COLOMBIA. Falsa Época. Sub-Standard Purity Contemporary Counterfeit 8 Escudos, 1817-P FM (P in retrograde). Uncertain Local Mint "Popayan", Assayer FM. Ferdinand VII. VERY FINE DETAILS.27.39 gms. Onza-1541 (plate coin); cf.Cal-Type 11 (for basic small bust type, under Peru); cf.KM-124 (for basic small bust type, under Peru). Contemporary counterfeit 8 Escudos struck in imitation of a 1817-P FM Colombia 8 Escudos of Ferdinand VII. The legends are Obverse: "FERDND.VII.D.G. HISP.ET IND.R .1817."; Reverse: "IN.UNTROQ.FELIX..AUSPICE.DEO .P.J.J.". The style and execution are of poor quality and in fact quite goofy looking, but is a really charming rendition of the kings bust and the arms of Spain. The legends, though not garbled, appear to have been written by a young child learning to write their name for the first time with haphazard placement and misshapen letters. One minor area of natural planchet roughness is noted in front of the bust along with numerous shallow striations on both the obverse and reverse, some appear to be planchet adjustments, while others are very clearly light scratches which adds to the allure of this strange and interesting circulating counterfeit. The piece exhibits a decent strike, though slightly uneven leaving flat areas on both the obverse and reverse. A pale gold color is seen atop of the devices while the open fields are a light golden-honey tone with lovely orange patina in the protected areas and amongst the devices. Overall a handsome example exhibiting lots of character perfect for the collector of oddities or contemporary circulating counterfeits. When putting some thought into the inspiration behind this particular circulating counterfeit the only Spanish bust 8 Escudos that carries this small draped bust type is that of Lima, Peru 1812-JP & 1813-JP, the small bust variety. The only other mints that issued laureate draped bust gold was that of Guadalajara, Mexico 1821, though this is highly unlikely, and that of Lima, Peru 1811-JP and 1812-JP, large bust variety. All other mints issued either armored bust gold or plain bust gold 8 Escudos for Ferdinand VII. Now taking into consideration the bust styles of the 8 Reales, this paints a different picture since nearly all of the mints issued draped bust 8 Reales for numerous years. The inspiration for the present example was probably a combination of using a draped bust 8 Reales coupled with a Popayan mint 8 Escudos which would account for the strange combination of styles.From the John Kraljevich Collection of Contemporary Circulating Forgeries.Ex: Eldorado Collection.
