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Philip IV (1621-1665)
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Colombian Gold Cobs from the MESUNO HOARD (1636) (A brief history of Colombian gold cobs follows C11.)
ME8. From the famous 1636 MESUNO Shipwreck Santa Fe de Bogota, two escudos (1636). A lustrous choice mint state coin NGC graded "Mesuno Treasure MS 63."
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 the highest graded Mesuno Treasure two escudos, with one other MS 63. It has an almost complete and well struck shield and cross. The coin in choice 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 6.68 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
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ME9. A high grade (1636) Bogota two escudos from the famous 1636 Magdalena River Mesuno Shipwreck. Lustrous choice mint state coin, 6.7 gms, 22 mm, graded "Mesuno Treasure MS 62" by NGC.
Although almost 1600 gold pieces were recovered from the Magdalena River in 1936--see Leopoldo Cancio's excellent study of the hoard in 1978-79, with additional confirmation from Colombian sources--the vast majority were somewhat the worst for their 300 years in the river. To that , add the problem the best surviving pieces were quickly purchased for jewelry use. Numismatic interest in the coins really did not really develop to any extent until the 1960's, perhaps collateral to the new Florida finds from the 1715 Fleet. I would say that possibly 1/10 of 1% of the hoard survives in genuinely mint state with no jewelry use.
Many 1630's Bogotas are offered at auction and on ebay as "Mesuno Hoard" with no documented provenance. When collectors wish to resell these coins, they will discover that their "maybe Mesuno" pedigree attracts buyers only at a highly discounted price. Here is a dated 1636 Bogota with a clear provenance to Stack's 1959-1960 sale of a choice group of Mesunos. NGC has accepted this documentation and recorded it on the encapsulation. This coin, one of the best 1636 Mesuno Bogota NGC has encapsulated, will be a highlight of any Spanish Colonial or Shipwreck collection.
SOLD. terravitan@aol.com or call 480-595-1293
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ME11. From the famous 1636 MESUNO Shipwreck Santa Fe de Bogota, two escudos (1636). (N)RA to the left of the nearly full shield. Good, well-centered cross. NGC graded "Mesuno Treasure XF 45". SOLD
ME12. From Colombia's famous 1636 MESUNO Shipwreck, Santa Fe de Bogota, two escudos (1636). Two choice AU Mesunos with original reddish toning from the leather bags in which they were being transported. NGC graded "AU 53/50 Mesuno Treasure". SOLD.
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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