Bolivia (1574-76)-P R real
This specimen was lot 72018 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2024), where it sold for $216. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob Real, ND (1574-76)-P R. Potosi Mint. Philip II. PCGS VF-25. Variety with mintmark and assayer to the right of the shield. A boldly struck and pleasing Cob, with sharp obverse detail and a bit less so on the reverse. Mintmark, assayer, and denomination are clear. From the S.P. Rutherford Collection." The mountains around Potosi contained enormous amounts of high grade silver ore, a situation the Spanish were not slow to exploit. A mint was set up in the 1570's to process the silver mined there. The early products of the reign of Philip II are fairly good quality but rot set in during the following reign, including fraudulent debasement. Cob one reales were struck at Potosi for Philip II 1577-98 and are generally very crude.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.38 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 3.21 g.
Catalog reference: KM-2.2; Cal-238, Cayón-3501.
- 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, Xavier, Numismática Española: Catálogo General con Precios de Todas las Monedas Españolas Acuñadas desde Los Reyes Católicos Hasta Felipe VI, 1474 a 2020, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2019.
- Krause, Chester L., and Colin R. Bruce II, Standard Catalog of World Coins: Spain, Portugal and the New World, Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2002.
- Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
- [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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