Bolivia (1625) 1/2 real
This specimen was lot 3779 in Stephen Album sale 39 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2021), where it sold for $66. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA: Felipe III, 1621-1665, AR ½ real, ND (1625), Potosí Mint cob issue, no assayer, nearly full cross, toned, VF, ex Daniel Frank Sedwick; ex Fuller Collection." Altho a few half real cobs were struck with dates 1617-18, this type comes without date, mintmark or assayer, which would likely explain its brief period of production. No more half reales were struck until after the reform of 1652. The SCWC incorrectly notes this as an issue of Philip III, who died in 1621.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.69, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 1.99 g.
Catalog reference: KM-11.1, Cayón-5601.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 39, featuring the John Sylvester, Jr., Collection of Annamese Medals and Orders, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2020.
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