Bolivia 1853-Paz J 4 soles KM-125
This specimen was lot 71317 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $168. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. 4 Soles, 1853-PAZ J. La Paz Mint. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, EF Details. Variety with 'Potosi style' laureate head. Though cleaned, this appealing example retains plenty of luster and original detail. The bright surfaces display an attractive light tint of champagne-colored toning. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Privately purchased from Freeman Craig." The La Paz mint produced these debased four soles coins with this design 1853-55 only. These coins, along with contemporary issues from Potosi mint, flooded South America and were denounced by Bolivia's neighbors, to no avail. Though the Potosi mint would eventually reform the coinage and produce standard silver weights, La Paz mint would close.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.5 g, 0.667 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-125.
- 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, 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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