1 Gold Escudo — 1774
Official portrait of Charles III · Mint of Santa Fe de Bogotá (NR)
Unlike the “hybrid bust” issues of later eras, this piece bears the official and authentic portrait ofCarlos III. It is a machine-minted coin, with a very uniform round shape, with a distinctive security corded edge designed to prevent fraudulent cutting of gold.
Obverse and Reverse
- Obverse — The Bust:the classic bust of Charles III, dressed in armor and a laurel wreath, looking to the right. Legend:CAROL. III. D. G. HISP. ET IND. R.(“Carlos III, by the Grace of God, King of Spain and the Indies”). The date “1774” is centered under the bust.
- Reverse — The Crowned Shield:crowned royal coat of arms of Spain, surrounded by the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Legend:IN. UTROQ. FELIX. A. D.(abbreviation of “In utroque felix auspice Deo”, “In both worlds, happy under the guidance of God”). The central shield is flanked by the split designation “1” (left) and “S” (right); in the lower register, the mint mark “NR” (Nuevo Reino, Bogotá) followed by the assayer's initials.
Minted in 1774 during the reign of Charles III, this piece belongs fully to the mechanized stage of Santa Fe. An ordinance of 1751 transferred the mint to the direct control of the Crown and ordered the extension of the building and the installation of mills and flywheel presses; The work was inaugurated in 1756 and from 1757 all coins were minted with these presses. This is where the round shape, uniform thickness and corded edge of this shield come from.
— Historical Context Note
Sources
- Restrepo Restrepo, José Ignacio.Two Hundred Years of Republican Currency in Colombia (1810–2010)— base reference for the Restrepo number.
- Krause, Chester L. y Clifford Mishler.Standard Catalog of World Coins.
- Numista —numista.com(opens in a new tab)
- Rodríguez Soage, José David.«The Santa Fe Mint»(opens in a new tab), eNumismatic, 2021.