Chile 1794-So DA 8 reales
The first specimen was lot 1329 in Classical Numismatic Group's sale of the Lissner Collection (Chicago, August 2014), where it sold for $15,730. The catalog description[1] noted, "CHILE, Colonial. Carlos IV. King of Spain, 1788-1808. AR 8 Reales. Santiago mint. Domingo Eizaguirre and Augustin de Infante y Prado, assayers. Dated 1794 So DA. In NGC encapsulation graded MS 65. Superb lightly toned gem uncirculated with fully lustrous surfaces. Only two 8 Reales of Chile have been graded MS 65 – both are in this sale. Of the highest rarity in this grade. Purchased from B. A. Seaby, December 1978." Despite what seems to be a fairly substantial recorded mintage and nearly continuous production during 1791-1808, Santiago portrait eight reales of Charles IV are scarce though not rare like the earlier bust eight reales of Charles III. Many can be found as the undertype of Brazilian 960 réis of 1810-26. Assayer DA is recorded for 1773-99. The second specimen was lot 40166 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $5,040. The catalog description[2] noted,
"GREAT BRITAIN. Great Britain - Chile. Dollar (4 Shillings 9 Pence), ND (1797). George III. PCGS AU-55. Authorized 9 March 1797. Countermark: Bank of England Type I; Raised bust of George III within oval indent. Applied to the obverse of a 1794-So DA Chile 8 Reales of Charles IV (KM-51). A fairly SCARCE host coin for the type, this stunning example is tied with just one other for the top spot in the PCGS census, and offers immense originality and enchanting toning upon each side."
Recorded mintage: 161,000.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.896 fine silver, .780 troy oz ASW, this specimen Ø39 mm, 26.96 g, 12h axis.
Catalog reference: Cayón-13873, KM 51. With counterstamp: S-3765A; KM-627.
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- 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.
- Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Rayner, P. Alan, and Maurice Bull, English Silver Coinage from 1649, 6th Ed., London: Spink & Son, 2015.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- [1]Teller, M. Louis, and Victor England, Jr., The Richard Lissner Collection, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, 2014.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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