Bolivia (1577-86)-P B real
This specimen was lot 53748 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $144. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob Real, ND (1574-86)-P B. Potosi Mint. Philip II. NGC FINE-12." 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. Cayón shows varieties for this assayer, varying in the number of lilies in the obverse arms. This example shows two lilies.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.38 g, 0.931 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-2.2; Cal-242, Cayón-3488.
- 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, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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