Caracas 1817-BS 2 reales
This specimen is a silver two reales issued by the royalists in Caracas, Venezuela, during the wars of independence. "F7" stands for Ferdinand VII, king of Spain, and the design is inspired by the Bolivian cobs which circulated freely in the region. The fineness is not known but is likely to be lower than the standard .896 silver used at the major mints (Lima, Potosi, etc.). The SCWC records another variety (KM C6.2) with the lions and castles reversed and warns of numerous counterfeits. The first specimen shown was lot 10653 in the Apr 2, 2011 March 2011 Baltimore Auction where it sold for $6,195. The catalog description[1] noted,
"VENEZUELA. Caracus. 2 Reales, 1817-BS. Ex: Ponterio & Associates Auction #117, january 2002, Lot #21 where it hammered for $1,700. Choice for issue. Faint staple scratch in the reverse, lovely blue and purple toning. Lustrous CHOICE ALMOST UNCIRCULATED."
The second specimen was lot 1300 in Steve Album Auction 51 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2025), where it sold for $5,100. The catalog description[2] noted, "VENEZUELA: Fernando VII, 1808-1821, AR 2 reales, Caracas, 1817, initials BS, variety with palms instead of pillars, o over 7, once lightly cleaned, attractively toned, NGC graded XF details. The consignor relates that this variety has never been auctioned or documented before. It would seem to be of the utmost rarity!"
Recorded mintage: 76,000.
Specification: 4.3-5.3 g, debased silver.
Catalog reference: Cayón-15523, KM C6.1, ST-11-C6c.
- 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.
- 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]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 159: the March 2011 Baltimore Auction, featuring the Len Novotny collection, Irvine, CA: Stack's-Bowers & Ponterio, 2011.
- [2]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 51, featuring the Howard Daniel III Collection of Asian Coins, the Almer H. Orr III Collection of World Coins and the Joe Sedillot Collection of German Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.
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