Bolivia 1646-P T 8 reales
This specimen was lot 549 in Sedwick Auction 36 (Winter Park, FL, November 2024), where it sold for $1,320. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales, 1646 T, very rare. Broad flan with crude VG details (some contrasting sediment) in full shield and cross (with "furry" lions) yet with clear full 46 of date in small digits (which is typical) and very clear assayer T below an edge-crack, actually much rarer than the single-date assayer V for this year." 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.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.47 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 27.54 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-6386 (assayer TR); S-P30; KM-19a; Cal-1475.
- 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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