Guatemala 1764-G P 4 reales
This specimen was lot 34110 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2022), where it sold for $6,300. The catalog description[1] noted,
"GUATEMALA. 4 Reales, 1764-G P. Nueva Guatemala Mint. Charles III. PCGS VF-25. One of only two certified examples on either the NGC or PCGS population reports. This issue, considered the rarest date from the series, is heavily sought after by date collectors. Seldom appearing on the market, they are always contested over for the chance to acquire such an elusive date. This handsome survivor exhibits even wear with light attractive gray tone throughout with rich coloration amongst the devices and in the reverse legend coupled with minor earthen deposits adding much character and originality. Pleasing to the eye, this example is sure to excite even the most advanced of collectors. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Ex: Ponterio (3/1983) Lot # 371."
This specimen is a 1764 four reales from the Guatemala mint, of a type issued 1760-71. All pillar coinage from Guatemala is scarce and many issues are rare. Assayer "P" is noted for the years 1759-85. Unlike the other colonial mints, Guatemala seems to have issued more four reales than any other denomination. Gilboy marks the half, one and two reales as "rare" and the eight reales as "scarce" to "normal." None are marked as common. Guatemala issues are notably cruder than other mints.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.53 g, 0.917 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Cayón-11704, KM-26; Gil-G-4-13; Cal-795.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Jara, Carlos M., Historia de la Casa de Moneda de Guatemala 1731-1776, Santiago, Chile: Andros Impresores, 2010.
- Gilboy, Frank F., The Milled Columnarios of Central and South America: Spanish American Pillar Coinage, 1732 to 1772, Regina, Saskatchewan: Prairie Wind Publishing, 1999.
- Yonaka, Brad, A Variety Guide to the Pillar Coinage of the Guatemala, Bogota, Lima, Potosi, and Santiago Mints, 1752-1771, Long Beach, CA: Agorocu Consulting, 2018.
- 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 2022 ANA Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring The Salton Collection Part III, the Augustana Collection and the Robert C. Knepper Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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