Sample
The FoxLair
FoxLair Partners, Limited (956) 943-8409 Foxlairaj@aol.com
PO Box AJ
Port Isabel, TX 78578 USA
Notes about FoxLair Numbers, Special Notes, Descriptions and other important items:
Those listings highlighted by yellow or shaded areas, if you do not have a color monitor, are for unconfirmed DAMs, varieties, and assayers. As is usual, my term DAM refers to Date/Assayer/Mintmark. Directly under the heading for each DAM you will find the “Reported Gold Production”, this figure is given in Pesos of Gold for each year as reported in the “Official Mint Records” printed in 1949 by the Mexican Casa De La Moneda. Sometimes I may refer back Dr. Pradeau’s works because of the lack of reported gold production in the official records, this information is taken from his books about each mint and I will note this in the text. Please keep in mind that it takes 16 Pesos of gold to make one 8Escudo. Under this gold production line you will find a short description in Blue that gives you the “General Overall Rarity” of that DAM and sometimes some of its better-known varieties. This “Rarity Number” is both “Quantitative & Qualitative” and was arrived at directly from the actual sales recorded in the FoxLair Mexican Republic Gold Coin Sales Index© that encompasses 125 years of sales records. Also in this description you will see the “Average-”, this gives the collector a general idea of what “Condition” one can generally expect to find these coins under normal circumstances. This does not mean that you will not find these coins in both better or worse condition, only what the average generally is for those coins.
Under some DAM listings you will find a “Special Note-” this is done to alert my readers to some information that I believe is important enough that it needs to be highlighted and set apart so it may be read. This “Special Note” may deal with rarity, unlisted varieties, design changes or any of several other types of information that I believe the collector should know.
This report is the first time that the full FoxLair Dynamic Numbering System© has been published in conjunction with all of the known varieties for Mexican Republic 8 Escudos, and even though copyrighted, this system may be used by any and all collectors, dealers and catalogers as long as they note title for the system belongs to FoxLair Partners, Ltd.
Overall Rarity Scale Condition Rarity Scale
1… Common in Most Grades… J… Common in All Grades
(75+ Coins) (20 Plus Grading XF or Better)
2… Scarce in Any Grade… I… Scarce in High Grade
(41 to 74 Coins) (16- 20 Grading XF or Better)
3… Very Scarce in Any Grade… H… Very Scarce in High Grade
(31 to 40 Coins) (13- 15 Grading XF or Better)
4… Rare in Any Grade… G… Rare in High Grade
(21 to 30 Coins) (10- 12 Grading XF or Better)
5… Very Rare in Any Grade… F… Very Rare in High Grade
(16 to 20 Coins) (7-9 Grading XF or Better)
6… Extremely Rare in Any Grade… E… Extremely Rare in High Grade
(11 to 15 Coins) (4- 6 Grading XF or Better)
7… Excessively Rare in Any Grade… D… Excessively Rare in High Grade
(6 to 10 Coins) (2 to 3 Grading XF or Better)
8… Exceedingly Rare in Any Grade… C…Exceedingly Rare in High Grade
(4 to 5 Coins) (1 Known Grading XF of Better)
9… Only 2 or 3 Coins in All Grades B…(None Known Grading XF or Better)
10… Only a Single (Unique) Specimen Known A… (None Known Grading VF or Better)
11… Rumored To Exist, but Unconfirmed X… Reported Coin Condition Unknown
Hints and thoughts about using The FoxLair True Rarity Scale:
This rarity scale is a guide developed by the author for his personal use; he is sharing with you.
The single most important part of the scale is the number of coins available in the market.
This rarity scale is only as good as the data known about each DAM or Date/Assayer/Mintmark.
Grading by individuals is subjective and varies greatly.
A single coin graded by different people can normally vary by as much as two grades.
