Bolivia 1679-P V 8 reales
The first specimen was lot 468 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 35 (Winter Park, FL, May 2024), where it sold for $600. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales, 1679 V. Full pillars-and-waves with bold assayer V at bottom left, full but weaker and off-center cross with bold 79 date below, less corroded than most for this wreck (especially as an early "Isla de Muerto" find), non-toned, tiny edge-split. With HRC "Isla de Muerto" Shipwreck tag and photo-certificate 6680. Recovered from Consolación, sunk in 1681 off Santa Clara Island, Ecuador." The second specimen was lot 1051 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 35 (Winter Park, FL, May 2024), where it sold for $450. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales, 1679 V. Technically bold VF but with high points flat (not worn), with well-centered full pillars-and-waves and cross-lions-castles, two dates, toned in crevices and with small spots of verdigris, somewhat scarce as non-salvage." This type was struck in the name of the degenerate Charles II 1667-1701. Assayer de Villar stamped coins with a "V" 1679-84 and a "VR" 1684-97. Assayer "C" is also recorded for 1679.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.931 fine silver, the first specimen 22.25 grams, the second specimen 26.52 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-7579, S-P39; KM-26; Cal-716.
- 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.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing and Connor Falk, Treasure Auction 35, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2024.
Link to: