Watch List notes:

Lima, Peru (State of North Peru), gold 4 escudos, 1838 M, extremely rare, NGC AU 53, finest known in NGC census, ex-Hammel, ex-Goodman. KM-142.1. One of only three examples known and the finest known in private hands of this legendary rarity, once a highlight of the Latin American section of the famous Hammel Collection, whose cataloger described it as "a choice example of an extremely rare coin difficult to find in any condition. All the relevant sources simply say RARE" (still an accurate statement today). While it does have some light wear (as the assigned grade implies), the surfaces are lustrous and relatively free of marks, the reverse in particular showing a lovely red toning around the details, the finer of just two graded by NGC by three grades. It is a fitting finale for the illustrious-pedigreed suite of three-year South Peru-North Peru trophies in this auction (starting with lot 1035). Pedigreed to the Mortimer Hammel Collection (Stack's auction of September 1982, lot 904) and to the Irving Goodman Collection (Superior auction of June 1996, lot 1412), both stated on the label.

Estimate: $20000 - $40000