Welcome to Issue 11 of Mexican Coin Magic Items for Sale. As usual, we have been busy buying new stuff for the FoxLair Reference Collections. Some of our coins this time are Mexican beauty queens; others are ugly waifs. Most are important coins; a few are extremely rare, or unlisted varieties, others are just nice Mexican Coins. We have included a few of the better (rare DAM or varieties) Cap & Ray 8 Reales from the FoxLair Reference Collection for Alamos through Hermosillo, including the remaining seven Guadalupe y Calvo coins from the over 25 varieties that were once in my collection. Next issue we will have some Mexico City through Zacatecas 8 Reales that will make you smile and reach for your checkbook. We have a small selection of difficult (many unlisted varieties) to find minor reales. A smattering of escudos. A good selection of choice gold pesos, except 1 Pesos that will be in the next issue. Some of these coins are new purchases from readers of Mexican Coin Magic, some from the last round of 2007 Long Beach and Mexico City auctions, and even a few from the January 2008 Heritage New York Sale. You will also find a couple of eBay purchases that were needed to fill out the FoxLair Reference Collections and a small group left over from our 2007 Fixed Price Lists. Some of these coins, when they arrived were locked in plastic from Third Party Grading Services, but have now been released from their plastic condoms so they could be correctly attributed, weighed, and scanned. If a Third Party Grading Service graded the coin, the tag will be included with the coin.
Keep in mind there are well over a thousand additional Mexican and Latin American gold and silver coins locked away in our bank vaults, including many bargain priced lower grade varieties. So if you are looking for something special or cheaper contact us, we might just have what your little heart desires.
Special Note: There was some confusion in Issue #9 because I changed the format, or the way I now display this section. In the past I placed the status of each coin above that coin, Sale Pending, or SOLD. Beginning in Issue #9 I have placed this below the coin at the suggestion of a couple of our readers. The status of each coin in this issue is still below the coin. If there is nothing there the coin was still available when I wrote this.
A thought to keep in mind while looking at the scans of the coins in these ads; normally the darker the coin appears in the scans, usually the brighter and more reflective the luster found on the coin. I've tried many different techniques to scan coins, but without going to Photo Shop, or another of the photo modifying programs I've been unsuccessful at giving you the true color or showing you how lustrous these coins really are. My most important task is trying to get the best possible scan of the coins without touching up the color or luster on the coins. This is done so you may see the variety information such as the OverDates, OverAssayers, Over Mintmarks, Repunched legends, etc., and any flaws in the coins. All of the scans shown here are greatly reduced, so if you would like to see a larger scan of any coin contact me and I will forward one to you by email.
Most past purchasers of coins pictured here on the Mexican Coin Magic website are amazed that the coins look much better in real life as apposed to the scans. And remember our guarantee: If you dont like any coin purchased from FoxLair you may return it within 10 days.
Now for my Terms & Conditions for purchasing these items:
1) All merchandise is guaranteed to be as described! (a) Books, auction catalogs, and fixed price lists may be returned within 10 days after receipt, if the plastic bag is unopened. (b) Coins maybe returned within 10 days of receipt: If Mylar flip has not been tampered with, if flip has been tampered with ... no returns! (c) Custom FoxLair Reports & Data Files are not returnable for refunds under any circumstances! Buyer returning merchandise must pay postage and insurance both ways!
2) Buyers in United States pay actual shipping charges, no packaging fee. Buyers outside USA must supply shipping instructions, selected shipper and any customs paper work, if needed. All shipments require insurance that must be paid by buyer. Insurance and rush charges are extra, and will be billed at cost.
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4) Send all payments to: FoxLair Partners; PO Box AJ, Port Isabel, TX, 78578, USA
5) Wire Transfers: Recently we have been asked to accept direct wire transfers to our account to speed up the ordering and delivery process. Yes, you may now make wire transfers to our account, but you must include a fee of $25 for these transactions and allow at least three days for the wire transfer to clear my bank. If you want to do a wire transfer call me at (956) 943-8409 and I will give you the information needed by fax or email.
Now for the latest FoxLair Items For Sale
Mexican Republic Coins
Silver Ό Reales:
Ad # 11-01: FoxLair# .25R-Ga-1843-2102 Guadalajara Ga 1843 MC Price $87.50
While not a remarkable specimen for grade this is an unusual error variety, at least in my opinion. Note the reverse legends; do you see it? Look at MBXICAN, yes that's right it's not MEXICANA! Several advanced minor collectors have looked at the coin, about half of them agree with me, the other half don't and say it is a worn E. Below is a scan of a regular coin. You decide, is it a B or is it an E?
FoxLair# .25R-Ga-1843-2101 Guadalajara Ga 1843 MC
Silver ½ Reales:
Ad # 11-02: FoxLair# .5R-Cn-1861-1102 Culiacan C 1861 PV Price $22.50
Another unlisted variety, this time a V/E OverAssayer with the Error Denomination 1/1, not a real pretty coin, but still an important variety none the less. Again I have had two examples of this DAM; one a Normal assayer and this OverAssayer.
Ad # 11-03: FoxLair# .5R-Do-1859-1102 Durango Do 1859 CP Price $145.00
This little jewel, well maybe not a jewel, is an unlisted 9/8 OverDate with a Broken D in mintmark, and a Large C/small c in REPUBLICA. Previously I had one example of this extreme rarity in the FoxLair Reference Collection and the dies used for this coin are completely different than the other one.
Ad # 11-04: FoxLair# .5R-Eo-1829-1102 Estado de Mexico EoMo 1829 LF Price $310.00
A decent, but not great, specimen of a hard to find 1/2 Real from the Estado de Mexico Mint with a repunched 2/2 date.
Ad # 11-05: FoxLair# .5R-Go-1868-1103 Guanajuato Go 1868 YF Price $235.00
Now we do have a real jewel! This is an error coin with No superscript ss after 10D_. 20G_., a Regular 6 in Normal Date with an Unlisted Y/P OverAssayer, but all that I have seen have the this error. A softly struck near Mint State specimen that is just beginning to tone with deep blue and purple shades. This scan doesn't do this coin justice as it has underlying full cartwheel luster.
Silver 1 Reales:
Ad # 11-06: FoxLair# 1R-Cn-1861-1101 Culiacan C 1861 PV Price $125.00
Decent, but crude flan and strike, example with a possible PV/CE Assayer. This specimen also has several repunched letters R/REPUBLI/ICA M/MEXICAN/NA in eagle side legends.
Next we have two different Guanajuato Go 1833 MJ 1 Real coins for sale made from two different die pairs. Recently, in our Pradeau translation of the Historia Numismatica De Mexico De 1823 a 1950 Volume III, we found mintage figures for this year (240,000 pieces), and several other Guanajuato 1 Real coins. To date we have found five distinctively different die pairs for this DAM, which can easily be explained, if this many coins were minted..
Ad # 11-07: FoxLair# 1R-Go-1833-1101 Guanajuato Go 1833 MJ Price $95.00
There are several distinctive differences in these two coins; notice the varying number of laurel leaves and their placement, on the specimen below the eighth leaf is punched over the final "A" in MEXICANA, the one above has only seven laurel leaves. Also note the star before the 1R; the one below has a cloverleaf shaped five-point star, while the one above has a broken normal small five-point star. The coin below has the final superscript "s" punched over a long ray, the one above has the final superscript "s" in front of a long ray. These are just a few of the major reference points that are different on these two coins; there are many others.
