Guatemala 1785-NG M 4 reales
This specimen was lot 71566 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $1,440. The catalog description[1] noted, "GUATEMALA. 4 Reales, 1785-NG. Nueva Guatemala Mint; Assayer Manuel Eusebio Sanchez (M). Charles III. PCGS Genuine--Tooled, VF Details. An EXTREMELY RARE issue from the first year of Manuel Eusebio Sanchez's term as assayer. The noted tooling is visible between the letters of "REX" on the reverse legend. There is also some evident smoothing on the obverse bust. The rest of the details are unaltered, showing the coin's impressive strike and satisfying preservation. The surfaces display nice deep gray toning that heightens the eye appeal. In spite of its shortcomings, this remains a desirable example of a date that may not be seen again at auction for a long time to come. From the Pat Johnson Collection." In 1776, an earthquake demolished Antigua Guatemala (including the mint) and a new city was built some miles away. To mark the move, the mintmark was changed to "NG" ("Nueva Guatemala", still the capital of Guatemala) on all issues of 1777 and after. Assayer "M" is noted for the years 1785-1821 altho the SCWC does not list this date for assayer M. In 1786, the silver coinage was secretly debased from 0.903 fine to 0.896 fine. Unlike the other colonial mints, Guatemala portrait four reales are not so rare compared to other denominations. Guatemala issues are notably cruder than other mints.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.903 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Cayón-11852, cf. KM-35.2; Cal-814.
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- 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.
- Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.
- Robinson, Charles, The Coins of Central America, 1733-1965, San Benito, TX: 1965.
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- [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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