Bolivia 1636-P T real
This specimen was lot 631 in Sedwick Auction 36 (Winter Park, FL, November 2024), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 1 real, 1636 T, very rare, ex-Ponte. Very bold full 636 of date outside of doubled cross, full shield with clear P-T to left, lightly toned Fine with two plugged holes and odd lamination near edge. Pedigreed to the Luis R. Ponte Collection." 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 (Pedro Trevino) served 1618-48 and was likely deeply involved in the fraud.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.38 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 2.66 grams and likely debased.
Catalog reference: Cayón-unlisted; S-P26; KM-12a; Cal-unl (Type 201).
- 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.
- [1]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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