Bolivia (1651-52) 7-1/2 reales KM-C19.8
This specimen was lot 40071 in Stack's Bowers Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction (Pittsburgh, August 2026), where it sold for $13,420. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 7-1/2 Reales, ND (1651-52)-P. Potosi Mint. Philip IV. NGC AU-50; Countermark: AU Standard. Variety with low G and flat oval crown. A difficult issue in this quality, with a nearly complete shield and cross and a clear mint mark, assayer, and denomination. The countermark is bold and clear with a nearly complete beaded border." The 1649-52 was a period of reform at the Potosí mint; it was found that the previous mintmasters in office 1625-48 had been debasing the cobs, a crime for which one official paid with his life. Cobs found to be 0.750 fine or below were ordered to be melted and cobs better than that, but not full fineness, were counterstamped to lower their value to match their metal content. This counterstamping was done at various mints but no one has been able to match the countermarks to the mints.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.859 fine silver, .747 troy oz ASW, this specimen 28.53 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-unlisted, KM-C19.8; Cal-1488; Mastalir-5aa-a.
- 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.
- Paoletti, Emilio, 8 Reales Cobs of Potosí, 2nd Ed., Buenos Aires, 2006.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2026.
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