One of the most elusive dates in this series, missing from Eliasberg, here represented by a piece of truly exceptional quality. Pale green overtones grace rich yellow gold surfaces, lightly reflective on both sides but swirling with luster. Some trivial hairlines are noted, and some subtle adjustment marks hug the rim left of QUITO on the reverse, but the PCGS grade is puzzling. A horizontal batch of hairlines that extends from O of PODER to the tiny S superscript after 210 is seen if the viewer catches the light just right, but no scratches are present. The strike is firm on both sides. The edge is a bit crude, as made, with a divot and burr on the edge present above D of PODER and L of REPUBLICA. It is mostly obscured by the encapsulation, but may be better seen in the 1992 Karon plate, taken when coins were collected on their merits and plastic was for leftover food. As noted in the Karon catalog, "in terms of quality, not over five examples of all dates [of this type] are equal to the piece offered here, we would be very surprised if this is not the finest known of the 1850 issue." The 1996 Smith & Daughter specimen was described, ironically, as having "a few light unusual scratches in the obverse field." That piece, along with the "UNC Details, Surface Hairlines" (NGC) specimen that brought $57,281 at Heritage in August 2014, are the only examples sold in the last quarter century of even close to comparable quality. It is remarkable that neither Eliasberg nor John H. Clapp appear to have ever had the opportunity to acquire this date. From the Eldorado Collection of Colombian and Ecuadorian Coins.<p>From Superior Galleries sale of the Paul Karon Collection of 8 Escudos, December 1992, lot 83. Earlier, from Spinks sale of the Norweb Collection, March 1988, lot 1251.
