Bolivia 1624-P T 8 reales
This specimen was lot 892 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 35 (Winter Park, FL, May 2024), where it sold for $600. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales, 1624 T, lions and castles transposed in shield and cross, "flat" lions, very rare, ex-Ponte. Full cross with clear IIII of date showing Roman numerals for final digit (1624), choice full shield with P•T to left, nicely toned VF+. This curious date (no doubt the result of native mint workers not having a 4 punch or knowing what it should look like) has been known for both assayers T and P, but this is the first we have seen with P•T as opposed to P+T (see next lot) or PxT. Pedigreed to the Luis R. Ponte Collection." This type was struck 1622-24 yet so few have legible dates that some years aren't listed in the SCWC, including 1624. In the 1630's rumors began to spread that the Potosí cobs were illegally debased, which became a major scandal when the government finally acted in 1648. Assayer T is listed for 1618-45 and must have been involved.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 26.84 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-6214; S-P22a; KM-19; Cal-1440.
- 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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]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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