Collectable Grades used by the author:
GEM- The Perfect Coin-strike, centering, full luster- Problem Free no hairlines or field marks
Unc or Mint State- (Uncirculated)- No Sign of Wear, Lustrous, but Strike & Luster can vary by mint & year
aUnc- (almost Uncirculated) Signs of handling or light circulation on high spots and fields, much mint luster
XF- (Extra Fine) Some noticeable wear on high points, generally has field handling and bag marks
VF- (Very Fine) Moderate to Heavy wear in high points, many field marks, some dings & rim bruises normal
Fine- Heavy wear across entire coin, legends are all readable, but worn
VG- (Very Good) Most central features & legends are disappearing, but legends are still readable
Finding any gold coins from the Alamos Mint can be a frustrating experience for the collector, be they Type, DAM or Variety Collector. The Alamos Mint was never large producer of gold and during the Escudo Era and most was of this limited production was used for sporadic 8 Escudos production from 1864 until 1872. There is a possibility that a small number gold coins were produced in 1873, but today they are unconfirmed, even though there are rumors of at least one A 1873 AM existing in an old collection in Mexico.
The Alamos Mint potentially has ten 8 Escudo DAMs; six of which are confirmed by verified sales or photographs, two of the unconfirmed DAMs are very doubtful, but the other two have good possibilities of being minted even if there are no survivors.
The “Official Mint Records” for gold production at Alamos are sketchy and misleading in some instances. We find: serous discrepancies in which years gold production occurred versus the dates on the surviving 8 Escudos. In all likelihood some of this is misunderstanding is due to the difference in the calendar year versus the fiscal year. An example: The “Official Mint Records” list no gold production for 1864 and yet the A 1864 PG 8 Escudo represents the most plentiful early Alamos gold coin in the FoxLair Republic Gold Coin Sales Index©. These same records indicate there was no gold production in 1865, 1866 or 1867, and this is not a case of “Fiscal versus Calendar” year problems.
The Denomination Type Collector has only one coin to acquire, but will have a difficult task securing one grading better than Very Fine without problems. Your best bet is finding the A 1864 PG, a “One Year Assayer Type Coin” that is also the most common (sic) of all the Alamos 8 Escudos.
The serious Denomination and Style Type Collector may have a more difficult task; there are two die styles for the Hand on Book (the Style of 1864 and the Style of 1868) and three different dies styles for the Alamos Eagle dies.
The full Style of 1864 dies-- found only on the A 1864 PG.
The Mule Style of 1864 Hand on Book and the Alamos Style of 1866 Eagle-- found only on the A 1866 DL.
The new Style of 1868 Hand on Book and the Alamos Style of 1868 “Missing Leg” Eagle-- found on the A 1868 DL, A 1869 DL, and A 1870 DL. The A 1872 AM 8 Escudos uses a Mule of the Style of 1868 Hand on Book and the Style of 1864 Eagle.
The Alamos 8 Escudo Assayer Type Collector has to find only three assayers: PG, DL and AM. All three assayers offer one of the greatest challenges of any mint because it is nearly impossible to find all three in today’s numismatic market!
Alamos DAM or Variety Collectors have an almost impossible task ahead of them because of the extreme rarity of most Alamos 8 Escudos. However, the next ten years could provide new collectors with opportunities to complete their collections… if they are prepared to buy when several of the older collections hit the market.
Unlike many other Mexican Republic 4 and 8 Escudos, most Alamos 8 Escudo DAMs were not greatly affected by the Sotheby’s Gold Hoard Sales of the 1990s because few were found in “The Hoard”.
* 8E. A. 1864. P.G.
Special Note- This DAM surely has to be considered one of the great Mexican Republic Numismatic Anomalies! The “Official Mint Records” for the Alamos Mint indicate no gold production until 1868! However, this DAM is by far the most plentiful Alamos 8 Escudo found in the FoxLair Republic Gold Coin Sales Index©. This DAM was not greatly affected by the Sotheby’s Gold Hoard Sales because only five specimens appeared in “The Hoard”.
[2] As-1864-1101 (Style of 1864 Hand on Book- 1864/1864- Repunched Full Date & Normal Assayer); Style of 1864 Eagle- ex Richard Long #79 (10/95) Lot#28- FoxLair Collection Specimen
Weight: __._ grams
Weight: __._ grams
* 8E. A. 1865. P.G.
