Bolivia 1660-P E 2 reales
This specimen was lot 45747 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2026), where it sold for $192. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 2 Reales, 1660-P E. Potosi Mint. Philip IV. PCGS Genuine--Environmental Damage, Fine Details." 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 which would show the date and assayer's initials on even the worst strike. Ergueta served 1650-79.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.77 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 7.86 g.
Catalog reference: KM-16; Cal-928, Cayón-5975.
- 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, January 2026 NYINC Showcase Auction, Ancient and World Coins, featuring the Kazmier Wysocki Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
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