Ad # 11-08: FoxLair# 1R-Go-1833-1102 Guanajuato Go 1833 MJ Price $120.00
Ad # 11-09: FoxLair# 1R-Go-1851-1101 Guanajuato Go 1851 PF Price $45.00
Our next Guanajuato 1 Real is unusual to say the least, even though it isn't a pretty coin. The 5 in the date is punched over another number, probably another 5, or maybe even a 4, but because we can't be certain let's call it a 5/? OverDate. But more interesting is the assayer's initials where we find an unlisted F/E OverAssayer; the F is clearly over a E that has been effaced even though incompletely.
Ad # 11-10: FoxLair# 1R-Mo-1827-1101 Mexico City Mo 1827 JM Price $20.00
Another downright ugly coin, but this is the rare 7/6 OverDate coin.
Ad # 11-11: FoxLair# 1R-Mo-1861-2101 Mexico City Mo 1861 CH Price $165.00
There isn't anything unusual about this coin, except it is pretty darn nice, even if it is slightly struck off-center.
Ad # 11-12: FoxLair# 1R-Zs-1835-1103 Zacatecas Zs 1835 OM Price $45.00
Darn, another really ugly 1 Real, this time from Zacatecas, but it is an unlisted and unusual 3/8-5/5/4 OverDate.
Silver 2 Reales:
Ad # 11-13: FoxLair# 2R-Do-1824-1201 Durango Do 1824 RL Price $225.00
Talk about ugly, this Durango 2 Reales might win the contest for the ugliest mutt on earth, but it is a difficult to find variety that I purchased from Germany. It is the Hubbard & OHarrow (H&H) Example 3 where we find all of the dots in the legends are located at Mid-Level. There is no star or dot in front of (_2R) the denomination and there is a small superscript O in the mintmark.
Sale Pending
Ad # 11-14: FoxLair# 2R-Go-1826-1201 Guanajuato Go 1826 JJ Price $175.00
The long rumored error specimen of this DAM with No Star before _ 2R that I haven't seen before until this one surfaced. I had to buy it even though it to is ugly.
Ad # 01-15: FoxLair# 2R-Mo-1824-1104 Mexico City Mo 1824 JM Price $365.00
This Mexico City 2 Reales is one of those many uncataloged varieties that Hubbard & O'Harrow believed existed, they listed and showed three varieties in Hookneck, but due to the low-grades of most Mexico City 2 Reales, a complete and in depth study was not feasible at the time their book was nearing completion.
Ad # 11-16: FoxLair# 2R-Mo-1826-1102 Mexico City Mo 1826 JM Price $110.00
This Variety [Mo-1826-1102] of the Mexico City 1826 2 Reales has a fifth berry added on a short stem that ends below the left leg of the last A in MEXICANA which has No Dot after MEXICANA-and uses the awful looking Tiny-Head Hooked-Beak Mexico City Eagle that will soon become the Standard Eagle for almost the entire series of Mexico City 2 Reales and some other mints, this is the new Style of 1826 Type B Eagle.
Ad # 11-17: FoxLair# 2R-Zs-1863-2201 Zacatecas Zs 1863 MO Price $165.00
This is the second specimen that I have had of this variety that is a Mule using the Style of 1863 Type #1 Cap mated with the older Style of 1845 Eagle.
Ad # 11-18: FoxLair# 2R-Zs-1863-2202 Zacatecas Zs 1863 MO Price $85.00
This is the only specimen that I have seen of this variety that is also a Mule, but it uses the Style of 1863 Type #2 Cap with the old Style of 1845 Eagle. Normally this Type #2 Cap is mated with the new Style of 1863 Eagle.
Silver 4 Reales:
Ad # 11-19: FoxLair# 4R-Ga-1858-1102 Guadalajara Ga 1858 JG Price $495.00
Most catalogs list a single variety for this DAM: a Normal date and assayer. I have had two study coins for this DAM. There was also a well-worn example in that was photographed for the Ponterio & Associates Sale #139, so I can attribute this DAM. The specimen we have for sale is one of the better examples known for this extreme rarity, it has a muffed date that looks like a 8/8/7 OverDate.
Ad # 11-20: FoxLair# 4R-Go-1846-1101 Guanajuato Go 1846 PM Price $175.00
Our specimen for sale is pleasant looking example of the 6/5 OverDate made with the Style of 1844 Dies that has an almost full strike. It is interesting to note that we have found three different varieties for this DAM; (1) the 6/5 OverDate (2) a Normal Date (3) an unlisted 6/4 OverDate.
Ad # 11-21: FoxLair# 4R-Ho-1867-1101 Hermosillo Ho 1867 PR Price $200.00
This specimen is one of the normally seen ugly well-worn Hermosillo 4 Reales from this DAM, but is also a bargain priced coin. It is by far the most common of the three Hermosillo 4 Reales that are recorded. I have had two other advanced collectors loan me study coins, both of which are better examples making attributions much easier and more complete. All three coins are from the same die pair and we attribute them as a Repunched H/H Mintmark, 7/I OverDate & P/P/?-R/M OverAssayer; Hermosillo-Mexico City Style of 1867 Eagle.
Ad # 11-22: FoxLair# 4R-Mo-1861-2102 Mexico City Mo 1861 CH Price $1,800.00
This specimen is a choice example of this DAM from the September 2007 Ponterio & Associates Sale#143, Lot#1257 where Rick Ponterio called it a choice BUnc. I have had three study coins from other collections of this DAM, two of which were higher technical grades (more luster) than this one. However, this is by far the best strike of any of them with a full snake making this an exceptional specimen for the 4 Reales from any mint. I attribute this coin as 6/? OverDate with a repunched G/G in 20GS. and it is made with the new Style of 1861 Dies.
Ad # 11-23: FoxLair# 4R-Pi-1849-3104 San Luis Potosi Pi 1849 MC Price $285.00
Here is an interesting unlisted mid-level rarity from Potosi that is also a pretty nice specimen for a Potosi 4 Reales. I attribute this coin as a 9/8 OverDate with a M/? and C/? OverAssayer using the Style of 1848 Cap and the Style of 1844 Eagle.
Ad # 11-24: FoxLair# 4R-Zs-1868-2101 Zacatecas Zs 1868 YH Price $265.00
By far the nicest of the three study coins I have had for this DAM. This example has bright cartwheel luster (with some cleaning hairlines), a full snake, but only partial rims still making the strike somewhat lopsided.
Cap & Ray 8 Reales:
Ad # 11-25: FoxLair# 8R-As-1865-1201 Alamos A 1865 PG Price $1,800.00
Dunigan & Parker say 5th Rarest Alamos DAM, the 5/4 OverDate much Rarer than the Normal Date. Style of 1864 Cap: 5/4 OverDate & Normal Assayer; Low Dot After MEXICANA. Style of 1864b Eagle. A very pleasing example of difficult to find in grades over Very Fine early Alamos 8 Reales. **SOLD**
Ad # 11-26: FoxLair# 8R-As-1866-2101 Alamos A 1866 DL Price $2,800.00
Our specimen is well above the average, and has no chops. Dunigan & Parker say 2nd Rarest Alamos DAM, Error: I in place of 1 in I0DS. Normal Date & Assayer; High Dot after MEXICANA. Style of 1864a Eagle.
