 Provinces of Rio de la Plata. 8 Escudos, 1813 PTS. J. Potosí. Radiant sun in legend PROVINCIAS DE RIO DE LA PLATA. Rv. Oval Arms in flourish of banners over cannon and drum, EN UNION Y LIBERTAD, date, Potosí mintmark and Assayer's initial. Fr.1, Calico, Onza The Main Book 1677, KM 9. This is the historic first coinage design for the area soon to be known as Argentina. In 1813 the Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata still included Argentina and most of today's Bolivia with the great Mint city of Potosí. Gold of this specific design was limited to 1813. The 8 Escudos is a legendary rarity, as the Calicós noted in their definitive The Onza Main Book, pocos ejemplares conocidos, ''few examples are known.'' How few can be judged from the fact that neither the Waldo C. Newcomer, Garrett, Karon, Norweb nor Ulex collections included an example of this much sought-after date. The coin offered here was part of the great John H. Clapp Collection, which was acquired by Louis E. Eliasberg in 1942. It has been off the market for about a century.
This medium-gold example displays some subtle traces of surviving lustre. Circulation is minimal, with an arc-shaped reverse planchet flaw linking UN of UNION to the central shield. One of the few other appearances of this rare type in modern times was the Very Fine coin appearing in Superior's Casterline Sale of May 1989 which realized $11,000. The present specimen represents a dramatically higher state of preservation that would be a challenge to duplicate for its sheer quality. Extremely Fine. (Est. $35,000-$45,000)
Ex Louis E. Eliasberg Collection (American Numismatic Rarities, April 2005, lot 1001); previously in the John H. Clapp Collection.
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