Maracaibo (1813) 2/4 real
This specimen was lot 41634 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $2,400. The catalog description[1] noted,
"VENEZUELA. Maracaibo. 2/4 Real, ND (1813). NGC AU-53. A RARE issue, this example displays reddish-brown color in the smooth fields that reflects very limited time spent in circulation. Some striking unevenness is seen, with softness on this piece mostly showing in the left quadrants of the crowned shied. The denomination, which appears on the other side, is quite nicely centered. Despite its overall crudeness, one of the nicer surviving examples of the type, it being the single finest to have been certified by NGC with a single AU-55 appearing in PCGS' population reports.
According to new research, which included reading through many contemporary documents in Spain's institutions, well-known collector Luis Ponte has determined the Maracaibo attribution (previously they had also been attributed to Mexico and Santo Domingo) on this issue is incorrect, and that they were in fact made for Cuba and circulated in Puerto Rico as well. To learn more, please view Luis' presentation (see 2:35:53 for specific mention), which was recently given in conjunction with the Cartagena MMXXI conference."
Until the numismatic community reaches a consensus, we will follow the SCWC in listing this and the accompanying quarter real (KM 1) under Maracaibo.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: copper.
Catalog reference: KM-2.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Stohr, Tomas, Catalogo de Monedas, Ensayos, Fichas y Resellos de Venezuela, Caracas, 1975.
- Stohr, Tomas, Macuquinas de Venezuela, Caracas, 1992.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The August 2021 ANA sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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