Ad # 11-27: FoxLair# 8R-Ca-1832-1101 Chihuahua Ca 1832 MR Price $500.00
Believe it or not, this is a very high-grade early Chihuahua 8 Reales! I attribute as a Style of 1831 Cap Unlisted 2/1 OverDate & Large M/small m Repunched Assayer; Mid Dot after MEXICANA. 5 Berry & 11 Leaf Chihuahua Style of 1832a Eagle. Some who have seen the coin disagree, but Rick Ponterio thought it was many years ago when he sold it to me.
Ad # 11-28: FoxLair# 8R-Ca-1833-1102 Chihuahua Ca 1833 MR Price $1,200.00
Another notable early Chihuahua 8 Reales from the famous Joe Blieden Collection, and rare. A Style of 1833 Cap: Normal Date & Assayer; New Low Dot after MEXICANA. 3 Berry & 20 Leaf Chihuahua Style of 1833b Eagle.
Ad # 11-29: FoxLair# 8R-Ca-1834-1101 Chihuahua Ca 1833 MR Price $4,200.00
You may not agree, but this is a choice specimen of a Great Rarity even though it isn't a beauty. It has much golden luster remaining under the toning and is a decent strike, even though it is a little lopsided, for this DAM. I attribute it as a New Style of 1834 Cap: Normal Date & Assayer; New Low Dot after MEXICANA. 5 Berry & 18 Leaf Chihuahua Style of 1834b Eagle.
Ad # 11-30: FoxLair# 8R-Cn-1846-1103 Culiacan C 1846 CE Price $1,800.00
Dunigan & Parker stated, 2nd Rarest Culiacan 8 Reales. These coins average VF, a few XFs to aUncs known, True Uncs Very Rare. Our specimen is a choice coin for this DAM with a very weak strike, but it does have a lot of luster. Attributed as a Style of 1846 Cap: Dot after 20GS. Normal Date & Assayer; 5 Berry Repunched: REPUBLICA MEXICANA. Dot after MEXICANA. Style of 1846c Eagle.
Ad # 11-31: FoxLair# 8R-Cn-1848-1101 Culiacan C 1848 CE Price $700.00
Here is an unlisted overdate, a very nice specimen and a bargain to boot. The average for this DAM is VF, some nice XFs known, anything better Very Rare and this coin is much being a near Mint State coin. Somewhat weakly struck, but very lustrous under some light toning. A Style of 1846 Cap: No Dot after 20GS_ 2nd 8/Inverted 9? OverDate & Normal Assayer; New 3 ½ Berry Dot after MEXICANA. Style of 1848a Eagle with a great pedigree; originally from the great, almost unknown, Scott Newhall collection.
**SOLD**
Ad # 11-32: FoxLair# 8R-Cn-1849-1101 Culiacan C 1849 CE Price $500.00
Here is another choice specimen from the Scott Newhall Collection, and it is a real beauty even with a soft strike and a couple of flan flaws! Most of the Cap side legends are repunched including the assayers initials. While I have listed these repunched initials as CE/CE there is a good chance that the original first initial really was an error G. It may be it was even the punch used to make the GC mintmark. You do know there was die swapping going on between these two mints, don't you? A Style of 1846 Cap: No Dot after 20GS_ Repunched: R/R 849/849 Repunched Date & CE/CE Repunched Assayer; Style of 1846b Eagle.
Ad # 11-33: FoxLair# 8R-Cn-1850-1101 Culiacan C 1850 CE Price $500.00
Here is a deceptively rare coin in grades of Extra Fine or better. I believe this DAM is much more difficult to find in high-grade than others; so much so that I consider it to be a hidden rarity in grades of Extra Fine or better with no problems. An ex Joe Blieden Collection coin that has a Style of 1846 Cap: No Dot after 20GS_ Normal Date & Assayer; Style of 1846b Eagle.
Ad # 11-34: FoxLair# 8R-Do-1824-1104 Durango Do 1824 RL Hookneck Price $850.00
Here is a decent Hubbard & O'Harrow HH# L15/F8 Style of 1824 Hookneck Cap: Error: No Star before _8R Normal Date & Normal Assayer: Durango Folded Snake Hookneck Eagle with a full LIBERTAD, but a weak eagle caused in part to incomplete rims.
Ad # 11-35: FoxLair# 8R-Do-1825-1101 Durango Do 1825 RL Price $350.00
Our next Durango 8 Reales is a nice specimen of a rather scarce date made with Style of 1825 Cap: Repunched 1/1 in 10DS. Type #1 Normal Date & Assayer; 5 Berry & 11 Leaf Dot after REPUBLICA∙ No Dot after MEXICANA_ Style of 1825a Durango Eagle. This DAM is notorious for weak eagles and is generally found in VF, I would call this one a choice XF+ example beyond a doubt, but it does have some old cleaning hairlines and a well above average strike.
Ad # 11-36: FoxLair# 8R-Do-1825-1107 Durango Do 1825 RL Price $150.00
This is a rather rare coin for you countermarked 8 Reales fans; it has a nice Philippine Crowned Y.II countermark. Our coin is made with a Style of 1825 Cap: Type #7 Normal Date & Assayer; 5 Berry & 10 Leaf No Dots after REPUBLICA_ or MEXICANA_ Style of 1825g Durango Eagle.
Ad # 11-37: FoxLair# 8R-Do-1831-1105 Durango Do 1831 RM Price $525.00
This is a rare variety of the 1831 Durango 8 Reales for two reasons; first it is a high-grade specimen and second it has a R on the eagle's claw. It is made with a Style of 1827 Cap: Type #5 Normal Date & Assayer; Style of 1829 R on Left Claw & Centering Dot Durango Eagle. While the cap side is a little weak, the eagle is magnificent for this date. This is a DAM that is generally found in VF and very weakly struck, not so with our specimen.
**Sale Pending**
Ad # 11-38: FoxLair# 8R-Ga-1827-2102 Guadalajara Ga 1827 FS Price $850.00
This DAM is a bear to find in high-grade, and seldom seen better than VF with very soft to weak centers. Overall this DAM is Rare, while the 1827/1287 OverDate variety is Excessively Rare. Our coin has weak centers, but is much nicer than usual. A Style of 1825 Cap: Type #1 Normal Date & Assayer; Guadalajara Style of 1825 Eagle.
Ad # 11-39: FoxLair# 8R-Ga-1829-1102 Guadalajara Ga 1829 FS Price $550.00
A decent budget priced example of a Very Rare DAM with normal wear, scuffs, bruises, and a few dings. This isn't the excessively rare overdate with a Style of 1825 Cap: Type #1 Normal Date & Assayer; Style of 1825 Eagle.
Ad # 11-40: FoxLair# 8R-Ga-1830-1103 Guadalajara Ga 1830 FS Price $1,250.00
Some believe this is an only Rare DAM, but an Exceedingly Rare one without a Philippine countermark which undoubtedly it is. But our example is also a grade rarity even though it has a few scratches and a gouge at 12:00 on the cap side. Still one of the better ones I've personally seen in over 20 years with a Style of 1825 Cap: Normal Date & Assayer; Style of 1825 Eagle.
