SPAIN, Toledo, gold 1 escudo, Ferdinand-Isabel, assayer *M to left, mintmark oT to right, extremely rare, PCGS MS62, finest and only example in PCGS census, Tauler Plate. Cal-2; Fr-unl. Good full shield and cross despite flat spot near edge, parts of legend visible including (FERNA)NDVS ET ELISA(BET) on obverse despite the fact that it was struck after Isabel had died in 1504, and significant as the only issue with gold cob design (shield/cross) struck in Ferdinand's name while Joanna was queen of Castile and León, presumably before the Charles-Joanna issues that followed Ferdinand's death in 1516. However, Tauler points out that this issue (of which only two are known, the present example and the Calicó plate coin) is identical to the Charles-Joanna coins, particularly the legend error HIPANIARVM (without S) on reverse. Both Tauler and Calicó list this issue under "Fernando y Juana." (Note: Label says Calicó-60 in error.). Plate Coin number 1 in Tauler's Oro Macuquino (2011). Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold 1 escudo, Charles-Joanna, assayer * to left, mintmark S to right, NGC MS 63. Cal-197; Fr-153. 3.34 grams. Very broad flan that extends well past the full legends in places, choice full shield and cross, rich gold color, muted luster. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold 1 escudo, Charles-Joanna, assayer Gothic D to left, mintmark S to right, NGC MS 61. Cal-199; Fr-153. 3.31 grams. Nice full cross and shield with traces of luster, smallish flan with incomplete legends, traces of coppery color in crevices. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Toledo, gold 1 escudo, Charles-Joanna, assayer M to right, mintmark T to left, NGC MS 62. Cal-203; Fr-154. 3.36 grams. Crisp details against satin fields, broad flan with full legends (slightly doubled on reverse), choice shield and cross, muted luster. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip II, assayer Gothic D below mintmark S to left, denomination II to right, NGC MS 61. Cal-828; Fr-169. 6.69 grams. Bold full shield and cross despite flan unevenness resulting in flat areas (assayer weak as a result, not noted on label), broad flan with some legend, a few light marks. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip II, assayer Gothic D below mintmark S to left, denomination II to right, NGC AU details / edge filing. Cal-828; Fr-169. Choice full shield and cross and much legend, small parts of edge filed to make them straight (weight unknown, not listed on label), traces of toning in crevices. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip II, assayer Gothic D with open right side below mintmark S to left, denomination II to right, NGC XF details / cleaned. Cal-828; Fr-169. Full but partially flat shield and cross-and-tressure, bold denomination II and mintmark-assayer (the latter clearly re-punched), weight unknown (not listed on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Toledo, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip II, assayer C below mintmark oT and above error denomination I to left, date to right not visible (1590-98), unique, NGC AU 53, finest and only example in NGC census. Cal-unl (Type 270); Fr-170. 6.73 grams. Full but partially flat cross and shield with full and clear C-I to left below a slightly doubled oT, flat to right where date should appear, traces of red toning in tressure around slightly off-center cross, currently the only example at NGC for examples without visible dates, not even considering the unique denomination error (not mentioned on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip II or III, assayer not visible, NGC AU details / cleaned. Nice full cross with red toning in crevices, full but weaker shield with peripheral flatness (lustrous), the denomination II still bold and the mintmark S clear. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Madrid, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip III, assayer G below mintmark MD to left, rare, NGC MS 64, finest known in NGC census. Cal-Type 191; Fr-192; KM-64.1. Choice full shield and cross on small, thick flan with minimal legend but bold full MD mintmark (in monogram, reading horizontally) and G assayer with O in between, traces of toning in crevices. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip III, assayer B, OMNIVM in legend, NGC AU 58. Cal-1050; Fr-unl (cf 189). 6.76 grams. Bold S-B to left of full shield, nearly full cross (off-center), peripherally flat but with O of OMNIVM visible, lightly toned. Note: Label says Philip II in error. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip III, assayer B, NGC AU 55. Cal-Type 197; Fr-189; KM-20. 6.73 grams. Lustrous but crude, with nearly full but partially flat shield and cross, full S-B. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip III, assayer B, NGC AU 53. Cal-Type 197; Fr-189; KM-20. 6.78 grams. Broad, non-round flan with flat spots but bold full crown, shield, S-B, and denomination II, also full cross-and-tressure with some die-rust evidence on that side, all enhanced by deep toning on fields. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip III, assayer D, with weight-regulating plug (rare), NGC AU 50. Cal-Type 197; Fr-189; KM-20. 6.70 grams. Nice full cross and shield, at the top of which (not noticed by NGC) is a crude, roundish plug in contemporaneous gold, most likely to fill an old hole and circulate the coin at proper weight, some peripheral flatness, bold assayer D and full denomination II. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, 1617 G, NGC MS 61. Cal-1076; Fr-189; KM-unl. 6.66 grams. Choice broad flan with exceptionally sharp full shield and cross, full and clear date 1617 and mintmark-assayer S-G, also bold full denomination II, some peripheral flat spots, lustrous all over. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip III, assayer not visible, NGC AU 58. Cal-Type 197; Fr-189; KM-20. 6.75 grams. Choice full cross, good full shield, peripheries all flat (also crude in places, as made), lightly toned on fields. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 1 escudo, 1620, assayer not visible, rare. Cal-Type 186; Fr-unl (cf 196); KM-unl (48.1 for type). 3.35 grams. Full and clear date at top of great full cross, full but off-center shield with bold denomination I inside king's name (that side crude from die-rust), overall AU- or so, reportedly found off the east coast of Florida (Sebastian) in the 1980s.

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 1 escudo, Philip III, assayer D, NGC AU 53. Cal-Type 186; Fr-196; KM-48.1. 3.36 grams. Lustrous all over, with choice full cross and nearly full tressure, full but cruder shield, full S-D that may be punched over S-V (unlisted but conceivable). Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip III or IV, assayer not visible, NGC MS 63, finest known in NGC census. 6.75 grams. Broad, odd-shaped flan with super-sharp full shield, full cross with die-rust graininess, peripherally flat but attractively lustrous, the finest at NGC for this type without visible date (also mint not indicated). Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 4 escudos, Philip IV, assayer not visible, NGC AU 55. Cal-Type 396; Cal-107.2. 13.46 grams. Bold full shield and cross (the latter slightly off-center) with contrasting toning in crevices, no peripheral details, attractive strike nonetheless. Please use this link to verify the certification number

MEXICO, Mexico City, gold cob 8 escudos, 1713 J, NGC MS 63 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). S-M30; KM-57.1; Cal-2211. 26.75 grams. Clear date, bold full oXMJ, nearly full shield and cross, the peripheries typically flat and beveled (as made), choice color and luster per the grade, much in demand. From the 1715 Fleet, with photo-certificate. Please use this link to verify the certification number

