Bolivia (1591-98)-P R real
This specimen was lot 155 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 35 (Winter Park, FL, May 2024), where it sold for $11,400. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 1 real, Philip II, assayer R (Rincón) to right, ex-Atocha Research Collection, Plate Coin 17. Broad flan with full legends and superb detail in the full cross-lions-castles and crown and shield (with dark, contrasting toning all over), bold full P-R to right, potentially placed there to differentiate this first Potosí from the preceding ephemeral La Plata issues, but in any case attributed to Lima in error on tag and certificate based on Sellschopp (the leading reference at the time), additionally desirable as one of very few legitimate Potosí 1R from this wreck. Pedigreed to the Bill Barman Collection of Atocha RC Coins, with original Fisher tag and photo-certificate 85A-237720 and handwritten appraisal by archeologist Duncan Mathewson from 2008. Photocopy of original Atocha Research Collection catalog to be provided to winning bidder upon request. Recovered from Atocha, sunk in 1622 west of Key West, Florida." 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. Cayón shows varieties for this assayer, varying in the number of lilies in the obverse arms. This variety shows five lilies in the third quarter of the shield.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.38 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 3.02 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-3506; S-P1; KM-2.1; Cal-238.
- 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, Cori Sedwick Downing and Connor Falk, Treasure Auction 35, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2024.
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