Ad # 11-41: FoxLair# 8R-Ga-1830-2101 Guadalajara Ga 1830 LP Price $1,500.00
A Very Rare 1830 LP 8 Reales with the normally found Philippine Crown F.7o countermark Style of 1825 Cap: Normal Date & LP/FS OverAssayer; Style of 1825 Eagle. While countermark is very strong, the host coin is weak, but better than most.
Ad # 11-42: FoxLair# 8R-GC-1845-1201 Guadalupe y Calvo GC 1845 MP Price $2,250.00
You have read about it and seen it in Resplandores, it was the Plate Coin. Here is the only Mexican Republic Cap & Ray 8 Reales with a silver plug in it. The coin is made with the 1st Style of 1845 Cap: Error: Silver Plug @ 5, No Dots after 10DS_ 20GS_ & Mid Dots 5/5 Repunched Date & Normal Assayer; GC Square Tail Style of 1845a Eagle. Originally from the great Pablo Gerber Collection and sold in Part II during 1986 as Lot#242. A once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a unique coin of great historical significance with a great pedigree. If this was a US Silver Dollar with this minting feature it would be cost a princely sum with six figures!
Ad # 11-43: FoxLair# 8R-GC-1845-1203 Guadalupe y Calvo GC 1845 MP Price $1,000.00
Our next specimen is also from 1845 with the normal weak strike for this DAM, covered with almost full cartwheel luster, but is covered with numerous tiny bag marks. It is one of the rare Mule Dies made with the 1st Style of 1845 Cap: No Dots after 10DS_ 20GS_ & Mid Dots, Normal Date & Assayer; GC 1st Style of 1844a Eagle. A choice example with light toning around the edges.
Ad # 11-44: FoxLair# 8R-GC-1845-1401 Guadalupe y Calvo GC 1845 MP Price $900.00
Another nice 1845 Guadalupe y Calvo 8 Reales this time made with the 3rd Style of 1845 Cap: Regular SS/Inverted ss, No Dots after 10DS_ 20GS_ & Mid-Level Dots in legends Normal Date & Assayer; GC Square Tail Style of 1845a Eagle. Much remaining luster in the devices with a strong eagle, however the cap is rather soft and it has one tiny rim minting flaw at 11:00 on the cap side. **SOLD**
Ad # 11-45: FoxLair# 8R-GC-1846-1104 Guadalupe y Calvo GC 1846 MP Price $495.00
One of only two remaining 1846 Guadalupe y Calvo 8 Reales in my once extensive collection. This specimen is made with a 2nd Style of 1846 Cap: No Dot after 20GS_ Normal Date & Assayer; Mexico City-GC 1st Style of 1846a Eagle. Bright field luster that may have been caused by a light polish job long ago with dark blue peripheral blue toning, however it has a few scratches here and there. Purchased from Heritage many years ago as Lot#234, but don't remember sale number.
Ad # 11-46: FoxLair# 8R-GC-1846-1108 Guadalupe y Calvo GC 1846 MP Price $785.00
Our second 1846 Guadalupe y Calvo 8 Reales is the rare Mule; furthermore it is the discovery coin that I first noted in 1987. This coin is made with Cap Die: [GC-1846-1103] Eagle Die: [GC-1846-1106] Large Level 6 in Normal Date & Assayer. A nice specimen with slightly weak centers and dark chocolate toning.
Ad # 11-47: FoxLair# 8R-GC-1847-1101 Guadalupe y Calvo GC 1847 MP Price $900.00
Here is a nice specimen of the very scarce 1847 Guadalupe y Calvo 8 Reales with full bright mint luster. The only detracting features of this coin are the weak centers created in part by the lack of full rims on the cap side and a few tiny bagmarks. This example is made with the 1st Style of 1847 Cap: Dot after 20Gs. Normal Date & Assayer; No Dot after MEXICANA_ Mexico City-GC Style of 1847a Eagle.
Ad # 11-48: FoxLair# 8R-GC-1848-1201 Guadalupe y Calvo GC 1848 MP Price $850.00
Another very scarce Guadalupe y Calvo 8 Reales, this time from 1848. Weak centers and numerous tiny bagmarks are slightly detracting, but don't keep it from being a choice specimen for this year. Made with the 2nd Style of 1848 Cap: Dot after 20Gs. Normal Date & Assayer; Mexico City-GC 2nd Style of 1848b Eagle.
Ad # 11-49: FoxLair# 8R-Go-1824-1101 Guanajuato Go 1824 JM Hookneck Price $1,850.00
Our first Guanajuato 8 Reales is one of those ugly waifs I mentioned earlier, but none the less an important coin. It also has an impressive pedigree as Mrs. Norweb purchased it from the well-respected ole time English coin dealer Fred Baldwin. I have pored over Hookneck by Clyde Hubbard & David O'Harrow and I can't find this exact coin. The cap die is similar to GR4, but the final superscript "s" is not punched over the closest long ray, plus there are other differences. At first I thought the eagle was a GO4, but it has two extra laurel berries above the lower part of the wreath that are unattached to stems and other subtle differences. Therefore I must assume this is an unseen or cataloged variety of the always popular Guanajuato 1824 Hookneck 8 Reales. Here is your chance to buy an unlisted and unpublished Great Rarity. Below is a blowup of these two extra berries...
FoxLair# 8R-Go-1824-1101
Ad # 11-50: FoxLair# 8R-Go-1825-2201 Guanajuato Go 1825 JJ Price $1,500.00
Our next Guanajuato 8 Reales has the same pedigree (Baldwin-Norweb) as the 1824 Hookneck above and is just as important as it is also an unlisted variety. This unlisted full 1825/1823 OverDate makes me wonder if any coins were struck with the error date 1823? Remember the 1827/1287 OverDate Guadalajara 8 Reales was know long before the error date 1287 coin was discovered. This coin is made with a Style of 1825 Cap: Blundered Die Repair: 1825/1823 OverDate & Full JJ Assayer; Short Neck Guanajuato Style of 1825c Eagle. Even if no blundered date coins escaped the Guanajuato Mint, this is an extreme rarity and the only one seen during my 25+ year search. Below is a blowup of the date area...
FoxLair# 8R-Go-1825-2201
Ad # 11-51: FoxLair# 8R-Go-1826-1101 Guanajuato Go 1826 JJ Price $425.00
Our next specimen was purchased from Mike Dunigan in my very first purchase of a large group of Durango and Guanajuato 8 Reales eons ago. It is made with a Style of 1825 Cap: Repunched R/R in Denomination & Large Untypical 2/2 Repunched Date & Full JJ Normal Assayer; New Style of 1826a Guanajuato Eagle. The coins of Guanajuato have been my first love for over 25 years, and believe me this is a super duper example of a coin that is normally found in only Very Fine condition.
**SOLD**
Ad # 11-52: FoxLair# 8R-Go-1826-2101 Guanajuato Go 1826 MJ Price $2,000.00
This is another of those coins from Mike Dunigan in my very first purchase so long ago. I balked at the price then, you may too, but I've never seen a better one in 25 years, even though there are reported to be better ones? Dunigan said it was underrated as the second rarest of the Guanajuato 8 Reales then and it was a great rarity in grades over VF. It is made with a Style of 1826 Cap: Normal Date & Straight j Normal Assayer; Short Neck Style of 1825 Guanajuato Eagle. The great JB Parker had an XF, Amon Carter a VF that was purchased by Mike McCormick and later sold in Ponterio#142.
