Bolivia 1665-P E 4 reales
This specimen was lot 71127 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $432. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 4 Reales, 1665-P. Potosi Mint; Assayer Antonio de Ergueta (E). Philip IV. PCGS VF-30. A 4 Reales piece from the final year of Philip IV's reign, exhibiting some strike weakness and circulation wear. Despite that, the coin retains some charm and nice details. The obverse shows the year and assayer's initial rather clearly, as well as part of the city name. The reverse displays the denomination and parts of the mintmark, assayer, and date. From the Pat Johnson Collection." 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.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 13.73 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-6184, KM 18; Cal-1132.
- 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 Juan Carlos I, 1474 a 2001, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2008.
- 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.
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