12 Shillings 6 Pence - George II Colombia - 1 Escudo, counterstamped

Historical Context: Issued by Jamaica in 1758 during George II's reign, this 12 Shillings 6 Pence piece exemplifies the chronic currency shortage in British colonies. Originally a Spanish colonial 1 Escudo from Colombia, likely Nueva Granada, the Jamaican Assembly officially counterstamped these foreign gold coins. This act assigned them a specific local value of 12 shillings and 6 pence, pragmatically integrating them into the island’s economy and facilitating vital commerce.

Artistry: Its aesthetic character is composite. The original Colombian 1 Escudo featured typical Spanish colonial design, likely a monarch's bust (e.g., Ferdinand VI) or the "Pillars of Hercules" motif, reflecting Baroque style. For its Jamaican identity, the crucial design element is the official counterstamp. These marks, often a royal cypher or crown, were functional, applied to legitimize and value the foreign gold for colonial trade, not for artistic embellishment.

Technical/Grading: Struck in .916 fine gold, weighing 3.25 grams, it adheres to standard 1 Escudo specifications. Key high-points for grading include the host coin's highest relief areas and, critically, the sharpness and completeness of the Jamaican counterstamp. A well-struck counterstamp should be fully impressed without excessive planchet deformation or obscuring vital details. Wear on the host coin prior to counterstamping is common; thus, the counterstamp's clarity is paramount for assessing its technical quality.