Guatemala 1814-NG M 4 reales
This specimen was lot 31577 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $352.50. The catalog description[2] noted, "Ferdinand VII 4 Reales 1814-M, AU50 NGC. Deeply toned with a full PLUS ULTRA and no adjustment marks. A very scarce denomination in this quality." This four reales is from the Nueva Guatemala mint, of a type struck 1808 and 1811-21. 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 1785-1836. Harris[1] notes that this type is the most common mint for the four reales of the Ferdinand VII bust. The SCWC lists this type quite a bit cheaper than the contemporary Mexican issue.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.896 fine silver, .390 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Cayón-15700, KM 68.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, vol. 1, 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.
- [1]Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
- [2]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
Links to: