Bolivia 1636-P TR 2 reales
This specimen was lot 783 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 38 (Winter Park, FL, November 2025), where it sold for $360. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 2 reales, 1636 TR, rare. Slightly non-round flan with parts of edge crude (as made), bold 163 and most of final digit 6 (matches first 6) of date visible, nearly full shield and cross despite peripheral flatness, XF with faint surface porosity, toning in crevices." The Potosí mint began dating its product in 1617. The years 1649-52 were 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. Assayer T served 1618-48 and was likely deeply involved in the fraud.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.77 g, theoretically 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 6.16 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-5882 (assayer R), S-P27; KM-14a; Cal-904.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, vol. 1, 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.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Auction 38, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Jorge Ugaz Collection of Lima Silver Cob 2 Reales and the Darby Collection of Guatemala Silver Cobs, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2025.
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