A major new reference has arrived for collectors and specialists of Spanish colonial gold. Arce’s Doubloons by Daniel Frank Sedwick is the first comprehensive die study devoted to Bogotá-minted 2 escudos produced under assayer Buenaventura de Arce Penagos between 1692 and 1714, all struck in the name of Charles II.
Built on the examination of hundreds of specimens, this work goes far beyond a traditional catalog. By reconstructing the chronological sequence of dies, it provides a clear framework for understanding how these coins were actually produced during one of the most dynamic periods in Spanish colonial history. The study spans the final years of Charles II, whose death in 1700 triggered the War of the Spanish Succession, a conflict that coincided with increased piracy across the Caribbean and ultimately the loss of fleets such as the famous 1715 Fleet.
A significant portion of the coins analyzed comes from modern recoveries of that very fleet off the east coast of Florida. Many of these pieces now reside in the State of Florida Collection, which the author studied extensively, giving this book an unusually strong foundation in both numismatic and archaeological evidence.
The book is organized into three principal phases of production:
- Lifetime issues, 1692 to 1699
- Transitional issues, 1700 to 1704
- Post-Transitional issues, 1703 to 1714, with the overlap defined as Half-Transitionals
Each section presents detailed diagrams of obverse shield types and key reverse cross characteristics, accompanied by photographic plates and a complete listing of known die combinations. This structured approach allows collectors to attribute coins with a level of precision not previously possible.
Among the most important discoveries documented in this study are:
- Clear evidence of muling between 2 escudo and 1 escudo dies
- Systematic use of transposed and retrograde punches
- Identification of a previously unrecognized debasement
Two appendices expand the scope further, covering Arce 2 escudos under Philip V from 1718 to 1722 and the full range of Arce 1 escudos from 1692 to 1722, making this an essential reference not only for doubloons but for Bogotá gold coinage of the era as a whole.
For collectors of shipwreck coins, especially those tied to the 1715 Fleet, this book provides critical insight into origin, classification, and rarity. For specialists, it establishes a new standard for die analysis in the Spanish colonial series.
Publication details
Author: Daniel Frank Sedwick
Format: Softcover and hardcover versions
Pages: 132, fully illustrated
ISBN: 979-8-9937390-0-7
Publication year: 2026
Link to buy the Book softcover version
Link to buy the Book hardcover version
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