Guatemala 1750-G J 4 reales
This specimen was lot 71536 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $312. The catalog description[1] noted, "GUATEMALA. Cob 4 Reales, 1750-G. Guatemala Mint; Assayer Jose de Leon y Losa (J). Ferdinand VI. PCGS Genuine--Holed, Fine Details. Guatemala (Central American Republic) Type II Countermark; sun over mountains within circular border. Countermark grade: VF Details. A well-circulated 4 Reales piece struck on a compact and rectangular planchet. Despite the limitations of the planchet, the coin retains a full date, mintmark, monarch's ordinal, and assayer's initial. The reverse is deeply stamped with a later countermark that displays with pleasing clarity the iconic sun and mountains symbol of the Central American Republic. There is also an unobtrusive hole in one corner, typical for the issue. A nice example with plenty of detail and attractive deep gray toning. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Privately purchased from Louis Collins." 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.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 12.87 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-10478, KM-11; Cal-348; KM-87.2 (for countermark).
- 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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