4 Escudos Gold - Mexico

Struck on planchets recycled from melted Spanish reales, the 4 Escudos gold coin embodied Mexico's practical reuse of colonial resources during its early independence.

This coin, minted from 1825 to 1857 at the Mexico City mint, featured a simple design: an eagle perched on a cactus on the obverse, with the denomination on the reverse. Weights varied slightly due to inconsistent gold purity, a common issue in frontier minting. Not every year saw production; gaps occurred during political upheavals.

Mintage figures are murky for many dates, as records from the 1830s were lost in fires. Still, survivors often show wear from circulation in trade routes.

The coin's edge sometimes bore an incuse inscription, a detail that foiled casual clippers. As for rarity, it's overrated—plenty exist in decent condition.