$9,936.00 USD
The 1797 Colombia (Nuevo Reino) Gold 8 Escudos of Charles IV, Double Struck Mint Error, graded NGC XF40, is a highly unusual and historically significant Spanish colonial gold issue. Struck at the Nuevo Reino mint (Bogotá) during the reign of King Charles IV, this example is remarkable not only for its size and era but for its dramatic double strike — a rare error for large gold coins of the period.
Obverse: Features the draped and laureate bust of Charles IV facing right, with the surrounding Latin legend:
“CAROL. IIII. D. G. HISP. ET IND. R.” — Charles IV, by the Grace of God, King of Spain and the Indies.
The date 1797 is prominently displayed below the bust.
Reverse: Shows the crowned Spanish coat of arms, quartered with lions and castles, Bourbon fleurs-de-lis, and the Pillars of Hercules at the sides. The motto reads:
“IN UTROQ FELIX AUSPICE DEO” — In both worlds, happy under God’s guidance.
Mintmark NR and assayer JF appear at the flanks.
Struck in .875 fine gold, weighing 27.07 grams, the 8 Escudos was the highest denomination in Spanish colonial gold and served both as monetary reserve and a symbol of imperial authority across Latin America. Most were heavily circulated or melted, making any surviving error examples extremely rare.
The double strike error, clearly visible on both obverse and reverse legends and devices, represents a minting mishap where the coin was struck twice in misalignment. Errors of this scale are virtually unknown in high-denomination colonial gold, where quality control was more stringent due to bullion value.
Graded NGC XF40, this piece shows moderate wear with legible detail across most of the devices, and the error is dramatic enough to enhance both its rarity and desirability. Surface smoothness and strike quality are secondary to the visual uniqueness of the double impression.
