Guatemala 1820-NG M 4 reales
This specimen was lot 71598 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $1,320. The catalog description[1] noted, "GUATEMALA. 4 Reales, 1820-NG. Nueva Guatemala Mint; Assayer Manuel Eusebio Sanchez (M). Ferdinand VII. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, Unc Details. Some striated cleaning marks are all that detract from this stunningly lustrous and sharply detailed minor. The surfaces are toned to an argent blueish gray with hints of amber, providing a lovely accent to the well-preserved devices. A minty and eye-catching coin that stands apart from most others with this SCARCE date, despite its shortcomings. From the Pat Johnson Collection." This type was 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[2] 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.
Catalog reference: Cayón-15746, KM-68; Cal-1055.
- 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.
- [2]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.
- [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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