Bolivia (1589-91)-P RL 4 reales
This specimen was lot 585 in Sedwick Auction 36 (Winter Park, FL, November 2024), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 4 reales, Philip II, assayer RL, ex-Ponte, ex-Sellschopp (Plate). Richly toned XF+ with nice bold strike in the full cross and shield, full P-RL and denomination, just the top of the shield slightly doubled, desirable pedigree. Pedigreed to the Luis R. Ponte Collection and the Sellschopp Collection (Swiss Bank Corp. auction of September 1988, lot 553), Plate Coin 251 in Sellschopp's Las acuñaciones de las cecas de Lima, La Plata y Potosí (1971)." The mountains around Potosí 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.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.73 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specmen 13.72 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-unlisted (assayer R only); S-P13; KM-4.2; Cal-528.
- 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]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Treasure Auction 36, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Luis R. Ponte collection, the Jorge Becerra Collection and the John M. O'Brien collection, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2024.
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