Mint State gold from the Nuevo Reino mint is genuinely hard to find, and this 1783 8 Escudo reached that level. The coin carries the portrait of Charles III and was struck in Santa Fe de Bogota, the colonial mint that turned New Granada placer gold into Spain's largest gold denomination. Most of these heavy eight escudo pieces crossed the Atlantic and went straight into European melting pots, while the rest wore down in commerce. Survivors that never circulated are a small fraction of an already limited output. This is an incredibly rare coin in any condition: between both major grading services only 31 examples are known from this date and mint. At PCGS this is the only one in MS61 with one finer. NGC shows 25 total, 3 in the grade and 6 finer.

The obverse shows the armored and draped bust of Charles III facing right, with his hair tied in a queue and the legend CAROL III D G HISP ET IND R running around the border above the 1783 date. The portrait is well struck, with clear curls, sharp drapery folds, and bold lettering. On the reverse, the crowned Spanish royal arms sit inside the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece, flanked by the 8 and S denomination marks. The NR mintmark and JJ assayer initials appear below the shield, beneath the legend IN UTROQ FELIX AUSPICE DEO.

PCGS graded this 8 Escudo MS-61, confirming an uncirculated coin with original surfaces and no wear on the high points. Warm yellow gold luster covers both sides, with the light marks and minor striking texture normal for a hand-struck colonial issue of this size. Grades at the Mint State level put this piece well above the worn examples that make up most of the surviving population for the type. A welcome addition to any collection of Spanish colonial gold or Charles III coinage.

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