Bolivia 1642-P FR 8 reales
This specimen was lot 542 in Sedwick Auction 36 (Winter Park, FL, November 2024), where it sold for $720. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales, 1642 FR/TR, rare, ex-Ponte. XF for the period with choice full crown, good full shield and cross, clear final digit Z of double-struck date, unevenly thick edge with hairline split, fairly clear •P•FR• with the assayer punched over a smaller TR (as both assayers are known for this year, and FR/TR has been seen before as well). Pedigreed to the Luis R. Ponte Collection." This type was struck 1625-48 at Potosi. While silver cobs from Bolivia are very common, this early type is rare, as most were recalled and melted when it was discovered that the mint operators had been systematically debasing their issues, sometimes as low as .700 fine. We don't know if assayer FR stamped any coins other than this 1642 8 reales.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.47 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 27.84 grams and probably debased.
Catalog reference: Cayón-unlisted (assayer T only); S-P28; KM-unl (19a for type); Cal-unl (Type 327).
- 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, 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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