1865 Reported Gold Production- No Gold Production Listed
Overall DAM Rarity- [11-X]; Average- None; no recorded sales
Special Note- Unpublished DAM; rumored to exist! Unverified by sales records or photos, therefore listed as Unconfirmed!
[N] As-1865-1100 Unknown Hand on Book- Unknown Date & Assayer; Unknown Style of Eagle - No Public Sales Recorded
Weight: __._ grams
* 8E. A. 1866. D.L.
Special Note- This DAM is another of those Mexican Republic Numismatic Anomalies; there is no reported gold production reported for Alamos until 1868 in the “Official Mint Records”! There are three to four examples rumored to exist, but only two are confirmed, making it one of the more elusive Alamos 8 Escudo to secure. This DAM was not affected by the Sotheby’s Gold Hoard Sales as there were no examples of this DAM in “The Hoard”.
[2] As-1866-2101 (Mule Style of 1864 Hand on Book- Normal Date & Assayer); Alamos Style of 1866 Eagle- ex Rick Ponterio Private Treaty Sale (11/95)- FoxLair Collection Specimen
Weight: __._ grams
* 8E. A.1867. D.L.
1867 Reported Gold Production- No Gold Production Listed
Overall DAM Rarity- [11-X]; Average- None; no recorded sales
Special Note- Unpublished DAM; yet another of those pesky Mexican Republic Numismatic Anomalies! It appears that dies were made for 1867 8 Escudos even if there were no production coins struck or that have survived, because all known 1868 Alamos 8 Escudos are the OverDate 8/7!
[N] As-1867-1100 Unknown Hand on Book- Unknown Date, Assayer; Unknown Style of Eagle - No Public Sales Recorded
Weight: __._ grams
Special Note- This DAM was practically unknown before the Sotheby’s Gold Hoard Sales of the 1990s; it was not represented in the great Gerber, Norweb, or Porraz Collections. I can find only one verified example that does not trace its origins to “The Hoard”.
[2] As-1868-1101 (New Style of 1868 Hand on Book- 8/7- OverDate & Normal Assayer); Alamos Style of 1868 “Missing Leg” Eagle- ex Mike Dunigan- FoxLair Collection Specimen
Weight: __._ grams
* 8E. A.1869. D.L.
* 8E. A.1870. D.L.
Special Note- This Excessively Rare DAM was not greatly affected by the Sotheby’s Gold Hoard Sales of the 1990s; I have sales records of three or four specimens that predate “The Hoard”.
[2] As-1870-1101 (Style of 1868 Hand on Book- 1/1- Repunched Date & Normal Assayer); Alamos Style of 1868 “Missing Leg” Eagle- ex Mike Dunigan- FoxLair Collection Specimen
Weight: __._ grams
[N] As-1870-1102 Unknown Hand on Book- Unknown Date & Assayer & Unknown Style of Eagle- No Public Sales Recorded Weight: __._ grams
* 8E. A.1871. D.L.
Overall DAM Rarity- [11-X]; Average- None; no recorded sales
Special Note- Unpublished DAM; rumored to exist, but unverified by sales records or photos. The largest reported production of gold for the Alamos mint during the Escudo Era and no confirmed gold coins dated 1871. Strange isn’t it? I wonder what happened to the 1,157 8Escudos that were supposed to have been made this year?
[N] As-1871-1100 Unknown Hand on Book- Unknown Date & Assayer & Unknown Style of Eagle- No Public Sales Recorded
Weight: __._ grams
* 8E. A.1872. A.M.
* 8E. A.1873. A.M.
Special Note- Unpublished DAM; rumored to exist but unconfirmed by sales records or photos therefore listed as Unconfirmed.
[N] As-1873-1100 Unknown Hand on Book- Unknown Date & Assayer & Unknown Style of Eagle- No Public Sales Recorded
Weight: __._ grams