Bolivia 1688-P VR 8 reales
This specimen was lot 603 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $2,040. The catalog description[1] noted, "Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1688VR. Broad-flan VF with choice full cross-lions-castles and pillars-and-waves, well centered, with all three dates and assayers and mintmarks, lightly toned with one small black spot on edge." This type was struck 1667-1701 for Charles II. It superseded the shield/cross type which was discredited in the debasement scandal of the 1630's and 1640's. Royals, struck for presentation, are all rare and nearly always come holed. Assayer de Villar stamped coins 1679-97; issues after 1684 used a "VR" monogram.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 26.74 grams.
Catalog reference: S-P40; KM-26; Cal-730, Cayón-7633.
- 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.
- 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 and Cori Sedwick Downing, Treasure Auction 28, featuring the Dr. Peter Jones and John O'Brien collections, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2020.
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