2 Gold Escudos — 1791
Transitional bust · Mint of Santa Fe de Bogotá (NR)
A piece of particular numismatic interest: although the legend namesCarlos IV(“CAROL. IV”), the portrait on the obverse preserves the bust of his father,Carlos III. In the early years of a new reign, colonial mints used to continue to use the bust of the deceased king along with the name of the new monarch while the new official stamps arrived from Spain, —, an “bridge” piece between two reigns.
Obverse and Reverse
- Obverse — The Bust:bust of Charles III, clothed and armored, facing right (the “transitional bust”). Legend:CAROL. IV. D.G. HISP. ET IND. R.(“Carlos IV, by the Grace of God, King of Spain and the Indies”). The date “1791” 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. AUSPICE. DEO(“In both worlds, happy under the guidance of God”). The coat of arms is flanked by the name “2” (left) and “S” (right), and in the lower register, the mint mark “NR” (Nuevo Reino, Bogotá) and the assayer's initials “JJ”.
This 1791 piece belongs to the mechanized era of Santa Fe, which began after the expansion of the Mint in 1756 and the general adoption of flywheel presses in 1757. Its round shape, uniform thickness and corded edge contrast with the old hammer macuquinas. The bust of Charles III under the legend of Charles IV also makes it a bridge between two reigns.
— 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.