MEXICO, Mexico City, gold cob 8 escudos, 1714 J, Royal-die obverse, extremely rare, NGC MS 63 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). S-M30; KM-unl (57.2 for type); Cal-unl (Type 296). 26.91 grams. Full cross-and-tressure, slightly off-center full crown (bold) and shield, enabling a full but weak 714 date and oMJ with florets above and below, a characteristic of the Royal die for this date, one of only a handful of examples known (not listed in the NGC census), rich gold color, slightly grainy surfaces. From the 1715 Fleet, with photo-certificate. Please use this link to verify the certification number

MEXICO, Mexico City, gold cob 8 escudos, 1715 J, NGC AU 55 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). S-M30; Cal-2214; Fr-6; KM-57.2. 26.89 grams. Choice 100% full shield with bold full oMJ and 171 of date (left side of 5 clear), full cross-and-tressure, parts of peripheries flat (typically beveled on obverse) with coral "footprint" remaining at top of obverse, rich gold color with muted luster (fully MS in our opinion), desirable date. From the 1715 Fleet, with photo-certificate. Please use this link to verify the certification number

MEXICO, Mexico City, gold cob 1 escudo, Charles II, assayer L, jeweled cross (1680-98), NGC AU details / cleaned (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). S-M29; KM-50; Cal-Type 131; Fr-5. Curiously oblong flan with nearly full crown but very weakly struck centers (shield and cross, the former with lots of raised striations that are not from cleaning but from die-polishing), the mintmark-assayer oXML barely visible (not noted on label), scarce early type. From the 1715 Fleet. Please use this link to verify the certification number

MEXICO, Mexico City, gold cob 1 escudo, Philip V, assayer not visible, bar-end cross (1702-10), NGC MS 62 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). Cal-Type 204; Fr-7c; KM-51.1. 3.33 grams. Small, irregular flan with most of cross, full crown above partial shield (off-center), peripheries flat and filed and with blunted edge-points (as made). From the 1715 Fleet, with photo-certificate. Please use this link to verify the certification number

MEXICO, Mexico City, gold cob 1 escudo, 1711 J, mintmark oXM, crosslet cross, NGC AU 53 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label), ex-Haskins. S-M30; Cal-1736; Fr-7c; KM-51.1. 3.46 grams. Bold full oXMJ to left and denomination I to right of full shield with clear king's ordinal V in legend below, nearly full cross (slightly off-center), crude but certain 711 of date, neat old provenance. From the 1715 Fleet, with original 1979 certificate signed by Jack Haskins. Please use this link to verify the certification number

MEXICO, Mexico City, gold cob 1 escudo, 1714 J, NGC MS 65 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). S-M30; Cal-1739; Fr-7c; KM-51.2. 3.29 grams. Superb 100% full shield with bold denomination •I• to right and part of mintmark oM visible inside very weak date to left, nearly full crown above, nice but off-center cross with bold HISPANIA(RVM) in legend, muted luster, tied with several others for second finest in NGC census behind a single MS 66. From the 1715 Fleet. Please use this link to verify the certification number

MEXICO, Mexico City, gold cob 1 escudo, (1714) J, NGC MS 64 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label - 300th Anniversary Find). S-M30; Cal-1739; Fr-7c; KM-51.2. 3.3 grams. Bold oMJ to left of crisply detailed full shield, nice but off-center cross, part of edge crude (as made) but overall lustrous and high grade, also desirable as from the 2015 "300th Anniversary" recoveries. From the 1715 Fleet, 300th Anniversary Find (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

MEXICO, Mexico City, gold cob 1 escudo, Philip V, assayer not visible, style of 1725-33, extremely rare, NGC AU 58. Cal-Type 208; Fr-7c; KM-51.2. 3.35 grams. Neat but compact flan with choice full cross-and-tressure, nearly full shield with bold denomination to right inside PHIL- of king's name, attributable to 1725 or later (hence assayer D, R, G, or F) for the connected bar of Austria, in fact one of only three graded by NGC for post-1715 (albeit labeled as assayer J, which it is not), just a few minor spots of toning or encrustation. Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 8 escudos, 1698 H, very rare, NGC AU 58, finest and only example in NGC census, Sedwick Plate, La Onza Plate. S-L25; Cal-971; Fr-1; KM-26.2. 26.94 grams. Bold full cross-lions-castles and pillars-and-waves (both slightly off-center), also with full crown and clear C.II in legend (slightly doubled at top-left of cross), some peripheral flatness, one of very few known of this date (much rarer than 1699) and desirably pedigreed. Plate Coin on page 83 of Sedwick's The Practical Book of Cobs (4th ed, 2007), and Plate Coin 111 on page 65 of Calicó's La Onza (2004). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 8 escudos, 1712 M, legend starting at 6 o'clock, NGC MS 62 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). S-L28; Cal-2120; Fr-7; KM-38.2. 26.85 grams. Broad flan with nearly full legends including bold second date 712 and clear king's ordinal V, great full pillars-and-waves and cross-lions-castles with traces of light gray coral in crevices, muted luster, no doubling except for top mintmark only. From the 1715 Fleet, with photo-certificate. Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 8 escudos, 1713/2 M, NGC MS 62 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). S-L28; Cal-2121; Fr-7; KM-unl (38.2 for type). 26.86 grams. Bold strike with luster on pillars side, the full pillars-and-waves very slightly doubled and the full cross-lions-castles with weak high points as from an aged die, slightly off-center strike with full PHILIPPVS, traces of dark encrustation in some crevices. From the 1715 Fleet, with photo-certificate. Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 8 escudos, 1722 M, PCGS MS62, finest known in PCGS census. S-L28; Cal-2134; Fr-7; KM-38.2. 26.66 grams. Broad flan with full pillars containing bold date and assayer despite minor doubling, partial second date in legend, nice full cross-lions-castles with much legend including parts of king's name and full ordinal V, muted luster, the finer of just two at PCGS and one grade higher than the finest at NGC (MS 61). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 8 escudos, 1725/4 M, Louis I, rare, NGC AU details / obv tooled, ex-Almenara. S-L28a; Bustos-L8E.25.4b; Cal-61; Fr-11; KM-40. 26.93 grams. Very bold full pillars with all central details clear plus a bold 25 second date in legend, also good full cross-lions-castles with clear bottom half of LVDOVICVS in legend, contrastingly red-toned all over, the stated tooling no more than scratches to remove deep toning around some of the pillars-side details, overall a very desirable example of this popular one-year posthumous issue. Note: The pillars side of this coin is a die-match with 25.4b in Bustos, with only faint traces of the under-digit discernible. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number The Almenara Collection of Peruvian Gold Cobs Peruvian gold cobs are some of the most prized hand-struck gold coins minted in the New World. Their beautiful design and execution have long made them popular. While the 8 escudos cobs are very collectible and available over all the years of production, the smaller denominations are much less common, and in fact can be exceedingly rare. Within the Peruvian series spanning over fifty years of production from 1696 to 1750, there are probably fewer than one hundred examples of 1 escudos (including the twelve in the State of Florida Collection). The thirteen 1 escudos in this auction represent the largest collection ever offered and present a rare purchase opportunity. Of the thirteen in our auction, eight are unique (lots 50-54 and lots 56- 58) and some dates are being offered for the first time (lots 50, 53, 54, 56, and 57). They span the years of production starting with a 1699 R (lot 47) and ending with a 1750 R (lot 59). Almost all are the finest—and sometimes only—examples in the NGC census. The design of the 1 escudo pieces is simple: On one side is a castle in the center flanked by an L mintmark to the left and an assayer mark to the right. The date is below. The cross on the other side contains crossbars and round tressures encircling them. Single x-marks are within each quadrant of the cross. Throughout the years of production, there were numerous (sometimes yearly) small design changes of extra dots or teardrops (from 1716 onward, see lot 50) and a large design change of a cross above the castle (again from 1716 onward). In 1733 there was a design change (see lot 54) with an addition of two more crosses above the castle. In 1750, the last year of production (see lot 59), there was a striking addition of legend lettering on the castle side, made possible by reducing the size of the design, and the lettering read ET YNDIARVM REX. There is no evidence of lettering on the cross side, though. What’s interesting, too, is the frequency of overdates (lots 48, 49, 50, 51, 54, 55, 57, and 58). The Almenara Collection also includes six 2 escudos cobs dated from 1704 to 1748, the rarest of which is a unique 1725 M from the one-year reign of Louis I (lot 44). This 2 escudos plus two others from the collection (lots 45 and 46) are unique. The Collection also features an 8 escudos of Louis I (lot 34). Some of the interesting design changes in 2 escudos involve the ending of legends. At the beginning of production, the shield legend ended in bulky HISPANIARVM and the pillars legend ended in REX. Under Philip V, the shield legend was abbreviated to HISPA (lot 43), HISPAN (lot 40), HISPANIA, HISPANI, or even ISPANIA (lot 41) depending on the year. REX was still used on the pillars side apart from 1705 (lot 41), in which REXA was used for one year only until 1709. With a pillars design change in 1709, ANO with some form of the date replaced REX (lot 43), except for one year in 1711. There are even instances where the cross-side legend starts at the bottom! Because of the low number of coins minted in the 2 escudos denomination, there are not very many instances of multiple designs within a given year. Several shipwrecks are represented in the Almenara Collection. From the 1715 Fleet, there are two 1 escudos (lots 48 and 49) and one 2 escudos (lot 41). There is one 2 escudos (lots 43) from the Loosdrecht (1719), and there are two 4 escudos (lots 38 and 39) from the Luz (1752). Perhaps what is most striking about Peruvian gold cobs is their unique design, not struck at any other Old World or New World Spanish mint. In fact, their inner design never changed except for ornamentation. It was certainly a formula for success. The execution of design also sets them apart from other New World mints with well-centered, well-struck specimens the norm. No wonder collectors love them!

