Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
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| Royal? Lot 16 in Current Sedwick Auction. |
Mexico City, Mexico, cob 8 escudos Royal (galano), 1711 J, NGC UNC details / damaged, ex-1715 Fleet, ex-Rudman. S-M30; KM-R57.1; Cal-2192. 26.80 grams. Full and sharp details all over despite damage from its time on the reef that rendered the coin somewhat oblong in shape (and thereby kept it from being recognized as a Royal early on), with much luster and traces of toning and no evidence of actual circulation wear. The date 1711 is the first and most numerous of the "Crosslet Cross" type (1711-13) of Mexican 8E Royals, with a current population of ten known examples for this date, only three of which (including this one) were known prior to the "tricentennial" bonanza in 2015 (300th Anniversary Find). A great opportunity for the cob collector who always wanted a chance to get an 8 escudos Royal at this starting level. NGC #6269469-001 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). From the 1715 Fleet and pedigreed to the Isaac Rudman Numismatic Cabinet
I guess I wasn't alone in not recognizing it as a Royal. And the odd shape doesn't look to me like something that would happen from its time in the ocean. But maybe I'm wrong.
Here is what Sedwick said about Royals.
Without question, the pinnacle of Spanish colonial coinage is the Mexican 8 escudos Royal (galano), a coin so large and beautiful and perfect as to be considered among the most desirable gold coins in the world. These 8 escudos Royals are quite rare, currently represented by just over 40 specimens across about a dozen1 dates within the 53-year span in which Mexico made gold cobs (1680-1732). There is no mistaking these special coins; while some regular cob issues come close (normally they are chunky and misshapen) and even some regular-planchet issues were struck with Royal dies (arguably trial or test strikes), only true Royals are perfectly round and evenly struck on planchets of uniform thickness, not to mention that they were generally struck with obverse and reverse in medallic alignment (the present specimen actually rotated 90 degrees, but still oriented with cross aligned). These are formal presentation pieces, to be sure, but the exact purpose of Royals remains unknown, the details behind their commission apparently missing in archival records beyond simple line-item figures labeled “galanos.”...
Source: sedwick_catalog_28_light.pdf (sedwickcoins.com)
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| Lot 18 In Current Sedwick Auction. |
Here is the lot description for an escudo struck with a Royal die on the obverse. Not the reverse?
Mexico City, Mexico, cob 8 escudos, 1714 J, Royal-die obverse, extremely rare, NGC MS 62, ex-1715 Fleet. S-M30; KM-unl (57.2 for type); Cal-unl (Type 296). 26.90 grams. Bright butter-yellow color, choice full shield and cross, the former very crisply detailed and with small ornamental florets in the spaces as struck from a Royal die (Tauler #395a), and with bold date to boot, an extremely rare specialty piece for the advanced gold-cob collector, with probably no more than two or three known of this variety (not listed in the NGC census), effectively an opportunity to own an 8 escudos Royal at a price closer to that of a regular-issue coin. NGC #5965257-001 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). From the 1715 Fleet, with certificates, and pedigreed to the Ponterio auction of April 2000, with original lot-tag 800.
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Mexico City, Mexico, cob 4 reales Royal (galano), 1728/5 D, PHILIPPVS/LVDOVICVS, unique, NGC VF details / plugged, ex-Rudman. S-M23a; KM-unl; Cal-unl (Type 138). 12.54 grams. Just like the 8 reales of 1725-30 (see lot 434 above), the 4 reales of this period were also all struck from obverse dies that were modified from one originally engraved in 1725, with none made in 1729 and the "next in line" after the current piece being a unique 1730/28/5 R/D in our Auction 28 last year. The present coin, typically round and evenly struck, with full details and perfect medallic alignment, also beautifully toned, was once holed at top like nearly Royals, but a careful artisan has faithfully recreated the central crown design on obverse and flower ornament on reverse while leaving enough evidence not to deceive, making for a very pleasing aspect overall. NGC #2789252-025. Pedigreed to the Isaac Rudman Numismatic Cabinet.
It was once holed, but was repaired.
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| Source: nhc.noaa.gov |
Well, there is some activity to our southeast, but it doesn't look like it will do much for us.
This week our biggest surf is predicted to be Wednesday, but no bigger than there or four feet.
We are still having some good high tides. I'm waiting for some low tides.
Happy hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net