1770 Nuevo Reino Pillar Dollar

[Mackaydon]

"The 1770 Nuevo Reino Pillar Dollar was unknown to exist until about 3 years ago when exactly fourteen coins where found in the old foundations of the Nuestra Senora del Pilar church in Bogota." This coin will be sold at the upcoming 2009 May Long Beach, CA Signature World & Ancient Coin Auction. One source believes the coin with fetch between $60k and $80k. The coin's history is noted here:
http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=3005&LotIdNo=97001&type=world-coinnews-tem041809
Don.......

 

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[divewrecks]

Don, very cool story. Besides extreme rarity, the coin looks beautiful. If only the people who buried it knew what a fuss it would generate one day. Thanks for sharing.

Stan

 

[Mackaydon]

Stan:
I drool thinking what a metal detector might still find in that pile of excavated dirt.
Don.....

 

[divewrecks]

Stan:
I drool thinking what a metal detector might still find in that pile of excavated dirt.
Don.....

I wonder if the construction worker who dug up the stuff got any reward. Maybe one of those coins found its way in to his pocket. The auction description said "exactly fourteen coins were found". Were there really fifteen?

Yeah, I wonder what was missed in that parking lot dig.....

Stan


"This church, which was also a convent and school for girls, existed from the 1770's until 1948 when it was set on fire during major riots in Bogota. The church was eventually torn down, and the area was turned into a parking lot. A few years ago, construction began on a new building. When crews dug up the parking lot, they found a small group of coins in the old church foundation--including the fourteen 1770 Nuevo Reino Pillars.

Spanish tradition says that when the first foundation stone is laid, it is blessed and in specific cases, the foundation is carved, engraved and coins are placed inside. Inside this stone, over 100 coins were found, most were cob 2 Reales, a few gold cobs, and numerous circulated Pillars from Mexico. Since there are no previous records of 1770 Nuevo Reino Pillars, it is likely that these pieces were struck specifically for the ceremonies at the Nuestra Senora del Pilar Church."

 

[divewrecks]

From the same auction - This would impress your friends!

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=3005&LotIdNo=83049

4 1/2 lbs of 22k bling...

Stan

 

[cuzcosquirrel]

I have heard of this type of church dedication custom in the commentaries of Peru. A soldier was noted in the 1570's for putting a gold 2 escudo from Seville inside the church corner stone with other objects. It was remarked that the coin was a "curiosity" because no one used regular Spanish coins for trade in that area at the time.

 

[MORE AND BEYOND OSSY]

What a beautiful coin, I would love one in my collection, I can only dream.
The Pillar dollar is my favorite machine made Spanish coin, This is my 1771 Mexican pillar dollar.
Cheers, Ossy

 

[divewrecks]

What a beautiful coin, I would love one in my collection, I can only dream.
The Pillar dollar is my favorite machine made Spanish coin, This is my 1771 Mexican pillar dollar.
Cheers, Ossy

Hey Sam, why dream when you have such an outstanding specimen? Very nice - I'm envious.....

Stan

 

[MORE AND BEYOND OSSY]

Thanks Stan, you know what it's like, you always want more.
Cheers, Sam

 

[jlb783]

Wow! MS-64 that's amazing!