Bolivia 1641-P TR 2 reales
This specimen was lot 784 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 38 (Winter Park, FL, November 2025), where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 2 reales, 1641 TR, very rare. Bold full assayer to left of full but off-center shield, full and bold 4 and most of I of date outside of full but slightly doubled cross, AVF with contrasting toning, first we have seen of this date-assayer combination in this denomination." 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 6.58 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-unlisted, S-P27; KM-unl (14a for type); Cal-unl (Type 239).
- 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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