Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3041 Sess. 4 13 August 2015
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Guatemala
Ferdinand VI gold 8 Escudos 1747 G-J MS61 NGC, Guatemala mint, KMA13, cf. Onza-Tipo B (date unlisted), Jara-unl. Choice for the type and designation with partially lustrous surfaces, and fewer marks than one would expect for the assigned grade, the surfaces and finish being fairly crude as usual for this issue. Truly a "miracle" coin since it survives from a meager estimated mintage of only 127 pieces (Jara, op. cit., page 172), and a particularly attractive specimen for this extremely rare type, well struck for the issue on a large diameter flan and with an amazingly clear four digit date. The latter characteristic is perhaps the piece's most salient feature, and has nothing to do with chance. Indeed, Jara (op. cit. pages76-80) indicates that upon the analysis of sample coins corresponding to the years 1739-1743 and sent to Madrid for their approval, a Royal Ordinance dated May 24, 1746 was sent to Guatemala. Said Ordinance instructed that, in view of the defects seen on the sample coins, it was required that the employees of the Guatemala mint put the utmost care so that the subsequently issued coins would be issued clearly showing both the date and the assayer's initial. It was received in Guatemala on February 10, 1747, prior to the first production batch of coins for that year. On April 29, 1747 the Guatemalan authorities analyzed the coins from the first batch of silver coins (4,772 marks that had been delivered on April 25) and reported that these indeed all showed the date and assayer initial. Obviously, even more care was put into the mintage of the only gold batch of 1747 which consisted of little more than 15 marks that were minted on May 8 of that year. Our example naturally comes from said batch, proudly displays a full four-digit date on the obverse and a clear assayer initial on the reverse, and shows an unusually careful workmanship for the issue with all important data clearly seen! This carefully minted jewel undoubtedly is a most exciting discovery piece sure to become a centerpiece in the next owner's cabinet. It should logically be considered among the more valuable 8 Escudos of Ferdinand VI, especially when one considers the decaying workmanship of the later issues, due to both failing minting equipment that forced the use of smaller flans, which often leave the date or other important information out. A case in point is for example lot 629 in Aureo's 4/2002 sale: an 8 Escudos 1752 G-J that was misattributed as 8 Escudos 1750 G-J because its reduced sized flan only showed a barely visible date). And based on its remarkable quality, we fully expect this MS61 unique specimen to surpass the $125,000 realized for the 1735 dated piece in 2012.
Estimate: 120000-140000 USD
Ferdinand VI gold 8 Escudos 1747 G-J MS61 NGC, Guatemala mint, KMA13, cf. Onza-Tipo B (date unlisted), Jara-unl. Choice for the type and designation with partially lustrous surfaces, and fewer marks than one would expect for the assigned grade, the surfaces and finish being fairly crude as usual for this issue. Truly a "miracle" coin since it survives from a meager estimated mintage of only 127 pieces (Jara, op. cit., page 172), and a particularly attractive specimen for this extremely rare type, well struck for the issue on a large diameter flan and with an amazingly clear four digit date. The latter characteristic is perhaps the piece's most salient feature, and has nothing to do with chance. Indeed, Jara (op. cit. pages76-80) indicates that upon the analysis of sample coins corresponding to the years 1739-1743 and sent to Madrid for their approval, a Royal Ordinance dated May 24, 1746 was sent to Guatemala. Said Ordinance instructed that, in view of the defects seen on the sample coins, it was required that the employees of the Guatemala mint put the utmost care so that the subsequently issued coins would be issued clearly showing both the date and the assayer's initial. It was received in Guatemala on February 10, 1747, prior to the first production batch of coins for that year. On April 29, 1747 the Guatemalan authorities analyzed the coins from the first batch of silver coins (4,772 marks that had been delivered on April 25) and reported that these indeed all showed the date and assayer initial. Obviously, even more care was put into the mintage of the only gold batch of 1747 which consisted of little more than 15 marks that were minted on May 8 of that year. Our example naturally comes from said batch, proudly displays a full four-digit date on the obverse and a clear assayer initial on the reverse, and shows an unusually careful workmanship for the issue with all important data clearly seen! This carefully minted jewel undoubtedly is a most exciting discovery piece sure to become a centerpiece in the next owner's cabinet. It should logically be considered among the more valuable 8 Escudos of Ferdinand VI, especially when one considers the decaying workmanship of the later issues, due to both failing minting equipment that forced the use of smaller flans, which often leave the date or other important information out. A case in point is for example lot 629 in Aureo's 4/2002 sale: an 8 Escudos 1752 G-J that was misattributed as 8 Escudos 1750 G-J because its reduced sized flan only showed a barely visible date). And based on its remarkable quality, we fully expect this MS61 unique specimen to surpass the $125,000 realized for the 1735 dated piece in 2012.
Estimate: 120000-140000 USD