Bentes Auctions
e-Auction 1 31 October 2014
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Spain, Philip V, Gold 8 Escudos, 1729, Seville mint (PHILIP variety), no engraver. Extremely rare, very few known specimens. Calicó "La Onza" 527 (page 151 - "pocos ejemplares conocidos", or "few known specimens"), Aureo & Calicó 195 (page 450), Cayón 10009, KM -, Fr. -.
Removed from jewellery (framed, not welded), few signs of mounting visible. NGC graded VF details, beautiful grade for this exceptionally rare variety. Population of 3.
The Royal Mint House of Seville
The Royal mint house of Seville was the main place where gold and silver were melt during the Spanish Imperial age. Afterwards, it was converted into silver and gold coins for a later sustainment of the European economy during the Golden century. It has its origins in a factory of maravedis created by Alfonso X.
After the conquest of the Americas by the Spanish huge amounts of gold arrived in Seville, and from the 16th century up to 1717, it had the exclusive monopoly on the products coming from the New World. The amount of precious metal converted into coins was so big that in many occasions there were crysis due to hyperinflation. During its golden age, more than 200 men worked there, in charge for the coinage and melting of metals.
It was placed in the center of the city, between the Torre del Oro and the Torre de la Plata, and everything that arrived from the New World destined to the Casa de Contratación passed under its supervision.
It had an irregular area, similar to a triangle, and was built in the same place where the old mint house was located since the 13th century. It underwent many reforms during its service as a Royal mint, a reform in the 16th century and another one in the 18th century, when the great doorway that gives access to the main entrance to it, a work by Sebastián Van der Borcht, was added to its original project, as well as another series of reworks with the objective of solving structural problems deriving from the Lisbon earthquake of 1755. It stopped working during the 19 th century, when its building became a residence.
This 8 Escudos piece, struck in 1729, was the first year issue of the new series bearing the bust of the king, Phillip V. In this year, the legend bore the King's name spelled as PHILP, then, later that same year, it was changed to PHILIP, with very few specimens struck in 1729 with the new legend. A rare chance to obtain this elusive coin, that many great numismatists lack in their collections.
Removed from jewellery (framed, not welded), few signs of mounting visible. NGC graded VF details, beautiful grade for this exceptionally rare variety. Population of 3.
The Royal Mint House of Seville
The Royal mint house of Seville was the main place where gold and silver were melt during the Spanish Imperial age. Afterwards, it was converted into silver and gold coins for a later sustainment of the European economy during the Golden century. It has its origins in a factory of maravedis created by Alfonso X.
After the conquest of the Americas by the Spanish huge amounts of gold arrived in Seville, and from the 16th century up to 1717, it had the exclusive monopoly on the products coming from the New World. The amount of precious metal converted into coins was so big that in many occasions there were crysis due to hyperinflation. During its golden age, more than 200 men worked there, in charge for the coinage and melting of metals.
It was placed in the center of the city, between the Torre del Oro and the Torre de la Plata, and everything that arrived from the New World destined to the Casa de Contratación passed under its supervision.
It had an irregular area, similar to a triangle, and was built in the same place where the old mint house was located since the 13th century. It underwent many reforms during its service as a Royal mint, a reform in the 16th century and another one in the 18th century, when the great doorway that gives access to the main entrance to it, a work by Sebastián Van der Borcht, was added to its original project, as well as another series of reworks with the objective of solving structural problems deriving from the Lisbon earthquake of 1755. It stopped working during the 19 th century, when its building became a residence.
This 8 Escudos piece, struck in 1729, was the first year issue of the new series bearing the bust of the king, Phillip V. In this year, the legend bore the King's name spelled as PHILP, then, later that same year, it was changed to PHILIP, with very few specimens struck in 1729 with the new legend. A rare chance to obtain this elusive coin, that many great numismatists lack in their collections.