1735-L Lima, Peru 8 Escudos Gold Cob – NGC AU53

Struck under Spanish authority at the Lima Mint during the reign of Philip V, this 1735 8 Escudos “cob” represents the height of Spain’s colonial wealth drawn from the mines of the New World. Mints in Peru, Mexico, and Colombia poured out vast quantities of gold and silver to fuel the Spanish Empire, but only a fraction of those rough, hand-struck coins survived centuries of trade, shipwreck, and melting. The Lima mintmark “L” and assayer initials “N” identify this as an issue from one of South America’s most prolific but still highly collectible colonial mints.

The design is archetypal of Spanish-American cobs. The obverse displays the Habsburg shield quartered with Castile and León beneath the denomination VIII, flanked by mint and assayer marks. Below, the stylized waves of the sea appear—an artistic reminder of the treacherous voyages these coins undertook across the Atlantic. The reverse bears the Jerusalem cross, each quarter containing a pair of castles and lions symbolizing Spain’s dominion and faith, framed by beaded borders. Though struck from irregular hand-cut planchets, the detail is bold and evenly impressed, capturing the unmistakable charm of genuine cob production.

This example is exceptionally well-preserved for the type, graded AU53 by NGC. The coin’s surfaces are clean and satiny with light, even wear consistent with brief circulation. At 26.88 grams, it aligns closely with the theoretical full weight for the denomination, further underscoring its originality and completeness. Gold cobs of this quality from Lima—particularly dated examples from the 1730s—are significantly scarcer than their Mexican counterparts and increasingly difficult to obtain in certified About Uncirculated condition.

Radiating the unmistakable energy of the Spanish colonial world, this 8 Escudos cob embodies both raw history and intrinsic beauty. It is a tangible link to the Age of Exploration, the rise of global trade, and the treasure fleets that shaped empires.

The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.