The 1670/9 overdate on this Seville 8 Escudo is believed to be the only known example, which makes it a one of a kind entry in Spanish gold. Seville's workmen reworked a leftover 1669 die for the new year, and the recut digit still shows on the flan. Heavy cob 8 Escudos from the reign of Charles II rarely reached the modern market intact, since so many were shipped abroad, melted, or lost at sea. This piece carries the S mintmark of Seville with the assayer's M beside the crowned shield.

The obverse displays the crowned Habsburg shield of Spain, where the castles of Castile and the lions of Leon are quartered against the pales of Aragon and the fleurs of Burgundy. The mintmark and assayer initial stand at the left, while the VIII denomination sits opposite them in bold relief. On the reverse, a Jerusalem cross fills a lobed tressure with small fleurs tucked into the angles. Legends and the date read clearly around much of the flan, which is unusual for hand-struck cob gold of this size.

NGC graded this 8 Escudo MS-63, a level very few large cobs ever reach. The surfaces keep bright original luster across the open fields, with light coppery tone settled in the recesses and no wear on the high points of the shield or cross. Strike is strong and nicely centered for the type, so the heraldry reads well on both sides and the 26.79 gram planchet shows good body. For those seeking a Mint State example of Habsburg-era Spanish gold with a unique overdate, this coin delivers.

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