COLOMBIA. Falsa Época. Sub-Standard Purity Contemporary Counterfeit 8 Escudos, 1801-P SF. Uncertain Local Mint, Assayer SF. Charles IIII (IV). EXTREMELY FINE.cf.Onza-1484 (for similar style dated 1800); cf.Cal-Type 10 (for basic type); cf.KM-62.2 (for basic type). Contemporary counterfeit 8 Escudos with a fantasy date "1801" and fictitious mint mark/Assayers letters combination struck in imitation of a Colombia 8 Escudos of Charles IV. The legends are Obverse: "CAROL.IIII.D.D. HISP.ET IND.R. .1801."; Reverse: ".IN.UTROQ.FELIX. .AUSPICE.DEO. P..SF". A decently struck example with luster in the protected areas exhibiting nice honest wear indicating use over a long period showing light pale gold color on the high points highlight by a lovely combination of yellow gold color coupled with butterscotch tone hugging the devices and fire colored patina in portions of the peripherals. Minor earthen deposits amongst the devices adds to the originality. A neat piece with good eye appeal and in good style adding to its desirability as a circulating counterfeit. The pale gold color is suggestive of sub-par quality well below the normal 0.875 fineness which began being instituted about 1785. Prior to the reduction in fineness the required purity was 0.9010 from about 1772-1784 which was reduced from 0.917 about 1760. The style of the reverse of the present piece is identical to the example plated in the Onza main book # 1484 (as sited above). Since the plated example is an old rubbing getting an exact match in quite difficult as not all of the details are present. However, the placement and style of the letters as well as the Spanish coat of arms are identical to the present example linking the reverse die to a different obverse die of an earlier date and is suggestive of extensive issuance.From the John Kraljevich Collection of Contemporary Circulating Forgeries.
