The classic doubloon of treasure-fleet fame: the colonial 8 escudos — 27.07 g of .875 gold from Bogotá and Popayán.
History
- Struck at Bogotá and Popayán through the colonial period — the classic "doubloon" of treasure-fleet fame.
- Colonial type: bust of the reigning Spanish monarch with crowned arms bearing the Order of the Golden Fleece; legends "IN UTROQ FELIX AUSPICE DEO."
- The republic continued the denomination: republican 8 escudos 1822–1838 (27.07 g, .875 fine), from Bogotá and Popayán — now with a draped Liberty bust (incuse "LIBERTAD" headband) instead of the king.
- The Bogotá mint, founded 1621, is among the oldest mints in the Americas; mint production ended in 1987.
Key dates & varieties
- Fractional escudos — e.g., the 1757 Bogotá 4 escudos — are the sleeper dates of the colonial gold series.
Specifications
- Weight: 27.07 g; fineness .875; diameter 36 mm.
Collector notes
- Weight is the first screen — a genuine 8 escudos is a heavy coin at 27.07 g; underweight examples need expert review.