Bolivia 1775-PTS JR 4 reales
This specimen was lot 71268 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $168. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. 4 Reales, 1775-PTS JR. Potosi Mint. Charles III. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, AU Details. Some unfortunate cleaning around the obverse legends has stripped the original surface finish. The unaffected areas present handsomely, however, with well-preserved detail and nicely toned, lustrous surfaces. From the Pat Johnson Collection." This is an early example of a type struck 1773-89 at Potosi, Bolivia (then called Upper Peru). It was replaced in 1791 by the bust of Charles IV. Harris[2] notes that Potosi four reales of Charles III are the commonest mint, with twice as many as Mexico City. Recent hoard finds have only increased this number.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.903 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Cayón-11776, KM-54; Cal-932.
- 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.
- [2]Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.
- [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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