Mexico 1615-Mo F 4 reales
This specimen was lot 2052 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $16,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "Apparently Unpublished Overdate of Philip IV, MEXICO. "Royal" Presentation Cob 4 Reales, 1615/3-Mo F. Mexico City Mint, Assayer F. Philip III. NGC EF Details--Holed. The only certified example on either the NGC or PCGS population reports. IMMENSELY RARE and possibly UNIQUE, this appealing and boldly stuck example exhibits exacting detail. Nearly every design element is strong and the overall coin is very attractive. A hole located around 1 o'clock on the obverse accounts for the details designation, but is hardly a distraction for this lovely piece. Despite its shortcomings this handsome presentation coin offers a wholly original appearance with lovely rich patina and minor earthen deposits amongst the devices. From the Pat Johnson Collection." This type was struck 1598-1621 in Mexico City and is not rare except in high grade. The vast majority lack dates, which were first applied in 1607. Round "royals" are known from 1607-18 but all are rare, rarer than the equivalent Bolivian royals.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.931 fine silver, .405 troy oz ASW, this specimen 13.69 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-unlisted, cf. KM-R37.1 (for basic type); cf. Cal-Type 144 (for basic type).
- 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 Felipe VI, 1474 a 2020, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2019.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 NYINC Sale: World and Ancient Coins, featuring the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection and the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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