Bolivia 1636-P T 8 reales
The first specimen was lot 73336 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2024), where it sold for $900. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 8 Reales, 1636-P T. Potosi Mint. Philip IV. PCGS VF-20. A satisfying problem-free Bolivian cob featuring both of the final date digits quite clearly. Attractive surface quality with an aged silver look. This piece stands as a solid representative of the date. From the S.P. Rutherford Collection." The second specimen was lot 169 in Sedwick Auction 36 (Winter Park, FL, November 2024), where it sold for $420. The catalog description[2] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales, 1636 T, rare. Bold full cross with bottom half of 636 of date visible, full but weaker shield with fairly clear assayer (rarer than TR for this date), light surface corrosion, toned in crevices, parts of edge slightly crude (as made). With original certificate from Captain Tracy Bowden through his contract with the Dominican Republic. Recovered from Concepción, sunk in 1641 off Hispaniola." Royals are known of this type from the Potosí mint for 1630-48 but all are rare. The regular cob issues are not nearly as nice. 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. This example may be as low as 0.750 fine.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 grams, 0.931 fine silver (if full fineness), .810 troy oz ASW, the first specimen 26.06 g, the second specimen 25.83 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-6317, KM-19a; Cal-1462; Paoletti-198.
- 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.
- Paoletti, Emilio, 8 Reales Cobs of Potosí, 2nd Ed., Buenos Aires, 2006.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
- [2]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Treasure Auction 36, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Luis R. Ponte collection, the Jorge Becerra Collection and the John M. O'Brien collection, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2024.
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