Bolivia 1668-P E 4 reales
This specimen was lot 71135 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $528. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 4 Reales, 1668-P. Potosi Mint; Assayer Antonio de Ergueta (E). Charles II. PCGS Genuine--Tooled, EF Details. This well-toned cob exhibits some tooling scratches, accounting for its grade. This flaw is easy to overlook, however, as the coin is otherwise teeming with details and eye appeal. The central date, a mintmark, and an assayer's initial are crisp and legible on the obverse, and a nearly complete long date appears on the lower legend. The reverse displays a bold mintmark and quite sharp three-digit date. Below, a generous portion of the outer legend is visible, including the last part of the monarch's name and ordinal. An appealing coin, hardly diminished by its rather minor flaws. From the Pat Johnson Collection." Assayer Ergueta introduced the new "pillars and waves" design which would show the date and assayer's initials on even the worst strike. In 1667, the design was modified to replace the deceased Philip IV with the degenerate Charles II and would be struck without change until 1700. Ergueta resigned his office in 1678.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 14.16 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-7434, KM-25; Cal-511.
- 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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