PERU, Lima, gold cob 8 escudos, 1732 N, NGC AU 53. S-L29; Cal-2146; Fr-7; KM-38.2. 26.00 grams. Bold and well-centered full pillars-and-waves, good full cross-lions-castles with trace of doubling at bottom above clear king's ordinal V. Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 8 escudos, 1741 V, NGC AU 53. S-L30; Cal-2159; Fr-7; KM-38.2. 27.02 grams. Round, thick, compact flan with full pillars-and-waves and cross-lions-castles, contrasting toning, just one grade lower than the finest in the NGC census (AU 55). Pedigreed to the Christie's (New York) auction of September 1989, with original lot-tag 175. Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 8 escudos, 1741 V, NGC AU details / rev cleaned, ex-Almenara. S-L30; Cal-2159; Fr-7; KM-38.2. 26.86 grams. Bold full pillars-and-waves with strong date and assayer, good full cross-lions-castles, contrastingly toned all over, only faint hairlines on high points. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label) and to the Renaissance auction of December 2000 (lot 787). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 4 escudos, 1750 R, NGC MS 63 (Shipwreck Blue Label), ex-Luz (1752), ex-Almenara. S-L31; Cal-690; Fr-13; KM-A47. 13.49 grams. Superb full pillars (perfectly centered), also sharply detailed full cross-lions-castles with second date below, second assayer to right, and streaks of dark encrustation in crevices, . From the Luz (1752), with photo-certificate, pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 4 escudos, 1750 R, mule with 8E cross side, NGC MS 64 (Shipwreck Blue Label), "top pop," ex-Luz (1752), ex-Almenara. S-L31; Cal-692; Fr-13; KM-A47. 13.50 grams. Excellent full cross-lions-castles in 8E size and full pillars-and-waves (all well centered), the latter with bottoms of digits of second date in legend visible, good luster, tied with one other for finest in NGC census for this variety. From the Luz (1752), with photo-certificate, pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 2 escudos, 1704 H, rare, NGC AU 58, "top pop," ex-Almenara. S-L25a; Cal-1821; Fr-9; KM-36. 6.69 grams. Broad flan with much full legend including PHILIPPVS V, nice full pillars-and-waves (perfectly centered) and cross-lions-castles, the latter with light high-point rub, faintly toned, tied with one other for finest in the NGC census. Pedigreed to the Sotheby's (London) auction of October 1992 (lot 113), the UBS auction of September 1997 (lot 2356), the Glendining Auction of June 1937 (lot 390), and the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 2 escudos, 1705 H, NGC MS 64 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label), finest known in NGC census, ex-Almenara. S-L25a; Cal-1822; Fr-9; KM-36. 6.76 grams. Broad flan with some peripheral flatness and minor edge-split (which is unusual for this type), full pillars-and-waves and cross-lions-castles (both slightly off-center), clear king's name and ordinal, faintly toned. From the 1715 Fleet, with photo-certificate, pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 2 escudos, 1708 H, rare, NGC AU details / obv cleaned (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). S-L25a; Cal-1825; Fr-9; KM-36. 6.74 grams. Great full pillars-and-waves and cross-lions-castles, the latter just enough off-center to accommodate a full and bold king's ordinal V in legend, traces of dark encrustation in crevices, low-mintage date (only the third example we have handled). From the 1715 Fleet, with photo-certificate. Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 2 escudos, 1717 M, very rare, NGC UNC details / saltwater damage, ex-Loosdrecht (1719), ex-Almenara. S-L28; Cal-unl (Type 222); Fr-9; KM-unl (36 for type). 6.54 grams. Very bold strike with satin fields, choice full pillars-and-waves and cross-lions-castles (the latter very slightly doubled), clear king's ordinal V and second date 7 (the only digit) in legend, with minor surface graininess as expected for this shipwreck (not mentioned on label). From the Loosdrecht (1719), with certificate, pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 2 escudos, 1725 M, (Louis I), unique, NGC MS 60, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Caballero, ex-Almenara, Calicó Plate, Bustos Plate, Tauler Plate. S-L28a; Bustos-L2E.25; Cal-52, Fr-unl; KM-unl. 6.68 grams. Choice full cross-lions-castles, full pillars with bold full date, all well centered but no legend visible on either side, some high-point rub but very clean fields. While the king's name and ordinal are not visible on this coin, for Lima this date is known to be Louis I only (posthumous one-year type), and this 2 escudos is the only known example according to two recent reference works (Tauler and Bustos) and according to the Caballero listing, dispelling rumors of a second example in Ulex (Hess auction of May 1908, lot 3106) where a 1 escudo example is listed confusingly as a "2 Pesos" (following the usual convention of two 8 reales or pesos equaling a 1 escudo). Pedigreed to the Caballero de las Yndias Collection (Aureo & Calicó auction of April 2009, lot 579) and to the Almenara Collection, Plate Coin 52 in Calicó's Numismática española (2019), and Plate Coin on page 51 of Alejandro Bustos' Amonedación de Luis Fernando I (2024) (stated on label), also Plate Coin on page 300 of Tauler's Oro Macuquino (2011). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 2 escudos, 1744 V, very rare, NGC UNC details / edge filing, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Almenara. S-L30; Cal-1849; Fr-9; KM-36. 6.46 grams. Broad flan with bold full cross-lions-castles and pillars-and-waves, somewhat grainy and lightly red-toned surfaces without circulation wear, the stated file marks on top edge only. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 2 escudos, 1748 R, very rare, NGC MS 65, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Caballero, ex-Almenara. S-L31; Cal-637; Fr-14; KM-46. 6.67 grams. Lustrous and very deeply struck with sharp details that lack any flattening or wear at all (hence the grade, far beyond any Ferdinand VI cob 2 escudos on record), the choice full pillars-and-waves well centered and the equally choice full cross-lions-castles just enough off-center to allow a visible FERDIN- of the king's name in the legend, traces of toning here and there. Pedigreed to the Caballero de las Yndias Collection (Aureo & Calicó auction of April 2009, lot 584) and to the ANE auction of March 1975 (lot 585), also pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (both stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 1 escudo, 1699 R, rare, NGC AU 55, ex-Almenara. S-L26; Cal-817; Fr-5; KM-27. 3.27 grams. Atypically broad flan with full but off-center castle side, nice full cross, traces of toning and sediment. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 1 escudo, 1711/0 M, rare, NGC MS 65 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label), finest known in NGC census, ex-Ubilla-Echevez, ex-Sotheby-Parke-Bernet, ex-Almenara. S-L28; Cal-1666; Fr-10; KM-35. 3.36 grams. Broad, oblong flan with pristine surfaces and bold full details, also lustrous, the choice castle side with spots of light red toning, and the cross struck from a slightly rusty die. The overdate, missed by both Christensen and Sotheby-Parke-Bernet, is visible as no more than a round top above the final 1. From the 1715 Fleet, with photo-certificate, pedigreed to the Real Eight Co. consignment as the Ubilla-Echevez Collection (stated on label) in the Christensen auction of October 1964 (lot 159) and in the Sotheby-Parke-Bernet (Los Angeles) auction of June 1973 (lot 592), and pedigreed to the Almenara Collection, also plated in Frank Allen's 1967 The Numismatist article "Previously Unknown Spanish Gold Coins." Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 1 escudo, 1712/1/0 M, very rare, NGC MS 66 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label), finest and only example in NGC census, ex-1715 Fleet, ex-Ubilla-Echevez, ex-Almenara. S-L28; Cal-1668; Fr-10; KM-unl (35 for type). 