Guatemala 1737-G J 4 reales
This specimen was lot 71520 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $480. The catalog description[1] noted, "GUATEMALA. Cob 4 Reales, 1737-G. Guatemala Mint; Assayer Jose de Leon y Losa (J). Philip V. PCGS Genuine--Salt Water Damage, VF Details. The noted saltwater damage on this 4 Reales piece is rather minor. It retains relatively clear surfaces with a full date and mintmark on the obverse, and the assayer's initial and a partial denomination on the reverse. This coin displays the typical sheen of saltwater damage, but it is not an unattractive finish, as it lends the piece a certain elegance. From the Pat Johnson Collection." This type was issued from Guatemala 1733-46 and is not at all common. The pieces are often called cobs but aren't really as they were not struck by the hammer but in a screw press. The mint did not have the equipment to cut round blanks and edge them as Mexico was doing, so this was the best they could do.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 13.31 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-9101, KM-5; Cal-1008.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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.
- Jara, Carlos M., Historia de la Casa de Moneda de Guatemala 1731-1776, Santiago, Chile: Andros Impresores, 2010.
- Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
- Robinson, Charles, The Coins of Central America, 1733-1965, San Benito, TX: 1965.
- Stickney, Brian, A Monetary History of Central America, New York: American Numismatic Society, 2017.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The November 2022 Collectors Choice Ancient & World Coins Auction, Featuring the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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