**Sale Pending**
Ad # 11-53: FoxLair# 8R-Ho-1861-2101 Hermosillo Ho 1861 FM Price $6,000.00
This is the first year for the Hermosillo 8 Reales, and it is a great rarity, especially with a decent strike. One sold for $10,000 plus the juice in a Ponterio sale that was reported to be the finest known at that time. While this one isn't the finest known it still has a wonderful cap side; however the eagle side is softly struck in places, with nice light gold-brown toning. This coin is made with the Sonora Style of 1861 Cap: Mintmark: Large Vertical O beside Narrow H, Unusual Large 6/small 6 Repunched Date & F/C OverAssayer; Reeded Edge: Sonora Style of 1861 Eagle. By the way this was the Resplandores Variety Plate Coin.
Ad # 11-54: FoxLair# 8R-Ho-1861-2102 Hermosillo Ho 1861 FM Price $5,800.00
Here is a second of the three varieties (it still amazes me that there are three varieties of such a great rarity) that I owned for this DAM. This time we find a strong eagle and soft cap, beware there is also some porosity on both sides. The coin is made with a Sonora Style of 1861 Cap: Mintmark: small Vertical o beside Narrow H, Regular Small 6 Normal Date & F/C Large M/small m OverAssayer; Reeded Edge: Sonora Style of 1861 Eagle.
Ad # 11-55: FoxLair# 8R-Ho-1862-1401 Hermosillo Ho 1862 FM Price $1,750.00
A really double ugly waif, but oh so rare in any condition! In my personal opinion this is the ugliest 8 Reales in my collection! It is made with the New Mexican Style of 1862 Cap: Mintmark: Large Vertical O beside Wide H, Normal Date & Assayer; New Hermosillo-Mexican Style of 1862 Eagle. Over the years I've personally only seen two better coins from this DAM: the JB Parker specimen graded VF that sold for $1,870 and the Mike McCormick coin graded aUnc that sold for over $7,000.
Ad # 11-56: FoxLair# 8R-Ho-1863-1301 Hermosillo Ho 1863 FM Price $1,050.00
Our next Hermosillo 8 Reales is an unusual variety, a pretty coin even though it has a soft strike, and is both a hidden rarity and a grade rarity, in this grade, to boot. This DAM is at the very least rare and is normally found in VF or slightly better, our specimen is much better and the only one I've seen from this die pair. It is made with a New Sonora Style of 1863 Cap: Mintmark: small Vertical o beside Wide H, Regular 2/Fancy 2 in 20GS. Normal Date & Normal Assayer; New Hermosillo-Mexican Style of 1863 Type#2 Eagle.
Ad # 11-57: FoxLair# 8R-Ho-1864-1101 Hermosillo Ho 1864 FM Price $2,500.00
This DAM is an underrated rarity today even though Dunigan & Parker eluded to its rarity in Resplandores saying, "Very rare to extremely rare-- rarer than the 1864 PR. This coin normally comes Fine to Very Fine and sometimes with tiny chops. High grade examples are extremely rare." Enough said; our specimen is much nicer than the Parker or McCormick specimens. This is the first issue using the new mintmark and is made with the Style of 1863 Cap: Mintmark: Large Vertical O above Wide H, Repunched: 20 in 20GS. & Large SS/ss, Normal Date & Normal Assayer; Hermosillo-Mexican Style of 1862 Eagle.
Gold ½ Escudos:
Ad # 11-58: FoxLair# .5E-Cn-1848-1101 Culiacan C 1848 CE Price $205.00
Not a real pretty ½ Escudo, but it is an unlisted 2nd 8/7 OverDate, and only the second one I've ever seen. Prominent flan crack on the Hand on Book side with weak centers. Made with Style of 1847 Hand on Book: Unlisted: 2nd 8/7 OverDate & Normal Assayer; Culiacan-Mexican Style of 1848 Eagle. Note I said Style of 1847 Cap; this is one of those pesky Mexican Republic Anomalies where we have an overdate or overassayer coin with no previous recorded base coin.
Ad # 11-59: FoxLair# .5E-Cn-1862-1103 Culiacan C 1862 CE Price $750.00
Another of those disquieting Mexican Republic Anomalies, but somewhat different. Evidently Culiacan was knocking out the ½ Escudo in droves this year? Our research has found three unlisted overdates, but this one is the most interesting one of the three. Where you might expect to see a Sonora Style 1862 ½ Escudo with a 2/0 OverDate (there are no verified 1861 Culiacan ½ Escudo coins at this time) this one at first appears to be a 2/1 OverDate. Upon closer examination this attribution is incorrect. The correct attribution is a 1/2 OverDate. Yea, this isn't supposed to happen, but it does more than one time. (See the Zacatecas ½ Escudo listed below) There for the question becomes; should this coin be listed as a 1861 or 1862 Culiacan ½ Escudo? Nonetheless it is an Unlisted Incorrect OverDate made with a Style of 1854 Sonora Hand on Book: 2/1 OverDate & Normal Assayer; Style of 1854 Sonora Eagle. The coin speaks, but is anyone listening?
Ad # 11-60: FoxLair# .5E-Ga-1825-1102 Guadalajara Ga 1825 FS Price $350.00
A decent, but dirty specimen of mid-level rarity Guadalajara ½ Escudo with a few tiny rim minting flaws. It is made with Style of 1825 Hand on Book: Normal Date & Assayer; Style of 1825 Mexican Eagle.
Ad # 11-61: FoxLair# .5E-Go-1852-1102 Guanajuato Go 1852 PF Price $325.00
Look closely at this coin; it is made with the old Style of 1845 Hand on Book: Normal Date & Blundered PF/EP Assayer; Style of 1845 Woodpecker Eagle. There is also a new Style of 1852 Guanajuato ½ Escudo that I have in the FoxLair Reference Collection from the great San Andres Collection. Note I called the assayer initials found on this coin blundered. I did this because we find a PF/EP OverAssayer. We all know there are no assayers from Guanajuato with the EP initials, therefore I say it is a blundered assayer. This will become important because of the next coin.
Ad # 11-62: FoxLair# .5E-Go-1852-2101 Guanajuato Go 1852 PE Price $1,500.00
There is mucho controversy about this ½ Escudo and one that shows up in 1851with the same PE assayer initials. Many people in the Mexican Numismatic Community believe all are contemporary counterfeits! Others feel there are both genuine coins and contemporary counterfeits. Generally one of the defining characteristics of a counterfeit is the style or design of the coin. But this isn't always true; we know that contemporary forgers were sometimes able to secure genuine Mexican dies. This has been proven to be the case with some contemporary counterfeit Durango and Guanajuato 8 Reales, and probably with a Culiacan 8 Escudo. Most people look at this coin and believe it isn't a design or style produced at the Guanajuato Mint. Personally I disagree because it uses the New Style of 1852 Hand on Book: Normal Date & Assayer; New Style of 1852 Eagle found on FoxLair Variety # .5E-Go-1852-1201 with the assayer initials PF! The coin is speaking, but are you listening? Errors occur in almost all series of Mexican Republican coins, an in almost all of the Republican Mints, so why are we so excited about these two PE assayer ½ Escudo coins? After all just think about some poor, undereducated, overworked die sinker working in poor light. Isn't possible to mistake a tiny E punch for a F punch? While you are pondering this, just think about the blundered assayer initials in the previous coin. Errors do happen everyday, why not on two occasions back then?
