Bolivia 1667-P E 8 reales
This specimen was lot 2006 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $4,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. 'Royal' Presentation Cob 8 Reales, 1667-P E. Potosi Mint, Assayer Antonia de Ergueta (E). Charles II. NGC AU Details--Plugged. The only certified example on either the NGC or PCGS population reports. This EXTREMELY RARE and seldom encountered first date of Charles II exhibits boldly struck central devices with minor doubling. The centers are slightly bulbous with fairly complete legends, though areas of flatness are noticed on both sides as usual for this series. This handsome example displays rich mottled ash and slate gray patina indicative of prolonged storage. Close inspection reveals evidence of being plugged in the center of the 'O' of 'ANO', now toned over matching the rest of the coin. Despite its shortcomings an attractive survivor of the type certain to excite many collectors. From the Pat Johnson Collection." Royals are known of this type from the Potosí mint but all are rare. The regular cob issues are not nearly as nice. The years 1649-52 were a period of reform at the Potosí mint; it was found that the previous mintmasters in office 1625-48 had been debasing the cobs, a crime for which one official paid with his life. This is the second year of cobs struck in the name of Charles II.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.931 fine silver, .810 troy oz ASW, this specimen 26.75 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-7535, KM-R26; Lazaro-178 (same dies); Cal-662.
- 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.
- Paoletti, Emilio, 8 Reales Cobs of Potosí, 2nd Ed., Buenos Aires, 2006.
- Elizondo, Carlos A., Eight Reales and Pesos of the New World, San Antonio, TX: 1968.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 NYINC Sale: World and Ancient Coins, featuring the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection and the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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