Bolivia 1715-P Y 8 reales
This specimen was lot 511 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 26 (Winter Park, FL, November 2019), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales Royal (galano), 1715Y. Beautifully toned VF+ with lots of legend and good full inner details despite some doubling, clear 'condor' ornaments in legends and surrounding the denomination in the pillars, medal-aligned axis with drilled hole at top, die-match with Lazaro #259 (rated R2)." The Spanish colony of Upper Peru produced hammered cob coinage at the Potosí mint from 1573 to 1773, with a major debasement scandal and subsequent reform occurring in 1649-1652. The period 1767-1770 saw the simultaneous issue of milled columnarios. The royal or presentation issues are very rare and highly sought after, while the regular strikes vary in price according to the visibility of the date, mint, and assayer initials.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 26.98 g.
Catalog reference: S-P43a; KM-R31; CT-816, Cayón-9258.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, vol. 1, 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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 26, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2019.
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