3.24 grams. Bold and perfectly centered castle side with clear 2/1 overdate but the 1/0 less obvious (die-match with a 1711/0 in the State of Florida Collection, coin number 1678, which is curiously NOT the same 1711/0 die as for the previous lot), the off-center cross also full but slightly crude, both sides struck from rusty dies, lustrous and rich gold in color. From the 1715 Fleet, with photo-certificate, pedigreed to the Real Eight Co. consignment sold as the Ubilla-Echevez Collection (stated on label) in the Christensen auction of October 1964 (lot 163), and pedigreed to the Almenara Collection and to the Baldwin's auction of October 2000 (lot 404), also plated in Frank Allen's 1967 The Numismatist article "Previously Unknown Spanish Gold Coins." Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 1 escudo, 1717/6 M, very rare, NGC AU details / edge filing, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Almenara. S-L28; Cal-unl (Type 197); Fr-10; KM-unl (35 for type). 3.39 grams. Bold full castle-side details including clear overdate and strange series of "teardrops" above L and M (four above each), the cross also full and bold but slightly off-center, spots of dark crust on fields, the only example of this date (in any form) at NGC. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 1 escudo, 1721/0 M, very rare, NGC MS 62, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Sellschopp, ex-Almenara. S-L28; Cal-1679; Fr-10; KM-35. 3.38 grams. Broad flan with bold castle and date (including overdate), full cross despite slightly off-center strike, minor edge-split. The teardrop ornaments mentioned in the previous lot are now dots with tiny tails on the present coin. Note this coin is featured on the first page of color plates in the Sellschopp auction catalog (which missed the overdate). Pedigreed to the Sellschopp Collection (Swiss Bank Corp. auction of September 1988, lot 214) and to the UBS auction of September 1997 (lot 2389), also pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label), as well as the Glendining auction of March 1936 (lot 343). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 1 escudo, 1722 M, very rare, NGC MS 63, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Almenara. S-L28; Cal-1681; Fr-10; KM-35. 3.43 grams. Choice full cross, off-center castle side with date partially off the flan (probably 1722/1/0, as it appears to be a die-match with the previous lot), faint luster and toning. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 1 escudo, 1731/0 N, extremely rare, NGC MS 61, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Almenara. S-L29; Cal-unl (Type 197); Fr-10; KM-unl (35 for type). 3.32 grams. Choice broad flan with exceptionally bold, full, and well-centered details against satin-smooth fields, the overdate weak but certain (possibly unique, missing in Calicó and KM). Note that the teardrop ornaments seen on the previous lots have morphed into plain dots for this date. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label) and to the UBS auction of January 1998 (lot 2604). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 1 escudo, 1735/4 N, extremely rare, NGC UNC details / holed, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Almenara. S-L29; Cal-unl (Type 197); Fr-10; KM-unl (35 for type). 3.35 grams. Very broad flan with choice full details including strong overdate above the peripheral hole (otherwise lacking any wear or damage), patch of red staining on cross side, first example we have seen or heard of (possibly unique, missing in Calicó and KM in any case). Note the teardrop-then-dot ornaments seen on the previous lots are now mixed with large X's, as they will remain for the rest of the Philip V type. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 1 escudo, 1738/7/6 N, very rare, NGC AU 58, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Boyd, ex-Almenara. S-L29; Cal-unl (Type 197); Fr-10; KM-unl (35 for type). 3.46 grams. Rich gold color, choice full cross and bold full castle-side details including date with clear 8/7, the weaker first under-digit 6 determined by die-match with known 1737/6's (see Sedwick Auction 24 lot 56, and also see Auction 30 lot 52 for another 1738/7/6), probably the case for all known 1738's (including an NGC example in MS 61 labeled without overdate). Pedigreed to the F.C.C. Boyd Collection (Superior auction of August 1975, lot 2705) and to the Almenara Collection (both stated on label), also to the Christensen auction of December 1981 (lot 798). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 1 escudo, 1739 V, extremely rare, NGC AU 53, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Almenara. S-L30; Cal-unl (Type 197); Fr-10; KM-unl (35 for type). 3.24 grams. Very broad flan with full details, particularly the bold assayer and date (a combination not listed in Calicó and KM), first example we have seen or heard of. Unlike the previous and succeeding lots, this appears to be a clean date, although the 9 was possibly re-punched. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 1 escudo, 1745/4 V, extremely rare, NGC AU details / cleaned, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Almenara. S-L30; Cal-unl (Type 197); Fr-10; KM-unl (35 for type). 3.39 grams. Bold full details on both sides (the cross slightly off-center), bold overdate (unlisted in Calicó and KM and the first we have seen or heard of), light yellow in color as lacking original toning. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 1 escudo, 1747/6 V, extremely rare, NGC MS 62, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Sellschopp, ex-Almenara, KM Plate. S-L30a; Cal-593; Fr-15; KM-45. 3.28 grams. Broad flan with satin-smooth fields (small bits of dark sediment), choice full cross, full but off-center castle-side details including very bold overdate, which presumably spans the transition from Philip V to Ferdinand VI but without any legend to confirm. Note this coin is featured on the first page of color plates in the Sellschopp auction catalog. We have not seen another example, so we suspect that no others exist and that the catalog references are all generated from this one coin. Pedigreed to the Sellschopp Collection (Swiss Bank Corp. auction of September 1988, lot 249) and to the Almenara Collection, Plate Coin in KM's Standard Catalogs (all stated on label), also pedigreed to the Glendining auction of March 1936 (lot 349). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Lima, gold cob 1 escudo, 1750 R, very rare, NGC AU 55, ex-Almenara. S-L31; Cal-597; Fr-15; KM-45. 3.34 grams. Bold full cross and castle with contrasting toning, slightly doubled date (last date of issue) but very bold mintmark and assayer creating a fun coincidence of L to left and R to right, also with (IND)IARVM REX visible in castle-side legend, in fact the only date in the Peruvian cob 1E series with any legend, other examples of which have different parts of the legend visible and make it clear that the cross side still had no legend save for a large + at the top of cross side, the castle-side legend apparently enabled by shrinking the diameter of the dot-border surrounding the interior. Pedigreed to the Almenara Collection (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Cuzco, gold cob 2 escudos, 1698 M, NGC MS 63 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). S-CZ1; Cal-855; Fr-4; KM-28. 6.79 grams. Mint records indicate that the brief cob production of politically turbulent Cuzco's mint, limited to 1 and 2 escudos only (no silver and no other denominations), consisted of no more than four strikings between May 1698 and August 1699, apparently using the same dies from 1698 without alteration. Specialists note a distinct dichotomy of flan-types—the broader and thinner "Lima cut" and the smaller and thicker but rounder "Bogota cut"—which could be indicative of different striking dates. Among the latter, this example is one of the best in terms of strike and grade, with full and deeply impressed inner details, well centered with minimal legends as a result but still with clear bottom of C.II for the king, traces of luster and very light reddish toning all over, quite lovely. From the 1715 Fleet, with photo-certificate. Please use this link to verify the certification number

