ARGENTINA. La Rioja. 8 Escudos, 1840-R. La Rioja Mint. NGC AU-53. KM-11; Onza-1574 ("muy rara"); CJ-50. One-year type. Displaying a similar design to the earlier 8 Escudos from La Rioja, however with amended legends which read REPUBLICA ARGENTINA on the obverse and EN UNION Y LIBERTAD on the reverse. Among the finest known of this VERY RARE type, with wonderful detail remaining in the designs and no major planchet imperfections, which occur rather frequently on this issue. Confirming the grade, traces of original luster can be detected around the protected designs and a few blushes of copper color within the Argentine arms are mention-worthy as well. Finer than the example seen in the Mortimer Hammel Collection (and subsequently the Millennia Collection where it was graded AU-50), which is a real feat considering the obsession that both collectors had with quality. From the Oro del Nuevo Mundo Collection.
