Watch List notes:

Cuzco, Peru (State of South Peru), gold 8 escudos, 1837 BA, FEDERACION, raised edge-lettering, rare, NGC AU 53, ex-Farouk. KM-167; Fr-91. Some of the most beautifully designed coinage of South America can be found in the issues of the three-year entity known as South Peru. These coins display a conscious effort (some would even say overkill) to combine Peru's rich cultural and political symbols all in one place. The present coin, with earlier legend ESTADO SUD PERUANO on the obverse along with four stars representing the four constituent departments of South Peru (Ayacucho, Cuzco, Arequipa and Puno) above a sunface-topped flag presentation, features on the reverse a volcano on the right and the Inca fortress Qorikancha on the left, with a galleon on waves at top in between and a horn of plenty at bottom above the word FEDERACION. All of these elements are clear against a lustrous background, with just a few typical flaws near the rims. But perhaps its best feature is its pedigree, which puts it in the company of some of the greatest coins of the 19th century. Pedigreed to the King Farouk Collection (Sotheby's [London] auction of February-March 1954, lot 171).

Estimate: $5000 - $10000