NGC-certified Spanish Colonial Rarity Sets a Record by Realizing More than $800,000

A Spanish colonial gold rarity realized more than $800,000 as five coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) sold for six figures in a pair of auctions presented by Jesús Vico. The high-grade coin, pedigreed to the 1715 Fleet, set a record for any 8 Escudos as the top lot in Auction 169, which was held along with Auction 170 on June 26-27, 2024.

The Mexico 1715MO J 8 Escudos - Large Rosettes Reverse graded NGC MS 68 and pedigreed to the 1715 Fleet and the Segarra Collection (Auction 170, lot 1015) realized €756,000 (about $809,000), far above its starting price of €250,000. The coin was headed for Spain aboard a Spanish treasure fleet that sunk off the coast of Florida during a hurricane in 1715. It was found on a beach in 1989 by a vacationing couple following a spring storm.

Click images to enlarge.

The high-grade coin was the centerpiece of the auctions, which were presented by the Spanish auction house Jesús Vico in association with a major numismatic conference in Madrid. The Spanish capital was likely the original destination of the piece, which is an example of Royal coinage. Unlike crude cobs, these special coins were struck on round planchets with special attention to their craftsmanship, because they were intended as presentation pieces to top officials.

Other NGC-certified highlights in the auctions included:

• a Mexico 1732MO F 8 Reales Cob - Royal Coinage graded NGC XF Details (Auction 169, lot 280), which realized €126,000 (about $135,000)
• a Spain 1652/1 BR/I Segovia 8 Escudos graded NGC MS 63 (Auction 170, lot 1001) and pedigreed to the Segarra Collection, which realized €117,000 (about $125,000)
• a Spain (1479-1504) Valencia 2 Ducados - Ferdinand V and Isabel I graded NGC MS 62 (Auction 169, lot 239), which realized €114,000 (about $122,000)
• a Mexico 1732MO 8 Escudos - Portrait Type, No Assayer graded NGC AU 55 and pedigreed to the Segarra Collection (Auction 170, lot 1016), which realized €102,000 (about $109,000)
• a Spain 1723/1 F Segovia 8 Escudos graded NGC MS 63 and pedigreed to the Segarra Collection (Auction 170, lot 1033) which realized €78,000 (about $83,000)
• a Spain 1701S M 8 Escudos - "VIII" Dots at Fleece graded NGC MS 64 and pedigreed to the Segarra Collection (Auction 170, lot 1034), which realized €75,000 (about $80,000)
• a Mexico 1735MO MF 8 Escudos graded NGC MS 65+ and pedigreed to the Segarra Collection (Auction 170, lot 1019), which realized €75,000 (about $80,000)
• a Spain 1710M J 8 Escudos - Milled graded NGC AU Details (Auction 170, lot 1006) and pedigreed to the Segarra Collection, which realized €55,200 (about $59,000)
• a Mexico 1719 8 Reales graded NGC XF Details (Auction 169, lot 279), which realized €54,000 (about $58,000)
• a Bolivia 1716 8 Reales - Heart Cut graded NGC XF 45 (Auction 169, lot 294), which realized €54,000 (about $58,000)