Bolivia 1687-P VR 4 reales
This specimen was lot 71152 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $480. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 4 Reales, 1687-P. Potosi Mint; Assayer Pedro de Villar (VR). Charles II. PCGS EF-45. An impressively detailed 4 Reales cob despite double striking and a large flan crack. The obverse displays the mintmark, assayer's monogram, denomination, and date rather boldly. Due to the doubling, most of the final two digits of the date on the outer legend are also visible. There is another mintmark and most of an assayer's monogram on the reverse, along with a third date. The reverse also presents nearly complete castles and lions which are well-struck and excellently detailed. In short, an attractive and mostly complete example, worthy of entry into a fine collection. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Ex. Kagin's 1983 ANA sale, August 1983, lot 1218." This type was struck in the name of the degenerate Charles II 1667-1700. Assayer de Villar stamped coins with a "V" 1679-84 and a "VR" 1684-97.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 14.05 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-7479, KM-25; Cal-534.
- 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.
- Paoletti, Emilio, 8 Reales Cobs of Potosí, 2nd Ed., Buenos Aires, 2006.
- [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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