Ad # 11-63: FoxLair# .5E-Mo-1825-1103 Mexico City Mo 1825 JM Price $205.00
I hate to hit you with another of those controversial Mexican Republic Anomalies, but here it is. We know of no verified Mexico City 1824 ½ Escudo coins today, but here is a 5/4 OverDate that shouldn't exist. It is made with Mexican Facing Eagle Style dies; don't you think if dies were made in 1824 for the ½ Escudo they would have been a Hookneck Style? No, I don't have a good answer either. Here is another little item for you to consider; there are two different varieties of the 5/4 OverDate for the Mexico City ½ Escudos. This one is made with the Style of 1824 Hand on Book: Large Star/small star, 2 of 21QS Punched over 2nd Superscript S Type #2 5/4 OverDate & Normal Assayer; Style of 1824 Mexican Eagle.
Ad # 11-64: FoxLair# .5E-Mo-1856-1103 Mexico City Mo 1856 GF Price $375.00
Not a lot of controversy about our next Mexico City ½ Escudo, it is just an unlisted overassayer and a real little jewel. This coin is made with the Style of 1848 Hand on Book: 6/4 OverDate & G/? OverAssayer; Style of 1848 Eagle. The scans don't do just to this bright lustrous little coin.
Ad # 11-65: FoxLair# .5E-Zs-1862-1101 #2 Mexico Zacatecas Zs 1862 VL Price $475.00
Are you ready for one more really controversial ½ Escudo that is also a Mexican Republic Anomaly? I first discovered this anomaly on a coin from the San Andres collection several years ago, but I didn't believe it. Since then three others have come on the market. I have purchased all three. They range in condition from VF+ to choice aUnc; all four of my study coins are from the same die pair. They all have the same unlisted 1/2 OverDate. I'm only providing the scans here for the best one. Again the dilemma; should these coins be listed as a 1862 or 1861 Zacatecas ½ Escudo? All three are available at different prices; so if you are interested in one let me know.
Ad # 11-66: FoxLair# .5E-Zs-1862-1101 #3 Mexico Zacatecas Zs 1862 VL Price $345.00
Ad # 11-67: FoxLair# .5E-Zs-1862-1101 #1 Mexico Zacatecas Zs 1862 VL Price $245.00
Gold 1 Escudos:
Ad # 11-68: FoxLair# 1E-Cn-1863-1103 Culiacan Cn 1863 CE ex Goldberg NGC-AU55 Price $585.00
Let's face it, most Culiacan 1 Escudo DAMs are really rare and this is the most common date, but it is a high-grade example with an unlisted 3/2 OverDate. Made with a Sonora Style of Hand on Book: Unlisted 3/2 OverDate & Normal Assayer; Sonora Style of Eagle.
Ad # 11-69: FoxLair# 1E-Do-1850-1106 Durango Do 1850 JMR Price $465.00
There is some confusion about this Durango 1 Escudo; I have found six different varieties recorded for this coin, which seems a little excessive in my opinion. But I have had three study coins and all are different varieties, so may be there are that many? I attribute this as a Paris Style Hand on Book: Repunched 2 in Fineness, 1/4-5/?-0/9 OverDate & JMR/?? OverAssayer; Unique Style of 1850 Type E Paris Eagle. All three of my study coins have had the same Hand on Book die, but all three have different eagle dies.
Ad # 11-70: FoxLair# 1E-Do-1861-1101 Durango Do 1861 CP ex Heritage Choice aUnc Price $4,500.00
While the Durango 1850 1 Escudo above is the most common of the series for Durango, this one is one is a sneaky rarity. I can confirm only three sales for this DAM; I have seen all three, and they are all from the same die pair. I attribute this as a Mexican Style of Hand on Book: Normal Date & Normal Assayer; Mexican Style of Eagle. A word of warning to you potential Style Collectors of the 1 Escudo series; this may be your only opportunity to purchase a non Paris Style Durango 1 Escudo for many years to come because all of them are great rarities. One other note here; the eagle used for this 1 Escudo is much smaller than is normally found, making me wonder if it was originally intended to be used for the ½ Escudo?
Ad # 11-71: FoxLair# 1E-Ga-1847-1101 Guadalajara Ga 1847 JG Price $7,000.00
There are some almost common Guadalajara 1 Escudos, and a few that are great rarities. There are some DAMs in the series that are found in high-grades and some that are found only in low-grades; and then there is this specimen! This is the only near GEM quality Guadalajara 1 Escudo I've ever heard about, let alone seen and a painfully rare DAM at that. I attribute it as a Style of 1825 Hand on Book: Normal Date & Normal Assayer; Style of 1825 Eagle. A lot of people have looked at it, most have drooled over it, but no one believes it is worth the asking price. What do you think? A great 1 Escudo Type Coin!
**Sale Pending**
Gold 2 Escudos:
Ad # 11-72: FoxLair# 2E-Cn-1848-1101 Culiacan C 1848 CE Price $250.00
Everyone knowns all Culiacan 2 Escudos are rare, right? In case you don't ... you need to read Rob Rollo's new book about the series. This is by far the most common 2 Escudo from Culiacan and it is a triple ugly waif, but I needed it to verify the unlisted 2nd 8/7 OverDate before Rollo's book was published. It is made with a Style of 1846 Hand on Book: Unlisted 2nd 8/7 OverDate & Normal Assayer; Style of 1846 Mexican Eagle. I know everyone wants a better looking specimen, but this one may be too cheap to pass up for you bargain hunters because it's worth almost it's price in gold today.
Ad # 11-73: FoxLair# 2E-Ga-1835-1101 Guadalajara Ga 1835 FS Price $460.00
Here is a semi-common first date 2 Escudo from Guadalajara that might not win the beauty pageant, but she will surely place in the top 10. Made with Style of 1835 Hand on Book: Normal Date & Assayer; Style of 1835 Guadalajara Eagle.
Ad # 11-74: FoxLair# 2E-Ga-1859-1101 Guadalajara Ga 1859 JG Price $825.00
Another also ran; I've already sold the winner in this beauty pageant, but still a nice specimen for the most common Guadalajara 2 Escudos. Attributed as a Style of 1835 Hand on Book: 9/8 OverDate & Normal Assayer; Style of 1858 Guadalajara Eagle.
Ad # 11-75: FoxLair# 2E-Go-1859-1101 Guanajuato Ga 1859 PF Price $5,000.00
Our next 2 Escudo is a great rarity, even though some may disagree. While not an ugly waif, or a raving beauty she is a very desirable specimen! Made with a Style of 1856 Hand on Book: Normal Date & Normal Assayer; Style of 1856 Guanajuato Eagle. Be forewarned, Rob Rollo has found only three other specimens of this DAM during his long and extensive research of the series! **Sale Pending**
Ad # 11-76: FoxLair# 2E-Mo-1863-2101 Mexico City Mo 1863 TH Price $365.00
Our last 2 Escudo is a rather common Mexico City that is a nice looking specimen, even though she might not win the beauty pageant. Made with a New Style of 1863 Hand on Book: Missing Dots Normal Date & Assayer; New Style of 1863 Eagle.
