Barcelona 1612 1/2 real
The silver real was called a croat in Catalonia but was the same coin. This type is recorded for 1611-20 and is listed as scarce in the SCWC. Cayón noted several varieties for the date, with Barcelona abbreviated as "BRCINO" (Cayón 4434), as "BARCIN" (Cayón 4435), without abbreviation (first specimen shown here), with "CIVITTAS" mispelled (Cayón 4437) or with the date on the obverse (second specimen shown here). The second specimen was lot 75691 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2024), where it sold for $168. The catalog description[1] noted, "SPAIN. 1/2 Croat, 1612. Barcelona Mint. Philip III. NGC MS-62. Variety with interchanged legends (date on obverse). This enchanting silver piece offers a handsome baroque portrait of the king surrounded by crystal clear legends and date. Attractive gray surfaces with little sign of handling and free of any distractions."
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.931 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM 11, Cayón-4436. The second specimen is KM-54; Cal-376, Cayón-4439.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, 2 volumes, Madrid: Cayón-Jano S.L., 2005.
- Calicó, Ferrán, Xavier Calicó and Joaquin Trigo, Monedas Españolas desde Felipe II a Isabel II, Años: 1556 a 1868, 5ª edicion, Barcelona: Gráficas Reclam, 1982.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, October 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the S.P. Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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