PERU, Cuzco, gold cob 1 escudo, 1698 M, extremely rare, NGC UNC details / rev scratched, ex-Caballero, ex-Almenara, Calicó Plate, Tauler Plate. S-CZ1; Cal-811; Fr-6; KM-A27. 3.35 grams. Lustrous all over, with choice full cross and date, full but slightly doubled C-castle-H, rich gold color all over, just a few peripheral scratches on the cross side but still among the nicest of only eight known examples, most of which are from the 1715 Fleet, but we cannot confirm the pedigree of this piece prior to Caballero. Pedigreed to the Caballero de las Yndias Collection (Aureo & Calicó auction of April 2009, lot 546) and to the Almenara Collection (stated on label), Plate Coin on page 243 of Calicó's Numismática española (2019) as well as on page 404 of the 2008 edition, and Plate Coin on page 94 of Tauler's Oro Macuquino (2011). Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 4 escudos, Ferdinand VI, assayer S above denomination 4 to right, mintmark FS to left (ca. 1750), NGC MS 62, ex-Silberman. Restrepo-M96.6; S-B27a; Cal-Type 117; Fr-12; KM-27. 13.41 grams. Choice full cross and shield (lions and castles transposed as usual) with bold full F•S• to left and S-4 (tilted) to right, nice luster and light toning, a few light marks and bits of encrustation but overall rather well preserved, in fact tied with one other for second finest in NGC census behind a single MS 64. Pedigreed to the J.P. Silberman Estate (stated on the label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 4 escudos, Ferdinand VI, assayer not visible (S to right), mintmark FS to left (ca. 1750), NGC AU 58. Restrepo-M96.6; S-B27a; Cal-Type 117; Fr-12; KM-27. 13.44 grams. Choice full cross-and-tressure and shield (the latter slightly doubled) with very bold full F•S• to left, all well centered, with traces of light encrustation in crevices. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip IV, assayer A below mintmark NR to left, dots in ringlets (1636 only), ex-"Mesuno Hoard" (ca. 1636). Restrepo-M50.13; S-B20; Cal-1792; Fr-2; KM-4.1. 6.81 grams. Nice full shield with full N•R•A to left and •II• to right, also 100% full cross-and-tressure with distinctive dots inside the tressure-dimple ringlets indicative of the date 1636 only (not visible), typical for its provenance with patches of red staining and traces of encrustation, otherwise UNC. From the ca.-1636 "Mesuno Hoard".