Gold 4 Escudos:
Ad # 11-77: FoxLair# 4E-GC-1848-1101 Guadalupe y Calvo GC 1848 MP Price $8,200.00
Our first 4 Escudo isn't a raving beauty, but few are! This is especially true for 4 Escudos from Guadalupe y Calvo because this mint represents one of the most difficult to find even one. Definitely a great rarity our coin is made with a Unique Style of 1848 Hand on Book: 18/18 Repunched Date & Assayer; Unique Style of 1848 Long Neck Guadalupe y Calvo Eagle.
Ad # 11-78: FoxLair# 4E-Go-1829-2101 Guanajuato Go 1829 MJ Price $5,250.00
Recently a veritable flood of Guanajuato 1829 4 Escudos (ha, ha I mean three) have hit the market! What is interesting is that all three are different varieties. Of course I purchased all three for the FoxLair Reference Collection. This first one is from the Goldberg Sale in May 2007 and it is made from the same design that was used for the super rare Go 1829 JM 4 Escudo the Style of 1829 Type #1 Hand on Book: Large 5 Point Star/small 5 Star, 9/8 OverDate & Normal Assayer; Style of 1829 Type A Guanajuato Eagle. This coin was graded AU-55 by NGC, and for once it appears that NGC undergraded a Mexican coin, because I personally believe it should have graded higher. Be sure to note the overdate; again another of those Mexican Republic Anomalies where we have know verified base coins dated 1828.
Ad # 11-79: FoxLair# 4E-Go-1829-2102 Guanajuato Go 1829 MJ Price $1,900.00
The second coin showed up the Fall 2007 Duane Douglas Sale in Mexico City. It uses a Style of 1829 Type #2 Hand on Book: Normal Date & Normal Assayer; New Style of 1829 Type B Guanajuato Eagle.
Ad # 11-80: FoxLair# 4E-Go-1829-2103 Guanajuato Go 1829 MJ Price $1,500.00
The third specimen appeared in the January 2008 Heritage New York Sale. While very similar to the specimen above it is still different. I attribute as a Style of 1829 Type #2 Hand on Book: Error: Extra Dot under Sleeve Normal Date & Normal Assayer; New Style of 1829 Type B Guanajuato Eagle. Three different coins, three different prices. As you have probably guessed by now, the Go 1829 MJ Guanajuato 4 Escudos is one of the more common (sic) 4 Escudos.
Ad # 11-81: FoxLair# 4E-Go-1832-1101 Guanajuato Go 1832 MJ Price $3,450.00
Our next Guanajuato 4 Escudo is much rarer than the first three and it has an unlisted overdate to boot. This coin is attributed as Unseen Style of 1831 Hand on Book: Unlisted 2/1 OverDate & Full J Normal Assayer; Repunched: BLICA/LICA Style of 1831 Guanajuato Eagle. Note I say unseen for the Style of 1831 Hand on Book die; the reason for this is simple, my only study coin for the Guanajuato 1831 MJ 4 Escudo used a boot shaped or straight j and was somewhat different in other respects. However, these two coins share the same Style of 1831 Eagle die.
Ad # 11-82: FoxLair# 4E-Go-1855-1101 Guanajuato Go 1855 PJ Price $4,850.00
2007 also saw a flood (this time two specimens) of a much rarer Guanajuato 4 Escudo. The first appeared in the Goldberg's Long Beach Sale (05/07) as Lot#4733, I purchased it and later sold it to one of my supporters. The higher prices being paid for Mexican Republic gold brought out another one two moths later. The first specimen was nicer than the second, I sold the first one for well over $6,000. This second one is not as nice as the first, but is still darn nice specimen and just as rare, so it is much cheaper. It is made with a New Style of 1855 Hand on Book: Normal Date & Normal Assayer; New Style of 1855 Eagle.
Ad # 11-83: FoxLair# 4E-Go-1858-1101 Guanajuato Go 1858 PF Price $1,800.00
Our final Guanajuato 4 Escudo won't win any beauty contest, but it is the only specimen I've seen for sale of this hidden rarity since February 2002 when one appeared in a Alberto Hidalgo Sale in Mexico City. This was many years before I started working on the FoxLair Reference Collections for the Mexican Republic minors, so I purchased this specimen. I attribute this as a Style of 1855 Hand on Book: 2nd 8/7 OverDate & Normal Assayer; Style of 1855 Eagle.
Ad # 11-84: FoxLair# 4E-Mo-1827-1201 Mexico City Mo 1827 JM Price $3,800.00
Don't confuse this extreme rarity with the most common 4 Escudos, the 1825 Mexico City! It is many times harder to find in any grade. When I looked at the pictures of this coin I thought it might be the coin I needed to prove that the elusive Mo 1826 JM existed. But no it had to an unlisted Normal Date. It is made with a New Style of 1827 Hand on Book: Unlisted Normal Date & Normal Assayer; New Style of 1827 Type B: Long Neck Tiny Head Eagle. By the way my sale records indicate only higher grade specimen has ever been sold and that was in 1982!
Ad # 11-85: FoxLair# 4E-Mo-1848-1101 Mexico City Mo 1848 GC Price $5,500.00
This ugly duckling has a beautiful sister! But last time she someone danced with her the price was well over $25,000. While not the rarest Mexico City 4 Escudo it is near the top of the list; I have recorded a total of only four sales, two of which were probably this specimen. It is made with a New Style of 1848 Hand on Book: Normal Date & Normal Assayer; New Style of 1848 Eagle.
Ad # 11-86: FoxLair# 4E-Mo-1856-1102 Mexico City Mo 1856 GF Price $3,500.00
Over the years I have bought two different specimens of this DAM hoping to find all five of the varieties I have found listed in different catalogs and books. All to no avail, both were the same variety. This is another of those hidden rarities for the Mexico City 4 Escudos, especially when graded Extra Fine or better. This is the nicer of the two coins and I attribute it as a New Style of 1856 Hand on Book: Unlisted 6/8 OverDate & F/C OverAssayer; New Style of 1856 Eagle.
Ad # 11-87: FoxLair# 4E-Mo-1863-1101 Mexico City Mo 1863 CH Price $1,700.00
Not particularly a rare Mexico City 4 Escudo, and I've personally seen one better. But from the photos I thought it might be the long rumored to exist 6/5 OverDate. However, once I purchased it and examined it closely I don't believe it is, even though it appears to be in the above scan. It is still a very nice specimen with very weakly struck centers that most would grade as Choice Extra Fine, or better. It is made with a Style of 1859 Hand on Book: Normal Date & Normal Assayer; Style of 1858 Eagle.
Gold 8 Escudos:
Ad # 11-88: FoxLair# 8E-Go-1843-1101 Guanajuato Go 1843 PM Price $10,000.00
Our first Guanajuato 8 Escudo is a coin long rumored to exist and one that I had recorded a single sale record for; Lot#45 in the Hans Schulman/Lascano (05/69) Sale. The coin was photographed, but some people were skeptic, some said that Hans had mixed two coin photographs to make this coin. To my knowledge only two people had recorded this sale, Clyde Hubbard and me, and realized that this is the rarest Guanajuato 8 Escudo and one of the rarest in the entire series of 8 Escudos.
