NGC-certified Marblehead Hoard Coins Cross the Auction Block

Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) has graded 82 coins from a remarkable hoard believed to have been buried for over two centuries that was recently discovered in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The coins are being offered by Stack's Bowers Galleries in its August 2023 Global Showcase Auction in sessions being held August 15, 18 and 22, 2023.

The hoard was discovered during a renovation of a home that belonged to a merchant who owned at least two ships that are thought to have been involved in trading with the West Indies over 200 years ago. The coins in the hoard have dates from 1726 to 1814, and are mostly from Spanish Empire mints in Mexico, Colombia, Spain, Chile, Peru and Bolivia. Coins from France, Brazil and the United States are also included, offering a fascinating snapshot of the diverse assortment of currency that circulated in the United States immediately after its independence.

The top lot in the hoard is a Mexico 1764MO MF 8 Escudos graded NGC AU 55 (Session C, lot 51386), which has an estimate of $7,000 to $10,000. The coin shows a "rat nose" portrait of Spanish King Charles III, who ruled from 1759 to 1788 and whose empire included much of North and South America at the time. This coin is one of only three examples in the NGC Census and is tied for the highest graded.

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Another highlight of the sale is a Colombia 1789NR JJ 8 Escudos graded NGC AU 55 (Session C, lot 51385), with an estimate of $2,000 to $2,500. The coin shows King Charles IV, the son and successor of Charles III. The coin is from near the start of his 20-year reign, which ended in turmoil with the abdication of both him and his son in 1808, when Napoleon installed his own brother as King of Spain.

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The auction also includes a France 1789M Ecu with an NGC Excavation Recovery certification (Session 11, lot 30280). France was one of the major colonial powers in North America in the 18th century, and this coin is from near the end of the reign of King Louis XVI. He ruled from 1774 until he was deposed in 1792 amid the French Revolution, which began in 1789 — the date on this coin.

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NGC has encapsulated these coins with an attractive special label that highlights their connection to the Marblehead Hoard. Marblehead is a coastal town just north of Boston that is renowned for having hundreds of historic buildings. The coins were found while digging into the ground for a new foundation during a kitchen renovation.

Additional highlights from the hoard being offer by Stack's Bowers include:

• a Chile 1791SO DA 8 Escudos - Carol IIII graded NGC AU 58 (Session C, lot 51381) with an estimate of $1,800 to $2,400
• a Colombia 1772NR VJ 8 Escudos graded NGC AU 55 (Session C, lot 51382) with an estimate of $1,800 to $2,400
• a Colombia 1779NR JJ 8 Escudos graded NGC AU 55 (Session C, lot 51384) with an estimate of $1,800 to $2,400
• a Mexico 1775MO FM 8 Escudos graded NGC AU 55 (Session C, lot 51387) with an estimate of $1,800 to $2,400
• a Colombia 1774NR JJ 8 Escudos graded NGC XF Details (Session C, lot 51383) with an estimate of $1,600 to $1,800
• a Mexico 1776MO FM 8 Escudos with an NGC Excavation Recovery certification (Session 8, lot 6049)

Estimates are provided by the auction house.