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip IV, assayer A below mintmark NR to left, dots in ringlets (1636 only), NGC AU 58 (Mesuno Hoard). Restrepo-M50.13; S-B20; Cal-1792; Fr-2; KM-4.1. 6.62 grams. Choice full shield with bold N•R•A to left and •II• to right, also choice full cross-and-tressure with three of the four dotted ringlets visible, rich gold color, small edge-crack. From the ca.-1636 "Mesuno Hoard" (stated on label). Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, 1645, assayer not visible (R) to right, mintmark NR to left, very rare. Restrepo-M50.25; S-B21; Cal-1803; Fr-2; KM-4.1. 6.68 grams. Lightly toned AU with good full cross and shield, full N•R to left, and (best of all) bottom half of all four digits of date 1645. Curiously, all known examples of this date (same dies) have the mintmark NR to the left and assayer R to right, whereas all known examples of 1643, 1644, and 1646, as well as some 1647s, are assayer R to left, mintmark NR to right. Pedigreed to Sedwick Auction 10, with original lot-tag 27.

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Charles II, assayer R below denomination II to right, mintmark NR to left, style of 1667-72, NGC AU 55. Restrepo-M66.4; S-B21a; Cal-Type 151; Fr-3; KM-14.1. 6.72 grams. Nearly full and well-detailed shield with clear N•R to left and II•R to right, also nearly full cross with distinctively ball-tipped fleurs, rich gold color with toning in crevices. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, (1672), assayer R ABOVE denomination II to right, very rare, NGC MS 64, "top pop." Restrepo-unl; S-B21a; Cal-885; Fr-3; KM-4.1. 6.74 grams. Bold but slightly off-center cross-and-tressure, nice full shield with part of king's name CARO(LVS) outside weak but certain R-II to right (not noted on label, but a die-match with a clearly dated 1672 example—Sedwick Auction 11, lot 42—and no other dates known with that arrangement), lightly toned, minimal luster for assigned grade, currently tied with three others for finest known in the NGC census for the type without visible date or assayer. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, 1693, assayer not visible (ARCE), PCGS AU55 (1715 Fleet), finest and only example in PCGS census. Restrepo-unl (cf M66.22); S-B24; Cal-unl (Type 151); Fr-4; KM-14.1. 6.68 grams. Full shield (transposed lions and castles) with clear ARC(E) in legend to left preceded by parts of king's name, choice full cross with distinctive style of fleurs, most of 3 of date in legend plus bottoms of 69, rich gold color, large edge-split. From the 1715 Fleet. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Charles II posthumous, no assayer (Arce), NGC MS 65 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). Restrepo-M66.32; S-B24; Cal-Type 242 (under Ph. V); Fr-4a; KM-14.2. 6.79 grams. Extremely broad flan with choice full shield (well centered) showing upright lions in transposed quadrants (die-match with known examples dated 1711), fully but slightly doubled cross-and-tressure, highly lustrous all over, currently tied with six others for second finest in the NGC census behind a single MS 66 (among hundreds of entries). From the 1715 Fleet. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Charles II posthumous, no assayer (Arce), NGC MS 63 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). Restrepo-M66.32; S-B24; Cal-Type 242 (under Ph. V); Fr-4a; KM-14.2. 6.74 grams. Bold full cross (slightly doubled) and most of shield showing upright lions in transposed quadrants and coral encrustation in crevices, muted luster. From the 1715 Fleet. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Charles II posthumous, no assayer (Arce), NGC MS 63 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). Restrepo-M66.32; S-B24; Cal-Type 242 (under Ph. V); Fr-4a; KM-14.2. 6.77 grams. Excellent full cross and shield, both well centered on a neatly round flan, the latter with upright lions in transposed quadrants, muted luster. From the 1715 Fleet. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Charles II posthumous, no assayer (Arce), NGC MS 63 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). Restrepo-M66.32; S-B24; Cal-Type 242 (under Ph. V); Fr-4a; KM-14.2. 6.82 grams. Superb full cross and nearly full shield (lions upright in transposed quadrants), less luster than most but quite bold all over. From the 1715 Fleet. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Charles II posthumous, no assayer (Arce), NGC MS 63 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). Restrepo-M66.32; S-B24; Cal-Type 242 (under Ph. V); Fr-4a; KM-14.2. 6.71 grams. Full cross and shield (upright lions in transposed quadrants) with good luster, slightly shallow strike, trace of doubling on shield. From the 1715 Fleet. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Charles II posthumous, no assayer (Arce), NGC MS 63 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). Restrepo-M66.32; S-B24; Cal-Type 242 (under Ph. V); Fr-4a; KM-14.2. 6.78 grams. Choice full cross, full but slightly doubled shield with recumbent lions in transposed quadrants, lustrous, with traces of light coral encrustation in crevices. From the 1715 Fleet. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Charles II posthumous, no assayer (Arce), NGC MS 62 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). Restrepo-M66.32; S-B24; Cal-Type 242 (under Ph. V); Fr-4a; KM-14.2. 6.70 grams. Good full cross, slightly off-center shield with upright lions in transposed quadrants, traces of coral in crevices, muted luster. From the 1715 Fleet. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Charles II posthumous, no assayer (Arce), NGC MS 62 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). Restrepo-M66.32; S-B24; Cal-Type 242 (under Ph. V); Fr-4a; KM-14.2. 6.80 grams. Broad flan with nearly full cross and shield (upright lions in transposed quadrants), good luster for the designated grade. From the 1715 Fleet. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, 1714/3, no assayer (Arce), very rare, NGC MS 63 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label), finest and only example in NGC census. Restrepo-unl (M66.32 for type); S-B24; Cal-unl (Type 242); Fr-4a; KM-unl (17.1 for type). 6.70 grams. Very bold and full 4/3 overdate (first example we have seen or heard of) outside of off-center cross, nearly full shield with upright lions in transposed quadrants, small edge-crack in flat area. From the 1715 Fleet. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, 1733 M, NGC MS 63, finest known in NGC census. Restrepo-M80.12; S-B26; Cal-1950; Fr-8a; KM-14.2. 6.75 grams. Choice full cross with bottoms of digits of date visible, full but slightly off-center shield with bold full assayer (reading vertically) to right inside (P)HILIPV(S) of king's name, lightly toned on satin surfaces, choice grade but date not mentioned on label (and with incorrect range of 1743-48, despite the fact that assayer M ended in 1743). Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, 1735/4 M, NGC AU 50. Restrepo-M80.12; S-B26; Cal-1954; Fr-8a; KM-17.2. 6.74 grams. Broad, round flan with much legend including full king's name PHILIPPVS and 1735 date with last digit punched over a rotated 4 (not mentioned by NGC) at top of full but slightly doubled cross, the shield also full (lions and castles transposed) with clear F to left and M to right, lustrous and rich in color. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, 1741 M, retrograde 4 in date, ex-Caballero, ex-Santa Fe. Restrepo-M80.12; S-B26; Cal-1961; Fr-8a; KM-17.2. Full 41 of date with retrograde 4 at top of full cross-and-tressure, full but slightly off-center shield (transposed lions and castles), XF with deep toning on fields, spots of encrustation. Pedigreed to the Santa Fe Collection (Sedwick Auction 10, with original lot-tag 80) and the Caballero collection (Aureo & Calicó auction of April 2009, lot 148).

