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| ARGENTINA/LA RIOJA – 1849 RB Four Reales KM-20 |
ARGENTINA
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4R 1849 RB LA RIOJA
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NGC MS 65
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In its early years of nationhood, Argentina’s coinage included numerous provincial issues, a single, centralized coinage not being firmly established until 1881. This gem four reales piece from the mineral-rich province of La Rioja is a bit weakly struck at its centers, with the arms that appear on either side being slightly challenging to discern in full. Nevertheless, it is a splendid example of a type seldom seen in Mint State. Entirely untoned, it appears just as it must have when coined.
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| CHILE – 1817So FJ Eight Escudos KM-78 |
CHILE - COLONIAL
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8E 1817SO FJ
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NGC MS 63
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Though Chile had proclaimed its independence as early as 1810, several years would go by before this status was actually achieved. The choice gold eight escudos piece presented here was the final issue to bear the titles of Spain’s King Ferdinand VII, though the portrait bust is that of Carlos IV who had abdicated years earlier! This beauty was coined at the mint in Santiago (So), and it also bears the combined initials ‘FJ’ of mintmasters Francisco Rodriguez Brochero and Jose Maria de Bobadilla.
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| MEXICO – 1873Go S Twenty Pesos KM-414 |
MEXICO - 1823-1909
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G20P 1873GO S
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NGC MS 63
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The coinage of the Mexican Republic was produced at numerous mints, and this choice twenty pesos gold coin was struck at Guanajuato (Go) in the nation’s central region. A mere 7,000 examples were produced, and seldom is one seen in such fine condition. Its obverse displays the cap-and-rays device so familiar from earlier issues now surmounting the scales of justice and law. The gold fineness is expressed as 875 (87.5%). Its reverse features the national symbol of an eagle killing a snake while perched atop a cactus.
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| PERU – 1823 ¼ Peso Copper Pattern KM-PnB1 |
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1/4P 1823 PATTERN PERU PROVISIONAL ISSUE KM-PNB1
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NGC MS 64 BN
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Peru proclaimed its independence from Spain on July 28, 1821. One of the primary symbols of such sovereignty is coinage, and several pattern issues were soon produced. This one dated 1823 pairs the adopted reverse of a mountain landscape with an experimental obverse on which the value is expressed as a fraction (it is spelled out on the adopted type). This pattern also differs in that it lacks the Lima monogram. This choice specimen is glossy brown with a trace of mint red in the protected areas.
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| MEXICO – 1732Mo F Eight Reales KM-103 |
MEXICO - TO 1823
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8R 1732MO F MILLED
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NGC MS 65
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Still under Spanish rule, Mexico transitioned from crude cobs to milled coinage in 1732, and this magnificent eight reales piece from that first year of production shows the new type at its finest. Its obverse displays the Pillars of Hercules, gateway to the New World, framing two crowned hemispheres. Its reverse bears the arms of Spain. In addition to the Mexico City mintmark, this coin carries the initial ‘F’ of coiner Felipe Rivas de Angulo. This amazing coin is faintly prooflike and quite richly toned.
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| ECUADOR – 1836 FP Four Escudos KM-19 |
ECUADOR
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4E 1836 FP QUITO
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NGC MS 63
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After leaving the Confederacy of Gran Colombia in 1830, Ecuador commenced its own unique coinage. This choice gold four escudos piece is from the first year of issue, and it bears the mint name QUITO in full. The obverse features a bust of LIBERTAD, while the reverse design cleverly makes reference to Ecuador’s location at Earth’s equator by showing the zodiac with the sun’s face superimposed. This scarce coin is rarely seen in such splendid condition.
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| MEXICO/OAXACA – 1916 TM Sixty Pesos KM-755 |
MEXICO - 1905 TO DATE
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60P 1916 TM OAXACA GOLD ELIASBERG
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NGC MS 65
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Revolution against the corrupt rule of President Porfirio Diaz commenced in 1910 and prompted several states to issue their own coinage out of necessity during the turbulent years that followed. Arguably the most desirable of these emergency issues is the magnificent gold sixty pesos piece coined by Oaxaca in 1916. Executed with greater skill and care than most revolutionary issues, it is clear that a few were preserved by those few who had the means to do so. This wonderful specimen is a beautiful gem from the famed collection of Louis Eliasberg, Sr.
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| BRAZIL – 1729R 12,800 Reis KM-140 |
BRAZIL COLONIAL/IMPERIAL
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12800R 1729R ELIASBERG
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NGC MS 65
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Portugal’s seafarers traveled far and wide, claiming many parts of the world for their king. Brazil was the nation’s jewel of the New World, and this 12,800 Reis gold coin was among the more visible products of that rich colony. Coined at Rio de Janeiro in fairly large numbers for the time, precious few have survived in Mint State. This awesome gem from the Eliasberg Collection is among the very finest of these. It portrays King Joao VI on its obverse and the arms of Portugal on its reverse. This lovely coin is semi-prooflike and pleasingly pristine.
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| BOLIVIA – 1652P E Eight Reales KM-R21 |
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8R 1652P E BOLIVIA KM-R21 ROYAL COINAGE MILLENNIA COLLECTION
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NGC MS 63
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Bolivia was among the most valued of Spain’s New World colonies, as it was the source of tremendous mineral wealth. The crude cob coinage typically struck there for shipment to the mother country was supplemented with very small numbers of Royal Issues produced to show off the die work at its finest. Made with the greatest care, this glorious eight reales piece from 1652 is fully struck, well centered and almost perfectly round. All text is fully readable, including Potosi’s ‘P’ mintmark and initial ‘E’ of assayer Antonio de Ergueta. In one curious lapse, the dies are quite noticeably rotated from obverse to reverse.
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| COLOMBIA – 1857 Ten Pesos KM-122 |
COLOMBIA EARLY REPUBLICS
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G10P 1857 POPAYAN "DIEZ PESOS"
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NGC MS 66
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The Republic of Nueva Granada (now Colombia) adopted a decimal coinage in 1853, and its highest denomination was this impressive gold ten pesos piece. Coined at the mint in Popayan, the number produced is unknown, but Mint State survivors are very scarce. This superb gem has very bright luster and exceptionally clean surfaces, yet it still reveals the relative crudeness with which such coins were made. Its dies were rough in texture and included numerous repunched letters as well as a doubled 5 in the date.
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