File:Venezuela Stacks Jan15-1750o.jpg

This specimen was lot 1750 in Stacks-Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2015), where it sold for $4,406.25. The catalog description^[1] noted, "VENEZUELA. Barinas. Caujaral. Real, 1241. NGC AU-53. KM-2; Rosenman-pg.27/33. Variant with four digit fictional date. Rosenman describes this type as "The unacceptable 1 Real" in his reference work on imitation cobs of Venezuela and Colombia. This necessity issue was produced in quite a different manner than many of the other provincial mints, which began producing imitation provisional cob coins during and shortly after the War of Independence with Spain. The dies were locally engraved in a crude manner containing numerals and letters at random. Most, if not all of the coinage is light weight, apparently struck to no specific weight standard. In fact many of the 1 Reales of this series are closer in weight to that of a 1/2 Real. It is clear that a coinage of this nature would not have been met with approval by the populace. The large number of dies found in this series would indicate a rather large mintage, however the coins today remain quite scarce. Most likely most were melted due to rejection. Well struck with some original luster. Quite RARE grade for this type."