Bolivia 1651-P E 4 reales
The first specimen was lot 71105 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $1,140. The catalog description[1] noted,
"BOLIVIA. Cob 4 Reales, 1651-P. Potosi Mint, Assayer Antonia de Ergueta (E). Philip IV. PCGS VF-35. A particularly refined 4 Reales piece, presenting deep cabinet toning and handsome detail. The obverse presents a sharp mintmark and assayer's initial beside the Habsburg crown, over which a crowned "F" countermark has been applied, revaluing the piece to 3 3/4 Reales. The well-centered reverse does not include any peripheral legends, it presents attractive castles and lions which are mostly unaffected by the stamp on the opposing side. A coin with tremendous eye appeal, RARE in this condition and free from the saltwater corrosion that plagues this issue.
The counterstamping of coins from 1649 to 1651 was intended to be a temporary solution. Although they were made from higher quality silver than the preceding issues, they were struck with the old, outdated design that global commerce had lost faith with. Thus, the authorities meant to melt them down and restrike them shortly after. It is only because of the discovery of two shipwrecks carrying vast quantities of these countermarked issues that they are well-documented today. Countermarked issues that were not salvaged from the sea, such as this one, are therefore quite rare. From the Pat Johnson Collection.Ex: Ernesto Sellschopp Collection (Swiss Bank Corp - 09/1988) Lot # 708."
Rodas was brought in 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. The other mints were ordered to counterstamp his cobs so that they could pass at a discount. The second specimen was lot 219 in Sedwick Auction 37 (Winter Park, FL, May 2025), where it sold for $570. The catalog description[2] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 4 reales, (1651-52) E, with crowned-•F• (two dots) countermark on shield. Choice full shield with bold countermark and clear assayer E to right, the cross side heavily corroded, overall thin and truncated from loss around edge, nicely toned. With original Herman Moro tag and certificate. Recovered from Capitana, sunk in 1654 off Chanduy, Ecuador."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.931 fine silver, the first specimen 13.62 g, most likely slightly debased; the second specimen 8.64 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-6128, KM 17B; Cal-1108; Sellschopp-545 (plate coin); KM C17.2 (for countermark).
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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.
- 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 November 2022 Collectors Choice Ancient & World Coins Auction, Featuring the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
- [2]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Treasure Auction 37, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Almenara Collection of Colonial Peruvian Gold Coins, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2025.
Link to:
- (1649-51)-O 4 reales, c/s to 3¾ reales
- (1649)-P O 8 reales, c/s to 7½ reales
- 1649-Z 4 reales
- 1650-O 4 reales
- 1651-E 2 reales
- Spain 1651-MD A 4 reales
- (1651-52) "L" counterstamped 7½ reales
- (1651-52) "F" counterstamped 7½ reales
- (1651-52) "T" counterstamped 7½ reales
- 1651-O 8 reales
- 1651-E 8 reales, c/s to 7½ reales
- 1652-E 4 reales
- Coins and currency dated 1651