Bolivia (1578-82)-P L real
This specimen was lot 44056 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $110. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob Real, ND (1578-82)-P L. Potosi Mint. Philip II. PCGS Genuine--Holed, EF Details Gold Shield. A scarce assayer. This example is remarkably round, fully struck and free of doubling. We acknowledge the presence of the hole but note that no one has tried to 'fix" it.'" 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. The Potosí mint was the second mint in the western hemisphere to date its products. Dating began in 1617.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.38 g, 0.931 fine silver; this specimen 3.24 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-3499, KM-0002.2.
- Krause, Chester L., and Colin R. Bruce II, Standard Catalog of World Coins: Spain, Portugal and the New World, Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2002.
- 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.
- Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The August 2021 ANA sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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