Catorce 1811 8 reales

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 44189

This specimen was lot 44189 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $38,400. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Extremely Rare Insurgent Issue of Real de Catorce, MEXICO. War of Independence. Real del Catorce. 8 Reales, 1811. Ferdinand VII. PCGS Genuine--Repaired, VF Details. Despite its rather spartan design, with no central devices and merely circular legends near the rims, this type stands as an EXCESSIVE RARITY among the issues of the War of Independence with only six known examples. Appearance at auction seldom occurs and is usually contested for when they do appear. The last piece to come to market, an example grading just VG-10 by NGC, though it was previously mentioned as having been "...mounted and with various test marks" when appearing at auction prior to its certification. On this elusive coin, most of the legends are completely, and rather boldly, visible, with some minor areas of weakness upon each side as is usual for the issue. Additionally, the noted repair emanates from the careful and tasteful removal of some graffiti that appeared within the central ring of the reverse. Nevertheless, the level of handling is commiserate for the grade, with some enticing deeper gray toning further accentuating the legends. Given the staggering RARITY of this important crown, it is quite easy to overlook its details designation, as its overall level of preservation likely places it among the finest that one can hope to encounter.
New research conducted by Max Keech, in his yet to be publish[ed] upcoming book, offers supporting evidence for the attribution change from a Royalist issue to the second Insurgent issue that is indisputable. The mines of Real de Catorce were opened to obtain silver for the provisional coinage during January and February of 1811, but by 20 February the insurgent forces under the guidance of Lt. Coronel José Mariano Jiménez fled the province. Unfortunately, on 21 March 1811 Lt. Coronel José Mariano Jiménez along with Insurgent leaders and over 900 men were captured. Later, on 22 May Jiménez gave testimony during his trial confessing to issuing coinage in the province and neighboring areas. He stated that this coinage was issued in full fineness and intrinsic value. From the S.P. Rutherford Collection. Ex: Stack's Bowers & Ponterio 174 (1/2013) Lot # 1540 (then in a PCGS Genuine--Graffiti, EF Details holder)."

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 27.07 g, 0.896 fine silver.

Catalog reference: Cayón-15844, KM-169; Cal-1397 (RRR).

Source:

Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, vol. 1, 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.
^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The August 2021 ANA sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
Elizondo, Carlos A., Eight Reales and Pesos of the New World, San Antonio, TX: 1968.
Raymond, Wayte, The Silver Dollars of North and South America, 2nd Ed., Racine, WI: Whitman Publishing, 1964.

Link to:

Catorce 1811 8 reales

Navigation menu

Search