Portrait 8 escudo from Colombia

Gold Cobs from the Florida shipwrecks of the 1715 Fleet & other New World wrecks. Spanish Colonial gold and silver coins from Lima, Mexico, Cuzco, Bogotá, Cartagena and other mints.

(Ferdinand VI in an attractive early portrait that is reflected on his coinage!)

PORTRAIT 8 and 4 ESCUDOS FROM the

Colombian mints of Santa Fe de Bogota and Popayan

BC1. A choice mint state Bogota portrait 8 escudos from the reign of Carlos IV. This is the highest grade Carlos IV Bogota onza either grading service has seen. High relief with more booming luster and color than I have ever seen on a portrait Bogota onza. I don't presume to know what PCGS means by "MS 64+" but the shield side is just about perfect and the portrait side has only few light contact marks. If this were a 1797 US $10 eagle, it would be graded MS 66 or higher. In any case, the finest the mint state Bogota Carlos IV known. SOLD

The Bogota mint used the mint mark NR (=Nuevo Reino) in the portrait period. The insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece separates the mintmark from the double assayer's mark JJ for Juan Antonio Rodriquez and Juan Jose Truxillo. Notice the bold and full crown and shield, so often softly struck on Carlos IV Colombian issues.

The perfect coin for the collector of Spanish Colonial onzas who wants the best. This coin last sold in a Heritage Auction (#3014) for $8050.

SOLD.

terravitan@aol.com or 480-595-1293.

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BC2. From the southwestern Colombian mint of Popayan, a choice mint state onza of Carlos IV. Beautiful color and luster. 1790's Popayan 8 escudos are not rare in XF/AU, but choice mint state specimens are a different story. Well struck in both the shield and portrait, which most Popayan onzas are not. No Popayan onza has graded higher at either service. SOLD

The nearly perfect, high relief shield is pictured below. The Popayan mint mark in the portrait period was P. To the right of the Golden Fleece are the assayers' initials. Assayer J is not known, but F is Francisco Fernandez de las Cajigas.

A perfect type coin of Carlos IV for the collector of mint state Spanish Colonial onzas. Available. SOLD

480-595-1293 or terravitan@aol.com