1799-M Spain 2 Escudos NGC AU-58

This 1799-M 2 Escudos was struck at the Madrid mint during the reign of Charles IV of Spain, a tumultuous period marked by costly wars, colonial unrest, and mounting financial pressure that would eventually lead to Napoleon's invasion and the Peninsular War. Issued near the close of the 18th century, this coin reflects the Spanish Empire's final decades of global influence, when gold specie from the Americas still funded European power struggles. The piece has been certified NGC AU-58 and carries the intriguing pedigree designation "Southern Dealer Hoard," suggesting it was part of a larger cache preserved outside the typical flow of commerce.

The obverse features a finely executed bust of Charles IV facing right, his features rendered with period realism and surrounded by the legend CAROL·IIII·D·G·HISP·ET IND·R (Charles IV, by the Grace of God, King of Spain and the Indies). The reverse displays the crowned Spanish coat of arms with quartered castles and lions, flanked by the Pillars of Hercules and the denomination 2·S within the shield field. The motto INITIUM SAPIENTIAE TIMOR DOMINI (The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom) encircles the design, a statement of piety characteristic of Spanish coinage. Both sides exhibit well-struck devices with clear legends and bold relief.

Graded AU-58 by NGC, this coin retains sharp detail across the portrait and heraldic elements, with only light wear visible on the highest points of Charles IV's features and the crown. The surfaces display warm, original gold tone with attractive even color and minimal handling marks. Spanish gold from this era remains popular with collectors of colonial coinage, European type sets, and those assembling comprehensive representations of Charles IV's extensive numismatic output. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.