Bolivia 1649-P Z 4 reales
This specimen was lot 34012 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2022), where it sold for $4,560. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Interesting Over Assayer's Letter "Z/P", BOLIVIA. Cob 4 Reales, 1649-P Z/P. Potosi Mint, Assayer Pedro Zambrano (Z). Philip IV. PCGS EF-40. Dog like composite lions variety. This charming example, struck on a somewhat compact planchet, exhibits a bold central strike with complete crown, mint mark, Assayer's letter, denomination and shield on the obverse. A few minor aspects of the legends are clear, but most letters are off the flan on both sides. The strong design features on the reverse, with minimal doubling, include a complete cross and bold castles and lions, while the octolobe displays a couple of flat spots. The surfaces do exhibit a slight granularity and minor encrustation due to salt water immersion, but is quite wholesome and attractive. Despite its shortcomings this handsome survivor offers a pleasing appearance and when compared to other examples from the Atocha would most likely be assigned to the category Grade 1. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Ex: Ernesto Sellschopp Collection (Swiss Bank Corp - 9/1988) Lot # 690."
Cayón lists this date with assayer "O". This is the period when the debasement scandal was revealing how a cabal of mint officials had been cheating the king for years. In 1652, the four and eight reales were redesigned to distinguish the reformed (full silver) product from the old, suspect cobs.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.53 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 13.51 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-6114, KM-4.2; Cal-525; CJ-2.9.2; cf. Paoletti-Group B8/A#104 (identical lions on reverse).
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 ANA Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring The Salton Collection Part III, the Augustana Collection and the Robert C. Knepper Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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