Owner Comments:
This is a coin that I cannot be missed in any collection of Mexican coins that aspires to be elite. There are 2 varieties of this coin, this is Type II, the rarest of them (the Phrygian cap points to the T, and the snake has a loop on the tail). Both Hubbard and O'Harrow on their book Hookneck, and Long in his book on the gold coins of the Mexican Republc, mentioned that there are maybe less than 24 known coins. And everyone agrees this is a very rare issue for Mexican numismatics. The dies for their mintage were ready until December 24, 1823, so technically they had less than a month to produce these coins. It is interesting that Mr Long in his book, lists all the public sales of 8 escudos for 1823 and only has one listed that showed signs of jewelry use, but it is a Type I, therefore not this coin. Hubbard and O'Harrow list a total of 16 offerings for the Type II coin between 1935 and 1995. Long lists 24 sales for Type II coins between 1935 and 2004. Likely few times the same coins are listed. That has to give an idea of how rare this coin is. The year 1823 was the only one that minted Hookneck 8 escudos.
It is currently housed in an old NCS holder due to the fact that use to be used in jewelry.
From the sale's catalogue: "MEXICO. "Hookneck" 8 Escudos, 1823-Mo JM. Mexico City Mint. NCS VF Details--Removed from Jewelry.
Fr-63; KM-382.2; H/O-pg. 93 Type II. "Hookneck" eagle; type II. A crown jewel for any collection, this is the first appearance of the "Hookneck" eagle gives a glimpse into the future for the designs of the newly established Mexican Republic. A VERY RARE and difficult type to acquire, the prior use in jewelry is of little concern as the opportunities for purchase are so limited. Some scattered marks and light cleaning are observed, but overall detail remains rather robust and it will undoubtedly be hotly contested on account of its great desirability".