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 1 escudo, (1693), assayer ARCE, rare, NGC MS 62 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). Restrepo-M64.12; S-B24; Cal-836; Fr-5; KM-13. 3.39 grams. Choice full cross, nearly full shield with lots of details but flat at bottom right, with distinctive rendering of elements (Naples Sicily left without eagles, etc.) matching 2 escudos of 1693 (see Sedwick Auction 35 lot 92 for another example from same dies), lightly toned, technically second finest in NGC behind a single MS 63 of the same type listed under a slightly different date range. From the 1715 Fleet, with photo-certificate. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 1 escudo, (1713), no assayer (Arce), rare, NGC MS 64 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label). Restrepo-M64.16; S-B24; Cal-1771 (under Ph. V); Fr-5a; KM-unl (13 for type). 3.38 grams. Good full shield and cross, both slightly off-center, resulting in a clear king's ordinal II on obverse (Charles II posthumous), the shield showing recumbent lions in transposed quadrants and no dots in Naples-Sicily, in fact an exact die-match known examples dated 1713 (label says 1613 in error, in addition to a date-range of 1708-14, in any case tied for second finest behind a single MS 65). From the 1715 Fleet, with original Cobb Coin Co (Fisher) plastic and paper tags NCB3546MO and Fisher tag and photo-certificate PC12-31440. Please use this link to verify the certification number

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 1 escudo, Ferdinand VI, assayer not visible (S to left), mintmark FS to right (style of 1751), NGC MS 63. Restrepo-M92.2; S-B27a; Cal-622; Fr-14; KM-28. 3.35 grams. Choice full cross with distinctive "darts" in tressure-dimples in lieu of fleurs or x's (the only confirmed date for which is 1751), bold but off-center shield with full F•S to right, very small and thick flan, would be finest known in NGC census except that NGC attributed it to Philip V in error. Please use this link to verify the certification number

Gold "finger" bar, 668 grams, marked with fineness XVII• (17¼K), ex-"Golden Fleece wreck" (ca. 1550). 6" x 1½" x ½". Impressively encrusted and somewhat wide for a "finger" bar (the typical gold ingot of its time), about half of the original with one end showing the break and the other a naturally blunt point where the molten metal stopped flowing, with three fineness markings of XVII• on the rounded bottom, attractively caked with white coral on both sides, also with coppery stains here and there on lustrous bright-yellow surfaces. From the "Golden Fleece wreck" (ca. 1550), pedigreed to Sedwick Auction 7, with original lot-tag 144 and photo-certificate. Note: Melt value with spot gold at $3400/oz is about $52,500.

Section of a gold "finger" bar with two "Golden Fleece" stamps, 308.11 grams, about 22K, ex-"Golden Fleece Wreck" (ca. 1550). roughly 2¼" x 1" x 5/8". A hefty piece of bright, rich, high-karat gold showing breaks at both ends where it was parceled from a long "finger" bar typical of the period, but remarkable as one of very few gold pieces from this wreck to bear a unique circular stamp showing the "Golden Fleece" (the limp pelt of a mythical golden ram and symbol of the Catholic chivalric Order of the same name traditionally dominated by the Spanish monarchy to this day), after which this unidentified wreck was nicknamed, since it is the only known source of ingots with such markings. Unfortunately, both stamps on this piece are partially effaced by deep chisel-marks on the rounded bottom next to the breaks, which along with the chisel-marks and the flat top of the bar harbor lots of white coral, with a few copper spots here and there. From the "Golden Fleece Wreck" (ca. 1550), with photo-certificate. Note: Melt value with spot gold at $3400/oz is about $30,900.

Pinch of California gold flakes, 1.5 grams, ex-SS Central America (1857). A typical Collectors Universe slab (label number 4105) housing a "pinch" of hundreds of small pieces of natural gold, as found in rivers and streams in the California Gold Rush and lost on this famous wreck, with lots of shapes and colors, none bigger than about 3/16" but no dust. From the SS Central America (1857), as stated on label.

Large, natural gold nugget from Alaska, 484 grams, approx. 76% fine (est. 11.83 oz AGW), nicknamed "The Big Cheese." Approx. 3½" x 2" x 1". A sizable lump with smooth surfaces from eons of river-tumbling, slightly triangular in shape, with lots of quartz remaining on the exterior (looks like a giant cheese curd), making it seem like there is more quartz than there really is, but heavy in hand and very nice for display. Note: At $3400/oz spot price, assuming at least 99% of the weight is gold and not quartz, this nugget melts at around $39,800.

Silver "tumbaga" bar M-4, 14.84 lb av, marked with fineness iU oIIII L (1450/2400 fine), assayer(?) I°B13, and two partial tax stamps, ex-"Tumbaga Wreck" (ca. 1528). A very attractive bar, neatly formed (rectangular), about as wide as an Atocha bar but thin, with nice natural gray surfaces, the three visible markings on the top consisting of one tax stamp at each end and the assayer(?)-fineness cluster near the left stamp, also with diagonal assayer's "bite" on top corner above the right stamp, overall a desirable shape and size, great for display. Note: Per page 63 of The "Tumbaga" Saga, by Agustín García-Barneche, second edition (2018), the "I°B13" marking could stand for blacksmith Juan Ibañes, acting as a pro tempore assayer. From the "Tumbaga Wreck" (ca. 1528), with original Sedwick photo-certificate and book Tumbaga Silver for Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire (1993), by Douglas R. Armstrong (signed).

Silver "tumbaga" bar M-144, 6123.6 grams, marked with fineness iUBC (1600/2400 fine), assayer(?) I°B13, owner(?) iNo/DeCBA, and circular tax stamp, ex-"Tumbaga wreck" (ca. 1528). 11" x 4" x 1". Rectangular ingot with bubbly top surface harboring lots of pits and flow-lines (some containing copper bits), the bottom showing a good portion of the tax stamp at one end near the double-struck owner(?) mark, the assayer(?) mark typically clustered at the other end with the fineness, below a diagonal corner assayer's "bite." It is somewhat rare to see both owner(?) and assayer(?) on the same bar; for more information about these markings, please see pages 61-63 of The "Tumbaga" Saga, by Agustín García-Barneche, second edition (2018). From the "Tumbaga wreck" (ca. 1528), housed in custom padded wooden box.

