Guatemala 1748-G J 8 reales
This specimen was lot 74482 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2025), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "GUATEMALA. Cob 8 Reales, 1748-G J. Guatemala Mint. Ferdinand VI. PCGS VF-20. From the Richard August Collection." This type was issued from Guatemala 1747-53 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. This example realized over triple the catalog value. The second specimen was lot 997 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 38 (Winter Park, FL, November 2025), where it sold for $3,600. The catalog description[2] noted, "GUATEMALA, Guatemala City, cob 8 reales, 1748 J, mule with 4R pillars side, extremely rare, NGC F details / holed. Large, squarish flan with sharp corners (holed in one point), choice full inner details on pillars side including full date due to the fact that it was struck with a 4R die (stated on label), bold full *J* to left of well-detailed crown and shield, attractive rich toning all over. While this muling is unlisted in JP, another example is known (ex-Haberthur/von Schuckmann Collections, without the muling mentioned). Pedigreed to the Darby Collection of Guatemala Silver Cobs (stated on label)."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.917 fine silver, the first specimen 26.66 g, the second specimen is 26.68 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-10547, S-G1a; KM-12; Cal-420; JP-unl (cf 8R16b).
- 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.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, October 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Decimal Minors and the Richard August Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
- [2]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Auction 38, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Jorge Ugaz Collection of Lima Silver Cob 2 Reales and the Darby Collection of Guatemala Silver Cobs, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2025.
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