Bolivia 1765-P VY 4 reales
The first specimen was lot 71244 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $360. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 4 Reales, 1765-P. Potosi Mint; Assayers Jose de Vargas y Flor and Raimundo de Yturriaga (V-Y). Charles III. PCGS AU-50. A fairly well-struck and decently round cob with clearly legible date and denomination on the obverse. The coin presents a lovely dark gray tone throughout with areas of deeper, bluish hues. From the Pat Johnson Collection." The second specimen was lot 1085 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 35 (Winter Park, FL, May 2024), where it sold for $360. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 4 reales, 1765 V-Y, NGC XF 40, ex-Ugaz. Broad flan for the period with two full and bold dates, most of cross and pillars but peripheries crude (as made) with edge-split and flatness, attractively toned. Pedigreed to the Jorge Ugaz Collection (Sedwick Auction 30, lot 776)." This type was struck for Charles III 1760-73. Four reales of Charles III are rather scarcer than those of his predecessor Ferdinand VI. Assayer "V" stamped coins for that entire time. The Potosí mint did not start striking milled coinage until 1767 and the manufacture of cobs did not cease until 1773.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.917 fine silver, the first specimen 13.55 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-11712, S-P57; KM-44; Cal-909.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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.
- [2]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.
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