Large silver "splash" ingot marked with tax stamp (crowned pillars, PLVS VLTRA and M with three o's), 3074 grams, ex-unidentified ca.-1554 wreck off Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Roughly 11" x 9½". A very thin but very wide puddle of poured silver with rough bottom but somewhat smooth top showing a full but lightly corroded tax stamp of a type seen only on ingots from this wreck and the 1554 Fleet, part of edge also crudely corroded and with interior hole but overall solid and impressive in size. From an unidentified ca.-1554 wreck off Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with photo-certificate.

Large silver ingot 728 from Potosí, Class Factor 1.0, 76 lb 10.24 oz troy, marked with mint/date Po1621, fineness IUU CCC L XXX (2380/2400) and assayer Mexía cartouche, owner/shipper marks, tax stamps, and manifest number IIIUDXXXIIII (3534), ex-Atocha (1622). A premium example with completely uncorroded top showing very bold markings all over, particularly the large owners' "siglas" at either end, also with a V for silvermaster de Vreder, with the other markings more toward the center where a double-scoop assayer's "bite" appears below the clear date I6ZI, which is this bar's rarest feature, along with the clear, multi-line assayer cartouche following the fineness, one of the best we have handled, excellent for display. From the Atocha (1622), with Fisher photo-certificate S728.

Large silver ingot 364 from Potosí, Class Factor 1.0, 78 lb 8 oz troy, marked with mint/date Po1621, fineness IUU CCC L XXX (2380/2400) and assayer Mexía cartouche, owner/shipper marks, tax stamps, and manifest number DXVIII (518), ex-Atocha (1622). Another premium ingot with very smooth top surface showing rather bold fineness, manifest. and smallish owner "sigla," the double-scoop assayer's "bite" in center also rather prominent, but also with three discernible circular coat-of-arms tax stamps, V for silvermaster de Vreder, and clear Po1622 cartouche, in addition to a very clear assayer's cartouche following the fineness, and lastly a deep diagonal slash believed to indicate where an amount was to be cut off at the destination to pay the "avería" (defense tax), according to the book Spanish Treasure Bars, by Craig and Richards (2003). From the Atocha (1622), with original Fisher photo-certificate 85A-S364.

Large silver "piña" ingot, 5335 grams, XRF tested at 99% silver, rare, ex-Atocha (1622). 7¼" tall, 3½" to 5½" in diameter, with 2½" cylindrical hole in center. A very small percentage of the silver ingots recovered from the Atocha were in this hollow cone shape known as a "piña" for its resemblance to a cored pineapple, created in a bell-shaped mold with central rod as the final step in the "patio" refining process, invented in Mexico in the mid-1500s by Bartolome de Medina as a method for separating silver from its ore by amalgamation with mercury (quicksilver). Most "piña" ingots were melted down into typically big, rectangular ingots (like the previous two lots) and sent to the mint for coining; but since the mine owners usually needed money right away, some "piñas" were sold directly from the mine, which had to be the case here because neither end shows any markings, specifically fineness and tax stamps. The surfaces are not overly corroded (not rated for Class Factor by Treasure Salvors like the big bars), just a nice even silver color, very eye-catching in shape and an important rarity for the advanced Atocha collector. From the Atocha (1622), with original Fisher plastic tag and photo-certificate 85A-0507-2.

Neatly formed Dutch silver ingot, 1957 grams, about 98.5% fine, with markings of VOC (Dutch East India Co.) monogram with A (Amsterdam) above and "jumping goat" assayer-mark of Otto and/or Wouter Buck, ex-Rooswijk (1739). 1960 grams. 6" x 1½" x 1¼". Typically uncorroded with very smooth surfaces and very deep markings near the top of one side, the other end of the bar typically pit-shaped (filled with orange encrustation) with only one small diagonal cut to fine-tune the weight in its time. From the Rooswijk (1739), with original plastic tag certificate RK05AS0222 from the salvors.

Neatly formed Dutch silver ingot, 1933 grams, about 98.5% fine, with markings of VOC (Dutch East India Co.) monogram with Z (Zeeland) above and M (Middelburg) below, assayer initials FE (François Englesen, Jr) and fleur-de-lis within shield, ex-Bredenhof (1753), ex-Botha. 6" x 1½" x 1". Relatively smooth and nicely toned surfaces with both markings near center of one side, one end of the bar with a typically deep pit and the other with no less than five diagonal slices removed in its time to lower the weight to some kind of standard for shipping, this particular ingot noteworthy as the one chosen as a reward by the diver who found the first chest of ingots. From the Bredenhof (1753), with certificate from salvor Tommy Botha, who selected this ingot for himself as finder of the first chest of ingots, with original Christie's (Amsterdam) auction catalog of December 1986, and with certificate from conservator S. Valentine.

Neatly formed Dutch silver ingot, 1921 grams, about 98.5% fine, with markings of VOC (Dutch East India Co.) monogram with Z (Zeeland) above and M (Middelburg) below, assayer initials FE (François Englesen, Jr) and fleur-de-lis within shield, ex-Bredenhof (1753). 1921 grams. roughly 6" x 1½" x 1¼". Smooth surfaces brightly polished, with bold markings near center of one side, one end smooth (oddly angled) but the other end typically diagonally sliced for fine-tuning the weight, parts of the edges somewhat corroded but otherwise solid and great for display. From the Bredenhof (1753).

Large copper ingot 36, 23.3 kg, ex-Atocha (1622). Unlike the typical roundish "patties" of copper normally seen, this is a neatly cast rectangular ingot, with almost its entire topside coated in thick white encrustation, stamped with its TSI number on an exposed part at one end, and showing a large assayer's "bite" in one corner on the other end, overall more in the category of an intentional ingot than just a heavy weight and quite rare thus. From the Atocha (1622), with Fisher photo-certificate 85A-C036.

MEXICO, Mexico City, 4 reales, Charles-Joanna, "Early Series," assayer P to right, mintmark M to left (oMo-oPo), NGC VF details / cleaned (Shipwreck Blue Label). Nesmith-26b type; Cal-123; S-M4; KM-17. 13.52 grams. Well struck and deeply gunmetal-toned with clear legends and interiors on a full flan, the shield side slightly off-center, the pillars side featuring the beautiful quatrefoils used only by this assayer, from a type (oMo-oPo with left-leaning panel) that encompasses the largest variety of legends, a majority from the later HISPANIARVM period, like this example. Recovered from: “Golden Fleece wreck,” sunk ca. 1550 in the northern Caribbean Please use this link to verify the certification number

MEXICO, Mexico City, 4 reales, Charles-Joanna, "Late Series," assayer G to right, mintmark M to left (M-G), NGC XF details / environmental damage (Shipwreck Blue Label). Nesmith-50g type; Cal-127; S-M5; KM-18. Very broad flan extending past the outer borders, also well struck (no doubling or flatness), full legends and interiors, darkly toned all over but no corrosion. Recovered from: “Golden Fleece wreck,” sunk ca. 1550 in the northern Caribbean Please use this link to verify the certification number