Cartagena (1815) 2 reales
The years 1811-1819 were the first years of liberation during the struggle for independence from Spain. The first republican coinage was issued during this period of 'La Patria Boba', except for the interval 1817-1818, when Royalists took brief control. In the case of the city of Cartagena, an early Republican victory turned into a siege by Royalist forces, and fell again after four months. This specimen was lot 42493 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Philadelphia, August 2018), where it sold for $1,680. The catalog description[1] noted, "COLOMBIA. Siege of Cartagena. (1815) 2 Reales. Copper. EF-40 (PCGS). Struck over a Cartagena provisional 2 Reales, Restrepo 136. A rare and historic imitation cob 2 Reales coined by the Royalists during the Siege of Cartagena. Well struck on a broad planchet that allows almost all of ESTADO on the undertype to be seen atop the obverse. Rich chocolate brown color with excellent eye appeal and superb detail. A far finer than typical specimen. From the Eldorado Collection of Colombian Coins."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: copper.
Catalog reference: Restrepo 118.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Restrepo, Jorge Emilio, Monedas de Colombia, 1619-2006, Medellin, Colombia: Impresiones Rojo, 2006.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, The August 2018 Philadelphia ANA Auction: World Coins and Selections from the El Dorado Collection of Colombian Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2018.
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