I began looking for this coin in 1984! During the following years I saw hundreds of the large lot Sotheby Hoard coins, even though I didn't know that was what they were at the time. I have looked high and low for this and one other Guanajuato 8 Escudo that had eluded me since 1986. Then in 2007 both of them showed up! This coin is made with a Soho Style Hand on Book: Normal Date & Normal Assayer; Soho Style Eagle. My quest for this coin has ended! By the way this isn't the Schulman-Lascano specimen, so there is another one out there somewhere...
Ad # 11-89: FoxLair# 8E-Go-1844-1203 Guanajuato Go 1844 PM Price $2,200.00
This Guanajuato 8 Escudo is a wonderful, the best one I've ever seen, example of an extremely rare Two Year Style Type Coin. I attribute as a Style of 1843 Hand on Book: Normal Date & Normal Assayer; Guanajuato Style of 1843 Eagle.
Ad # 11-90: FoxLair# 8E-Go-1848-1103 Guanajuato Go 1848 PM Price $1,850.00
Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Clause, his name is eBay! I discovered this little jewel on eBay during 2007 and it is a Type #2 2nd 8/7 OverDate I hadn't seen before. Furthermore it is a very nice specimen. It is made with a Style of 1847 Hand on Book: Type #2 2nd 8/7 OverDate & Normal Assayer; Style of 1847 Eagle. Now that it has been entered into the FoxLair Reference Collection it can be yours.
Ad # 11-91: FoxLair# 8E-Go-1851-1105 Guanajuato Go 1851 PF Price $1,600.00
Here is another of Santa eBay's gifts in 2007. I attribute this new variety as Style of 1844 Hand on Book: Repunched: *8E·GO· & Huge superscript s in fineness, Normal Date & Normal Assayer; Style of 1844 Eagle. While we find a wonderful Eagle, the Hand on Book side has some weakness, but it is still a very nice specimen of a DAM that is normally found in Fine to Very Fine condition.
Ad # 11-92: FoxLair# 8E-Go-1856-1103 Guanajuato Go 1856 PF Price $2,250.00
I found this new variety in Florida; it has an unlisted over denomination even though I'm unsure exactly what the underlying character is. Sometimes it takes several coins from the same variety to determine what an overdate or overassayer really is. But because there are so few people that study much else about 8 Escudos, I don't know if this is a common variety or not. However I can personally say I never seen it before. It looks like it may be a small "F" that has occurred on other 8 Escudos, but I'm saying "8E/?" until I can prove something more reliable. It is made with a Style of 1854 Hand on Book: Repunched 8E/? Denomination, Normal Date & Assayer; Style of 1854 Eagle. Did I mention it is a great specimen of a coin that averages about Very Fine?
Ad # 11-93: FoxLair# 8E-Go-1862-2102 Guanajuato Go 1862 YF Price $1,500.00
Here is another Mexican waif, not as ugly as some, but still no beauty queen. This is a published DAM; the first time in the 6th edition of the Buttrey & Hubbard Handbook. This is the second ultra rare Guanajuato 8 Escudo I have been looking for since 1984! Previous sightings of this coin were made in 1976; first at the Galerie des Monnaies/New York Sale (06/76) Lot#152 with photos and later in 1976 at the Stacks/ANA76 Sale (08/76) Lot#2440 no photos. I'm assuming that this is the same coin. When I found these two sales records I asked Mike Dunigan if this coin existed. He assured me it did, because he owned one. For many years I asked to see it, or better yet buy it. My pleas went unanswered forever.
Once I discovered (the great Sotheby's Latin Gold Hoard of the 1990s and the 11 or 12 auction catalogs that made up the sale of the hoard, I discovered that Sotheby's listed 27 specimens of this DAM in these sales. Of course there were no photos of any of the coins. So I had a total of 29 specimens being offered from 1976 until the end of the 20th Century, but only one fuzzy picture to drool over. But I didn't give up hope.
Then in September 2007 the Heritage catalog for the Fall 2007 Long Beach Auction #441 was posted on the Internet. I couldn't believe my eyes. There it was! It was Lot#Lot#51832, it caught my undivided attention. But the Heritage catalog statement through me asunder, polished VF-XF, mount trace on the rim. Although the assayer would appear to be YF, closer inspection would seem to indicate it is actually a weakly defined YE. Sold as is, no return lot. Estimate: $500-$600
In all my years of looking at coins from Heritage, I have seen a statement like this less than a handful of times. I still wonder why they made it. I made a gigantic bid over the Internet for the coin. I won it for a fraction of what I think the coin should have sold for, thanks Heritage for your statement. Now that I have had plenty of time to study this coin here are my findings and conclusions:I hope I haven't bored you too much with my little Sherlock Holmes routine? But just goes to show you that anything is possible in the wonderful world of Mexican Numismatics.
Ad # 11-94: FoxLair# 8E-Mo-1829-1201 Mexico City Mo 1829 JM Price $950.00
At one time this was a really rare DAM; I have seven sales records dating prior to the Sotheby's Gold Hoard of the 1990s. There must have been a slew of 1829s in the hoard because it is almost common now. But there are also a bunch of varieties now too, so much the better. This isn't one of those hoard coins because it showed up during mid-2007 at Rod Bates Rio Gallery from a "digger" who lived in Mexico. I came by and asked Rod about new stuff, we were making a sizable trade at the time, and he showed this little waif. "Why not, it might be a new variety?" I thought. But it was my old friend a 1201, and not a new variety. It is made with a New Style of 1829 Hand on Book: Type #3 Normal Date & Assayer; New Style of 1829 Type A Eagle.
Ad # 11-95: FoxLair# 8E-Mo-1831-1102 Mexico City Mo 1831 JM Price $1,900.00
I had another visit from our old eBay Santa during 2007, and all of you guys missed this one! It is another real rare unlisted variety! You see it has a small retrograde "c" under the superscript "o" in the mintmark. This coin is attributed as a Style of 1830 Hand on Book: Superscript O in Mintmark over small Retrograde Ɔ Normal Date & Assayer; Style of 1830 Eagle. While this isn't a beauty queen by any means, it is a decent example of a really rare variety. Below is a blowup of the mintmark for all of you skeptics...
FoxLair# 8E-Mo-1831-1102
Ad # 11-96: FoxLair# 8E-Mo-1855-2101 Mexico City Mo 1855 GF Price $2,200.00
Finally, after a 20 year wait, I found an above average Mexico City 1855 GF 8 Escudo! And believe me it is way above average because this coin is normally found in Very Fine, or a little better. This specimen has decent strike and wonderful bright luster, but it also has a number of tiny hairlines and a few bagmarks. Still the best one I have ever seen. It is made with a Style of 1850 Hand on Book: Normal Date & Assayer; Unknown Style of 1828? Eagle.
Gold 1 Pesos:
None We will have over 30 1 Pesos from the FoxLair Reference Collection for sale in a future issue after Rob Rollo has had a chance to study them for his new book!Gold 2 ½ Pesos:
Ad # 11-97: FoxLair# 2.5P-Mo-1872-1102 Mexico City Mo 1872 M Price $1,850.00
I have had two study coins for this DAM, and both are the unlisted Normal Assayer coins making me wonder if the original