Bolivia 1809-PTS PJ 4 reales
This specimen was lot 75140 in Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2026), where it sold for $317.20. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. 4 Reales, 1809-PTS PJ. Potosi Mint. Charles IV. PCGS VF-35. From the Richard August Collection." This is a late example of a type struck 1791-1809 at Potosi, Bolivia (then called Upper Peru). It was replaced in 1816 by the bust of Ferdinand VII. Harris[1] notes that Potosi four reales of Charles IV are the commonest mint, ahead of Mexico City. Recent hoard finds have only increased this number, yet the 1809 is a scarce date. Charles IV abdicated in March 1808, so we don't know what prompted this issue and the accompanying half real and one real. The eight reales has the bust of Ferdinand VII but was likely struck after 1813. Assayer PJ is recorded for 1803-24. The mint was in the hands of the Argentine rebels 1810-13 and the production of four reales did not resume until 1816.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.896 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Cayón-13822, KM-72; Cal-847.
- 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 Felipe VI, 1474 a 2020, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2019.
- [2]Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.
- Janson, Hector Carlos, La Moneda Circulante En El Territorio Argentino, 1767-1998, Buenos Aires, 1998.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction - Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, the Richard Margolis Collection and the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Reales Minors, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2026.
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