-15.
SOLD terravitan@aol.com or call 480-595-1293
More Mesuno gold cobs are now listed on the new Mesuno page.
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C7. A choice mint state 1636 Bogota from the famous 1636 Mesuno Shipwreck Santa Fe de Bogota, two escudos (16)36.
A lustrous mint state , 6.7 gms, 22 mm.
More Mesuno coins are now listed on the new Mesuno page.
terravitan@aol.com or call 480-595-1293
CColombian Gold Cobs (1622-1756)
What would later become the Viceroyalty of New Granada acquired one of its first casa de fundicion (assay office) at Marquita in Central Colombia about 1590. Marquita issued officially stamped gold ingots for 30 years, some perhaps imitating the Tejeulos system being used at Mexico City. None of these ingots apparently survive, a circumstance that a new Tierra Firme shipwreck, 1590-1625, may eventually remedy.
In 1620 Philip III sold Capt Alonso Turillo that right to establish a mint at Bogota with an oficina or branch mint at Cartagena. Turillo arrived in Colombia in 1621 and very quickly commenced a silver coinage. About a dozen or so two escudos dated 1622 give evidence that a brief gold coinage may also been attempted in Cartagena. No doubt some of this 1622 issue was struck in Madrid as patterns to show Philip III and his court, but the dies may have later accompanied Turillo to Cartagena and been used again. A final judgment on the 1622 gold coinage is not yet possible.
Mint records show that Cartagena began to strike two and one escudos in 1627 and continued to do so for 9 years (1627-1635). No gold coins attest a brief possible minatge in 1626. Under political pressure from officials at Bogota, Cartagena was never allowed to strike gold after 1635. The Bogota mint began regular production at the same time as Cartagena, and with a few brief hiatuses struck gold cobs until 1756.
For 110 years Bogota struck only one and two escudos. Very few one escudo survive--the first is dated 1685--suggesting that the original mintages were small & episodic. Bogota one escudos showing a legible date are extremely rare before assayer Molano (1730's). Late in the 1730's, faced with large new gold deposits to refine and coin, Molano began to strike four and eight escudos. Four and eight escudos were struck for 20 years, until the switch to milled coinage in 1756.
Our knowledge of
Colombian gold (and silver) cobs is heavily indebted to four
shipwrecks. The Mesuno wreck of 1636 and the Maravillas shipwreck of
1656 added greatly to our knowledge of Philip IV era Colombian gold.
The 1715 Fleet Florida wrecks did the same for late Carlos II and
early Philip V issues, and of course the 1622 wreck of the Atocha has been
a key player in sorting out the first gold & silver issues of
1621-22.
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