Bolivia 1651-P E 2 reales

Sedwick Treasure Auction 38, lot 785

This specimen was lot 785 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 38 (Winter Park, FL, November 2025), where it sold for $264. The catalog description^[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 2 reales, 1651 E, rare. Large, thin, oblong flan with full shield, off-center full cross with most of 51 of date in legend, nicely toned VF+ with some flat areas, edge-split." The 1649-52 was a period of reform at the Potosí mint; assayer Rodas was brought in from Spain to restore the purity of the cobs struck at Potosi which had been debased as low as 0.700 fine. He did improve the quality but his product still did not meet the legal standard. He was sacked and replaced by Antonio de Ergueta, who introduced the new "pillars and waves" design in 1652, which would show the date and assayer's initials on even the worst strike.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 6.77 g, theoretically 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 6.74 grams.

Catalog reference: Cayón-5924, S-P36; KM-14b; Cal-913.

Source:

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.
Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
^[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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Bolivia 1651-P E 2 reales

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