Guatemala 1738-G J 1 real cob
This specimen was lot 1151 in Stack's "Vermuele, Ward & Mexico Maxico" sale (New York, January 2010), where it sold for $103.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "GUATEMALA. Felipe V, 1700-1746. Cob 1 Real, 1738 J. Partial crowned shield. Rv. Crown over globes, Pillars, full date below. Thick square planchet typical of first Guatemala Mint products, well worn bust boasting a full date. Fine." After repeated petitions, Guatemala was finally granted a mint in 1733. The equipment available was cast-offs from the Mexico City mint, so local officials were forced to begin by minting cobs just as Mexico City was transitioning to milled coinage. The coins of 1733-53 are cobs struck using pillar dies; Guatemala was the only mint to do this. The minors (half reales, one reales and two reales) are all very scarce despite their low catalog value.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.38 g, 0.917 fine silver, .099 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Cayón-8531, KM 3.
- [1]Kraljevich, John, and Frank Van Valen, The Vermuele, Ward & Mexico Maxico Collections, New York: Stack's, 2009.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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.
Link to: