This
week we preview an interesting 8 Escudos from Chile that we are offering in our
August 2017 Official Auction at the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Denver. This
coin is an 1836-IJ Republic of Chile Hand on Book 8 Escudos type Issued by law
1117 of October 24, 1834 overstruck on an 1828-I Chile 8 Escudos. The obverse
depicts the familiar hand on the book of the constitution with rays above,
legend, denomination, assayer’s letters and fineness around. The reverse displays
the coat of arms of Chile, made up of a shield divided in two equal parts with
five pointed star superimposed at center and surmounted by three plumes,
flanked by a crowned condor to right and crowned huemul left. This crest as designed by English artist
Charles Wood Taylor dates from 1834. Plenty
of evidence of the undertype is visible without the aid of magnification such
as the top of the pedestal with crossed flags on the obverse at 3 o’clock
center. The previous coat of arms, with ghosting of the last digit of the date
of the undertype at the beginning of the legend between the rosette and
“I”, is visible under magnification. The sunface flanked by volcanos
is easily identifiable on the reverse also at 3 o’clock center.
In
March of 1836 a decree was issued recalling earlier dated Chilean 8 Escudos (namely
those dated 1826 and 1830), as counterfeits of those dates had started
appearing in the market place. Supposedly the recalled pieces when brought to
the mint were separated and either overstruck (such as on the present example)
or melted down if they were counterfeit. Mint records indicate that 2,400 pesos
worth of 8 escudos (150 pieces) were overstruck. Even though the decree was set
to recall 1826 and 1830 dated pieces, clearly other dates were also brought to
the mint for verification and ultimately overstruck.
The
example we offer in our August auction is well struck and attractively toned
with a nice original skin. It clearly sat for a prolonged period of time
undisturbed, a fact that should excite connoisseurs of Chilean numismatics.
We
are no longer accepting consignments for our August ANA auction. We are however
taking consignments of world and ancient coins and world paper money for our
October Collectors Choice Online (CCO) auction, our January 2018 New York
International Numismatic Convention (NYINC) and our April 2018 Hong Kong
Showcase Auctions. If you are interested in consigning your coins and paper
currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one
of our consignment directors.
