Lettered edge. "One known," according to Restrepo, which uses the 1980 catalog illustration of this coin as its plate illustration. This coin was the sole coin featured on the cover of the September 1980 London Spink sale, and has not been offered since. The surfaces are deeply reflective, with even, bright yellow gold color on both sides. The details are fully realized, and evidence of the bold double striking that brought every element into high relief is best seen at the date. Some handling is scattered across the fields, more on the obverse than the reverse. A shallow horizontal nick is noted on the cheekbone, another present lower on the neck. A thin linear fissure or lamination extends from the rim above NU of NUEVA through the tops of UEVA. The rims appear perfect and the overall aesthetic appeal is superb. <br /><br />The initials W.W. for William Wyon appear on the bust truncation, a link to this pieces English origins. This same signature appears on the other 1848 pattern 16 Pesos, all of which apparently use the same obverse die, linked by a die flaw above U of REPUBLICA. This historic rarity marks one of the artistic highlights of the Colombian gold series and one of its great prizes as well. From the Eldorado Collection of Colombian and Ecuadorian Coins.<p>From Spink Coin Auctions Sale No. 10, September 1980, lot 471.
