Bolivia 1654-P E real
This specimen was lot 1935 in Sedwick sale 34 (Winter Park, FL, November 2023), where it sold for $204. The catalog description[1] noted, "Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1654 E, NGC XF 45 ("top pop"). Partial yet detailed pillars and cross in spite of some strike weakness, clear date and assayer plus full PERV in legend, rather muted luster, tied with one other for finest known in the NGC census." Cob one reales were struck at Potosi with this design for Philip IV 1652-66 and are generally very crude. As part of the reform of 1652, the date was moved to the center of the obverse, greatly increasing the percentage of production with legible dates. Assayer "E" is known for 1651-78. A few presentation pieces, round and fully struck, mostly eight reales, were made every year; these are today called "royals" altho it is uncertain if they were actually presented to the king in Madrid. The surviving "royals" today are nearly always holed or plugged as they were saved as part of a necklace.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.38 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 3.23 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-5794, S-P37a; KM-13; Cal-753.
- 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]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing and Connor Falk, Treasure Auction 34, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2023.
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