Bolivia (1586-89)-P A 4 reales
The first specimen was lot 586 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $240. The catalog description[1] noted, "Potosí, Bolivia, cob 4 reales, Philip II, assayer A. Good full shield and cross, bold full P-A and denomination o-IIII, AVF with some toning on fields, high points lightly abrade." The second specimen was lot 71044 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $552. The catalog description[2] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 4 Reales, ND (1586-89)-P A/B; Assayer Juan Alvarez Reynaltes (A). Potosi Mint. Philip II. PCGS Genuine--Environmental Damage, EF Details. With a clear over assayer and sharp details, this early cob presents handsomely, despite the noted damage. From the Pat Johnson 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. Dating began in 1617. Assayer "A" is somewhat better but not rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.931 fine silver, the first specimen 12.99 grams, the second specimen 13.43 g.
Catalog reference: S-P11; KM-4.2; Cal-527, Cayón-3759. the second specimen is KM-4.2, Cal-526.
- 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]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia and Cori Sedwick Downing, Treasure Auction 28, featuring the Dr. Peter Jones and John O'Brien collections, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2020.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The November 2022 Collectors Choice Ancient & World Coins Auction, Featuring the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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