Caracas '741' 2 reales
This specimen was lot 34503 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2022), where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "VENEZUELA. Caracas. Fantasy Cob 2 Reales, "741"-LM. PCGS EF-40. A splendid representative from this fantasy-date issue, featuring only light wear upon the high points and an even gunmetal gray nature throughout. Fairly SCARCE and exceptionally interesting." This is a specimen of a type issued by the royalists or republicans in Caracas, Venezuela. Like most local issues produced outside the major mints (Lima, Potosi, etc.), it usually comes crudely struck. This type is of the 'cob' style and one of many fake dates issued for the type. It was probably struck 1810-17. The city fell to the Colombians in 1821, who issued silver quarter reales (KM C31). Venezuela attained separate independence in 1830.
In the coin trade, the word "fantasy" is reserved for items concocted for sale to credulous collectors. These coins were made during the War of Independence and circulated for lack of anything better. They imitated Bolivian and Peruvian cobs to increase their acceptance.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 4.5-5.8 g, 0.200-0.600 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-C13.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Stohr, Tomas, El Circulante en la Capitania General de Venezuela, Caracas, Banco Central de Venezuela, 1998.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 ANA Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring The Salton Collection Part III, the Augustana Collection and the Robert C. Knepper Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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